Looking for loch-side accommodation in Scotland? With over 32,000 lochs in Scotland to visit – from the famous and familiar, here are my favourite places to stay on a loch in Scotland.
My 5 favourite places to stay on a loch in Scotland
- Inverlonan Bothies, Oban – three stylish off-grid cabins sitting on Loch Nell near Oban complete with a lochside sauna. Read more Inverlonan Bothies, Oban.
- Inver restaurant and bothies, Argyll – a green Michelin-starred inn on the banks of Loch Fyne. Read more: Inver restaurant and rooms.
- The Queen’s Hut, Aboyne, Deeside – a fabulous self catering house with an incredible bath overlooking on Birsemore Loch. Read more: The Queen’s Hut.
- The Birdwatcher’s Cabin, Golspie – Anta designed cabin sitting on Loch Fleet, perfect for watching Ospreys over the loch. Book: The Birdwatcher’s Cabin.
- The Torridon Hotel, Torridon – one the world’s destiantion hotels sitting on Loch Torridon. Read more: The Torridon Hotel.
Read on for more places to stay on a loch in Scotland:
Loch-side stays in Scotland
The Queen’s Hut, Birsemore Loch, Aboyne, Deeside – sitting on its own tree-lined loch, the Queen’s Hut is a luxury lochside cottage overlooking the Cairngorm Mountains near the Deeside town of Aboyne. Originally built for Queen Mary, the wife of King George V, The Queen’s Hut dates from the early 1900s and has recently been refurbished as a luxury hideaway by owners, The Dunecht Estate. The hut blends perfectly into its wooded landscape; sit out on the veranda with a cup of morning coffee and watch the light, mist and ducks on the loch. Read more: The Queen’s Hut.
The Coylet Inn, Lock Eck, Cowal – a 17th Century coaching inn, set on the banks on the beautiful Loch Eck in Argyll. With loads of character, a waterside setting, great food and with benches for drinks over looking the water, this loch side hotel in Scotland is perfect for exploring Cowal, one of Scotland’s hidden gems. Book: The Coylet Inn.
Inverlonan Bothies, Loch Nell, Oban – sitting on the banks of Loch Nell which sits above Oban are three handcrafted modern Scottish lochside cabins. They might be just but 15 minutes from the bustling hub of Oban with its ferries to the isles and langoustine devouring hoards, but surrounded by ancient oak trees, at Inverlonan you can be truly remote from the world. If you are feeling adventurous, down on the loch are paddle boards and kayaks. Fishing rods are under your hut. Read more: Inverlonan.
Loch Venachar Cabins or Loch Venachar Lodges, Loch Venachar, Highland Perthshire – architecturally unique and award-winning lodges with hot tubs on the banks of one of my favourite lochs, Loch Venachar in Perthshire. Choose from Coorie, a two bedroom luxury lochside holiday lodge or Carsaig, a three bedroom lodge. Book: Loch Venachar Lodges. Around the loch is Loch Venachar Cabins – Willow Cabin which sleeps 8, the double height Alder and Birch Cabins or the one bed Rowan Cabin with its incredible view. Book: Venachar Cabins.
Inver restaurant and bothies, Loch Fyne, Argyll – on the beautiful southern banks of Loch Fyne, Scotland’s longest sea loch, sits Inver, a relaxed (and dog friendly) fine dining lochside restaurant with a green Michelin star. Book into one of Inver’s four bothies or two shepherds hut overlooking the loch and Castle Lachlan. Inver’s lochside glamping bothies have super king-size beds and huge ensuite bathrooms, are chock full of Scottish design touches and have picture windows to take in that view > read more: Inver restaurant and rooms.
Woodside Lodge, Loch Goil, Cairndow, Argyll – a very popular loch side wedding venue on Loch Voil in Argyll. Woodside Lodge has 5 beautiful bedrooms, but the estate at Woodside Lodge also has an incredible cabin – Seal Cabin – perched right on the loch shore. You could be in Canada or Scandinavia! The estate’s other cabin, Red Squirrel also offers lochside self-catering accommodation also sat on the shore of Loch Goil. Book: Woodside Lodge.
The Queen’s Hut, Birsemore Loch, Aboyne, Deeside – sitting on its own tree-lined loch, the Queen’s Hut is a luxury lochside cottage overlooking the Cairngorm Mountains near the Deeside town of Aboyne. Originally built for Queen Mary, the wife of King George V, The Queen’s Hut dates from the early 1900s and has recently been refurbished as a luxury hideaway by owners, The Dunecht Estate. The hut blends perfectly into its wooded landscape; sit out on the veranda with a cup of morning coffee and watch the light, mist and ducks on the loch. Read more: The Queen’s Hut.
The Birdwatcher’s Cabin, Loch Fleet, Golspie – the eastern part of the North Coast 500 might be right outside your door, but hidden on its own beach, the silence at the Birdwatcher’s Cabin is only interrupted by the whistling cry of an osprey taking flight over Loch Fleet’s endless stretch of sand dunes and 100-year-old Scots pinewoods. Inside this lochside cabin is a lesson in minimalist luxury. Designed by Anta, East Sutherland’s famous architects & interior firm, the sheer quality of the cabin will just blow you away. Book: The Birdwatcher’s Cabin.
Shieldaig Lodge, Loch Gairloch, Wester Ross – on a 26,000-acre estate on banks of Loch Gairloch in the wilds of Wester Ross is Shieldaig Lodge a lochside hotel. Sitting on the NC500 route, the hotel offers rooms and suites all with views of the loch. There is also a fine dining restaurant and whisky bar on site. Book: Shieldaig Lodge.
