Romantic Loch Views: The Boatshed

The view of Loch Awe from the Boatshed     The crisp water of Loch Awe gently laps at the shore. The Crannog, ancient dwelling place of the Picts, rises above the water providing a much-loved landmark. Across the loch lie mountains, including the 3,710ft-high Ben Lui which is the namesake of one of Ardanaiseig’s…

Glen Orchy

Orchy: A Room with Highland Connections

Continuing our look at the origins of Ardanaiseig’s intriguing room names, this month we’re looking at our Master Garden View room Orchy. Located on the ground floor of the hotel, Orchy has a rather special addition. At the top of some small steps sits a small conservatory, perfect for sipping your morning cuppa or lounging…

CIS-Excellence-Awards-logo

Award Nomination! Catering Scotland (CIS) Excellence Awards

Ardanaiseig is thrilled to announce that we’ve been shortlisted for the title of the country’s top hotel in Scotland’s most prestigious hospitality competition, the Catering Scotland (CIS) Excellence Awards. We are one of three proud finalists in the category of Best Independent Hotel. Our lovely General Manager Annabel Gregory commented: “Entrants for these awards include some of Scotland’s…

Kilchurn Castle

Jewels of Loch Awe: Kilchurn Castle

  As anyone who has visited Ardanaiseig will know, that view over Loch Awe of the crannog, Ben Lui, and the surrounding mountains is really something special. However as a 41 km-long body of water, the view from Ardanaiseig only shows off a small, though spectacular, part of the loch. If you travel to Loch…

Ben Lui

Room With A View – Ben Lui

  Master Loch View room Ben Lui   Ardanaiseig’s Master Loch View room Ben Lui takes its name from the Munro that can be seen through its window. An eye-catching part of Loch Awe’s beautiful backdrop, the 3,710ft high mountain is one of the most stunning of the Southern Highlands.   Ben Lui seen clearly…

Exterior - Winter

Hogmanay 2016 at Ardanaiseig

Hogmanay is the Scottish celebration of New Year’s Eve. Common traditions are ceilidh dancing and the singing of “Auld Lang Syne”, which is a Scots poem by Robert Burns. A custom which is less well-known is first-footing, which involves being the first person to visit a friend or neighbour and ‘cross the threshold’ of their land or property.…

Ben Cruachan ridge (photo courtesy of Ardanaiseig Hotel kitchen team member Sebastien Gouwy)

Ben Cruachan: The Hollow Mountain

If you’ve stayed with us before, you’ll know that each bedroom at Ardanaiseig has its own name. Over a series of blog posts, we’ll be exploring each room in turn, uncovering how it got its name and what makes it unique. For the first in the series, we’ll start with Cruachan, a Master Loch View…

Good Hotel Guide Awards 2017 ROMANTIC

Good Hotel Guide Editor’s Choice Awards

We are proud to have been awarded the Good Hotel Guide Awards 2017’s much-coveted Editor’s Choice Award for both Romantic Hotel 2017 and Country House Hotel 2017! The Good Hotel Guide is the leading independent guide to hotels in Great Britain and Ireland and prides itself on being completely impartial. The Guide says of Ardanaiseig…

Crab apples

Rowan Berry and Crab Apple Jelly Recipe

It’s that time of year again. The greenery around Ardanaiseig is punctuated with the red and orange of rowan berries and crab apples, and we think it’s a perfect excuse to go foraging.   What’s more, crab apples are high in pectin, a naturally occurring substance that, when combined with sugar and heated, helps thicken…