Cluanie Inn

The room was cosy and nice, if a little expensive, and breakfast was very good. But the service, especially from the woman at reception, spoiled the stay. I asked spontaneously about a room and whether she'd match the lower price I'd found online. When she wouldn't, I booked online right there. She said she couldn't see the booking, even after I showed her the confirmation, and told me to contact the booking platform. Then she ignored me and went back to watching her Indian series on her phone. More than an hour passed before she suddenly found the confirmation in the system. I stayed one night last October. Staff like that can ruin an otherwise good B&B.

The staff were what made this place special. They were genuinely caring, even asking about my hill walking plans and when I expected to return for safety, and they were flexible and helpful when I had to change my original booking. My room was beautifully comfortable and breakfast was great. The location is perfect for some amazing hikes, and the bakery and bar onsite were just the thing to refuel afterwards. Such a lovely place to stay. I'll definitely be back!

The hotel looked beautiful with its Christmas decorations, which was nice, but for me it felt like three-star quality at five-star prices. The food was okay, but overpriced for what you get. There was a fork missing from the place setting and crumbs on my side plate, which was shameful. The butter chicken was described as chargrilled, but the chicken seemed to be processed pieces from a precooked packet, added to what may have been a home-cooked sauce. It felt exploitative. The bathroom was clean, though the grout was missing in places and it looked tired. The bedrooms were warm but didn't quite have the cosy country feel they seemed to be aiming for.

On a rainy day this was a really cosy place to eat. I didn't expect to find Indian food in this area, but we were lucky to get creamy dal makhni with steamed rice and popadom. The portion seemed small for the price, and the dal may have come from a ready-to-eat packet. I also ordered a Bombay sandwich with crisps, and it took me right back home. I'd recommend stopping here if you're travelling through the area.