Another Place, The Machrie

James, the bartender and waiter, really stood out. He helped me get to grips with the island's whiskies, the food, and the hotel, and made a real difference to my stay. The hotel itself is beautiful, with charming décor, artwork, and little details throughout. The rooms are small but adequate. I did wonder why the bathroom was so oversized, since it made the bedroom feel cramped. One caution: the bathtub is quite high and has no grab bar, so it feels like an accident could happen. The hotel was great value for money and exceeded my expectations.

The staff at The Machrie were full of genuine enthusiasm and went out of their way to make our stay special. Thanks to JC, Callum, Cameron and Nick for making it memorable. The property has lovely, unobstructed Atlantic views from lots of spots, and every comfort seemed thought through, from wood burning fire places to hot tubs and complimentary wellies. We enjoyed whisky pairings, oyster luges, and 18 holes of incredible golf. Islay hospitality at its finest, and a fabulous stay from start to finish.

The golf was the main reason we came, and it was amazing: fun, scenic, and challenging, with everything I’d want from a classic Scottish links course. The weather made it hard not to enjoy ourselves, and there was literally a rainbow over the clubhouse and hotel. The hotel looked nice too, though we were there for golf and whiskey.

On 23 November, while holidaying on Islay, we planned to visit the Machrie for lunch and see if it might suit us as a base on a future trip. The website wouldn't let me choose a lunch time, so I tried calling several times. The answering machine said something like, “lines are very busy at the moment, so leave a message or email us.” We drove up, tried a door, and only then did someone open a window to tell us the hotel was closed for a few months. There was no sign at the hotel or the end of the drive, and I believe the website didn't mention the closure at the time. I see there's now a very small note buried in the text, but it's not immediately clear. I found the whole thing a little arrogant. It wasted quite a bit of our time and left us unhappy.