Duisdale House Hotel

Vishnu and Mia made our first night in Scotland unforgettable, and I’m really grateful to them. We arrived 12 hours late after multiple delayed flights from Phoenix, Arizona to Inverness, following 24 hours of flying. With a two hour drive still ahead, we wouldn’t reach Duisdale until 11:30pm, past the 11pm check-in cutoff. We called, and Vishnu answered and offered to wait up. When we arrived, he showed us to our lovely cottage. The bed was great, the towels were warm, the shampoo and soap smelled lovely, and there was a cosy seating area with a TV. We slept in since it was our first time in a bed for a while. Breakfast was ending at 10am, but Vishnu, bright eyed and bushy tailed despite staying up for us, let us order food from the dining room. Mia delivered it straight to our cottage. They went above and beyond for us.

The hot water problem and the lack of follow-up left us disappointed, especially on our honeymoon. At checkout on March 6, we raised our concerns and were told someone would contact us soon, but nobody has since. Our room had no hot water, and the showers were only lukewarm. Reception said the boiler had malfunctioned and asked us to wait 20 minutes. We waited longer, but the water was still cold, so after hiking and with it being late, we showered anyway. The hair dryer was broken too, though reception replaced it within five minutes. The staff member who checked us in was warm and welcoming, helped with our bags, and booked dinner for us, which we appreciated. We’d been excited to stay at Duisdale House Hotel as part of our honeymoon.

Even more than a year later, I still think about our stay, which probably says it all. The place felt magical, beautiful, cosy, warm and welcoming. My husband and I had a wonderful time, and I sincerely hope we can return. The room was lovely, the bed comfortable, and the bedding very soft. We also thought the food was excellent at both breakfast and dinner. The shower was the one downside. It only had an overhead showerhead, as if designed for gymnastics, and it was nearly impossible to shower without getting my hair wet. I was pregnant at the time, so avoiding washing my hair meant daily acrobatics worthy of the Olympics.

I didn’t have a car, and there’s enough nearby to walk around for a day. Beyond that, you’d need a car or a tour. There’s a lovely little path opposite the hotel for guests to use to visit the bay. The hotel has an excellent restaurant, and the staff were attentive, helpful and knowledgeable.