The Boathouses, Loch Tay, Perthshire – ‘Osprey’, ‘Oyster’ and ‘Dipper’ are beautiful Scandinavian-style Loch Tay boat houses, perched on the edge of Loch Tay. With your own loch side beach for a candle-lit bbq, a hot tub and red squirrels visiting for breakfast, I promise you won’t want to leave. Light the candles, pour a glass of fizz and just stare at the ever-changing views over the loch for hours and hours… ahh a perfect for your romantic getaway in Scotland. Read more The Boathouses, Loch Tay.
Kinloch Lodge Hotel, Loch na Dal, Isle of Skye – sitting on a sea loch on the Sleat Peninsula on the Isle of Skye is the famous Kinloch Lodge Hotel. Skye’s most historic hotel, Kinloch Lodge is a lochside luxury hotel with a renowned resturant and lovely rooms all sitting in a 16th century hunting lodge of the Macdonald clan over looking the lovely Loch na Dal with all of Skye on your doorstep. Book: Kinloch Lodge.
The Torridon Hotel, Loch Torridon – sitting on the edge of the deep sea loch is the Torridon Hotel – a luxury lochside hotel in the most dramatic of locations. Built in 1887 as a shooting lodge, The Torridon is now a luxury Scottish retreat. With 58 acres of parkland, its own herd of highland coos, the Torridon Inn next door and its spectacular location on the loch, the Torridon Hotel makes for a destination which invites you to check in, and not check back out. Read more: The Torridon Hotel.
The Three Chimneys, Loch Dunvegan, Isle of Skye – with a six-hour drive from Edinburgh or Glasgow and three hours to the closest airport, you need to make an effort for your dinner. However, on arrival at this string of tiny whitewashed croft cottages perched on the banks of Loch Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye, your efforts are seriously rewarded. You truly have reached somewhere quite special. Read more: The Three Chimneys & The House Over By.
Monachyle Mhor Hotel, Loch Voil, Perthshire – In the heart of the Perthshire highlands is the small village of Balqhidder, most famous for being the resting place of Scottish folk hero Rob Roy McGregor and home to foodie spot Monachyle Mhor which has held a reputation as one of Scotland’s best lochside hotels for decades. Leave the roaring traffic on the A84 behind and follow the long and winding lochside road to reach a beautifully pink boutique hotel overlooking Loch Voil and Loch Doine. Book: Monachyle Mhor
The Kylesku Hotel, Loch Glendhu, North West Highlands – beside the famous Kylesku Bridge on the North Coast 500 is the Kylesku Hotel serving up great seafood landed right outside your door. The rooms are smart and have special views out over Loch Glendhu. Book: The Kylesku Hotel.
Portavadie Hotel & Spa, Loch Fyne – on Scotland’s west coast, the spectacular Loch Fyne stretches from the pretty town of Inveraray to the stunning Ostel Bay – and right out to sea. Want to really get away from it all? Then head to the very edge of Loch Fyne and the Portavadie Marina and Spa, with its incredible infinity pool on the loch side. Book Portavadie Marina and Spa.
Knoydart House, Loch Nevis, Knoydart – In a country the size of Scotland, it’s surprising that there are still parts of the country so remote that it can take days to get to them. Described as Britain’s last wilderness, Knoydart is only accessible by boat or a 16-mile (26 km) walk in from Kinloch Hourn. On the banks of Loch Nevis is Knoydart House, a luxury self catering apartment – and the remote loch side accommodation in Scotland on this list! Book: Knoydart House.
The Whispering Pine Lodge, Loch Lochy, the Great Glen – Halfway up the Great glen is The Whispering Pine Lodge. Sitting right on Loch Lochy, the views from the Whispering Pine Lodge are extensive, stretching 9 miles from Gairlochy to Laggan, and above the hotel looms two towering Munros – Sron a’ Choire Ghairbh and Meall na Teanga, you could spend your time curled up in front of the view, glass in hand. Book: the Whispering Pine Lodge.
Loch Lomond Waterfront, Balmaha, Loch Lomond – when the sun shines bright on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond there are few places in Scotland more beautiful – and the best way to see the Loch is to wake up overlooking the water at Loch Lomond Waterfront. Sitting on the loch side at Balmaha, these chalets come with everything you need including jacuzzi hot tubs. With little-to-no light pollution at Loch Lomond, as soon as it got dark, all you can see from your outdoor tub were thousands of stars – and the occasional hooting owl passing by. Book: Loch Lomond Waterfront.
The Strontian Hotel, Loch Sunart, West Highlands – From the Isle of Skye to Ullapool, Scotland’s west coast is renowned worldwide for its dramatic seascapes and fjord-like sea lochs, however, the West Highland Peninsulas – Ardnamurchan, Morvern, Ardgour, Moidart, and Sunart are a little bit special. Check into lochside Strontian Hotel which sits on Loch Sunart for one of the best lochside hotel views in Scotland. Book: The Strontian Hotel.
Looking for more places to stay in Scotland?
- All my recommended places to stay in Scotland
- Romantic places to stay – Luxury Hotels and Boutique Hotels
- Get off the grid – Gorgeous Log Cabins in Scotland
- All my favourite – Fab places to stay in Scotland
- Looking for your own place – self-catering properties in Scotland
Love from Scotland x
Kate Hopper
The blogger behind Love from ScotlandLove from Scotland is your guide to how to travel Scotland like a local. My name is Kate and on my site you will find everything you need to plan your perfect trip to Scotland – from destination guides to the best places to stay.