The Craigellachie Hotel

The whisky bar is still impressive, and breakfast had plenty to choose from. What we had was great. We also enjoyed the Spey Inn restaurant, though the vegetarian options were limited. The combinations we ordered were tasty and filling, and the restaurant looks and feels better than before. We hadn’t been back for 11 years, and the hotel has changed owners since then. The building and location still have a lovely feel. Our luxury room was spacious and comfortable, with a couple of drams as a nice touch. The large bathroom could use a few more shelves. We spent some time in nearby Aberlour, which is a pleasant place to visit and just about walkable on a dry day. I’m sure we’ll be back.

I’m glad I picked this hotel for my lunch break. I’d only stopped in hoping to get a sandwich, and was told there wasn’t a sandwich menu, but the lunch menu turned out to be a brilliant surprise. The trout Scotch egg came on mayonnaise, with delicious trout and a soft boiled centre in the golden egg. Even the mayo had a remarkable consistency. Whoever was in the kitchen was at the top of their game, and the delightful waitress made the meal even better.

The bar was nice and the stay was pretty good. If you want to be sure of dinner, reserve a table at the restaurant. At breakfast, go early if you can. Items can run out, and your dish may take up to 45 minutes to arrive.

We loved the beautiful hotel, the amazing food, and the quaint, fun bars. Jane was especially helpful. We hadn’t realized taxis weren’t readily available and regretted not booking a car service in advance. She went above and beyond trying to find us a car, then explained how to use the bus to get everywhere we needed to go. She was amazing. I’d highly recommend staying here, or stopping in for a good meal and a drink.