Altskeith Country House on Loch Ard

When Storm Flores hit and every train to Glasgow was cancelled, we were left stranded. We tried looking at other routes, but everything was delayed or would have got us there too late to make the trip worthwhile. Traveling in the storm felt unsafe, and the situation was outside our control. We contacted the hotel as soon as we could and explained what had happened. We had booked directly to support them, not through a third party. They stuck rigidly to their “7-day non-refundable” policy and wouldn’t make even a basic allowance for the circumstances. There was nothing in the policy about force majeure or natural disasters, which seems like a standard exception to have. Every other provider refunded us without hesitation, including our private driver, who had a 24-hour cancellation rule. The hotel did not. We offered a reasonable compromise, paying for one night and getting the other two refunded, but they refused outright. After days of polite messages, we finally got frustrated, understandably, and they called us rude, said they didn’t want “clients like us,” then hung up in the middle of the conversation. That’s not hospitality. The way they handled this felt arrogant, unprofessional and completely lacking in compassion. If you book here and something goes wrong, don’t expect help, fairness or even basic manners.

Alison’s warm hospitality made us feel at home throughout a wonderful stay. The place was cosy, welcoming and exceptionally well kept. The food was delicious, especially the smoked salmon, which really stood out. We’d highly recommend this hotel to anyone after a comfortable, memorable experience.

The food at the restaurant was superb, and Alison and Yas were friendly and helpful. They also gave us useful information for an outing. We spent a weekend here for our anniversary and it was just what we needed, with a peaceful but welcoming feel. The room, like the rest of the hotel, was beautifully furnished, with stunning views over the Loch. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend a stay here! John and Nancy.

We only had one night, but this was such a special place. The scenery was breathtaking, right on the Loch with mountains all around and a tiny beach. Room 2 was stunning, spotless and comfortable, with an amazing shower. It also came with what seemed to be the best table in the restaurant. The food was Michelin-star worthy. Yas makes his own pastrami, smoked salmon and beef brisket, and all of it melted in the mouth. They mentioned selling it online, and I’ll be first in line! Breakfast was amazing, with plenty to eat, and the service felt warm, friendly and personal. Honestly, the nicest place I’ve ever stayed.