One Sea

The set-menu food is superb, and the service feels genuinely personal, so I thought it was well worth the money. Before dinner, chatting with other residents and visiting dinner guests over canapés and gin or whisky is always enlightening. The lounge window has cracked panes from winter storms, and some bathroom fittings are a little dated, but those things add to the cosy feel. It’s tremendously hard to do anything in the Outer Hebrides, let alone run a gorgeous hotel. Scarista House is a short walk from Scarista beach and has as much character as the island. After walking the nearby ridiculously lovely beaches or heading up the hills for once-in-a-lifetime views, it feels like a warm, friendly home from home. Can I give it six stars? Ten? Highly recommended. Just don’t tell anyone else, and let it stay our secret.

We were ignored as we left, without even a thanks for coming. The welcome was nonexistent, and the ordinary food was served in a very cold room. For such a mediocre offering, the price was eyewatering. Very disappointing.

While walking the Hebridean Way, we camped in the nearby dunes and stopped at Scarista House one evening for tea and coffee. Even with our smelly shirts and dirty boots, they welcomed us into a room. The atmosphere was a bit different from what hikers are used to, but they made us very good tea and coffee and gave us a wonderfully warm welcome. Thanks so much, with love from the Netherlands.

We came for dinner on the recommendation of a renowned food critic, to celebrate my wife’s significant birthday, and the whole team were outstanding. The fresh local ingredients were simple and put together with real aplomb. Before dinner, canapés in the library burst with flavour and left us eager for the main meal. The dining rooms have old-world charm and elegance, and the serving staff were delightful, attentive, helpful and engaging. I loved having such thoughtful hosts and a set dinner menu that reflects the spirit of the island. It made the evening memorable. Well done, Tim and Patricia, you deserve the accolades.