Shandon Farmhouse

We felt safe and welcome as an LGBT couple, which I mention since I hadn’t seen it in other reviews. The place was wonderfully clean, and even though I have OCD and can be uncomfortable in some places, I felt relaxed here. Breakfast was brilliant, and we loved the view from the room. It was peaceful too, a little way from Drymen. Jayne was a kind, knowledgeable host who helped us figure out who to book our baggage transfer with months ahead. We were genuinely sad to stay only one night. Friendly, peaceful, clean, and a great breakfast, what more could you ask for?

Jane greeted us so warmly after we’d spent a couple of days in Edinbrugh, and showed us around the guest quarters and where to meet for breakfast. The big lounge has loads of comfortable places to sit. You can watch TV, read, snack, play games, or just look through the huge windows and relax. They all look out onto her beautiful family and carefully tended gardens. There’s so much love in the space that it feels like home. The room and bathroom were clean and comfortable, and breakfast had hot and cold choices. I had poached egg on toast with a side of sausage, and the teapot was never empty. The check-in details and times sent beforehand were clear, as were the guides about where to eat and how to get a table. I highly recommend staying here!

The worst B&B experience I’ve had in extensive travels around the world. It was part of an organized West Highland Way hiking trip, so I had no direct contact with the host beforehand. Check-in was at 4 pm, as the sign on the door said, and the same sign said the doorbell worked. I arrived at 2 pm after a 15 mile hike in cold, wet weather and rang it. After no response for a few minutes, I tried another door, which had no sign. I’d seen a young man go in and out there and thought it might be the guest entrance, but quickly realized it wasn’t and shut it. We then sat outside in the cold and rain for nearly two hours before Jane let us in. She immediately yelled at me for waking her from a nap by ringing the bell and for opening the door to her private residence. She was incredibly disrespectful and rude. I’ve never experienced anything like it in my travels or life. If I’d known there was another place nearby and could easily get a taxi, I would’ve left, but because it’s so rural that wasn’t an option. She was much nicer after calming down, but I no longer felt welcome or comfortable during our one night there. It ruined what should have been the first day of an amazing trip. While waiting in the cold, we tried to get a taxi into town, since the 20 minute walk was too much after a long day of walking, but there are no taxis or public transport. The bathroom in our spacious bedroom was dirty. Breakfast was good, but the tables still had dirt from the previous day's breakfast. We left on a positive note, as Jane was kind and caring in the morning and made sure we had what we needed for breakfast. Even so, I don’t recommend staying here.

The lounge is great, with books, a telescope and board games. Breakfast was excellent, with a choice of things like eggs, toast, salmon and oats. Our room was quite large and spotless, and the host is a very charming lady.