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Suggested Tours of Scotland
Dunlastair Hotel, Kinloch Rannoch


The Dunalastair HotelI've always been of the opinion that hotels in Scotland do not make the most of the web by telling prospective visitors what they can do while based at their hotel.  As I decided to take a holiday before leaving for the USA I thought it would be good to document my stay at the Dunalastair Hotel in Kinloch Rannoch. To my mind this is what all hotels should do on their web sites and I've only scratched the surface of what is possible for an hotel to do.

When you follow the links below you'll find loads of photographs and each one is a thumbnail so if you click on any of them you will get a larger picture to view.

Click here for road map of the area

  • A view from the bridge some 25 yards from the hotel17th to 19th September
    Here is an account of my arrival at the Dunalastair Hotel and some pictures from around the area and also at the Pass of Kilicrankie which is just a short drive from there.

  • 19th September
    My trip from the Queen's View through Kinloch Rannoch through to Rannoch Station.
  • 20th September
    This was my trip to Blair Castle and then onwards to Inverness and the Battle of Culloden with a wee side trip on the way back to see a Black House.
  • A view from the bridge at the Dunalastair hotel. 21st September
    This was my day for visiting Glencoe.
  • 22nd September
    Today I visited Newtonmore and the Highland Folk Museum.
  • 23rd September
    Today I was getting checked out for my kilt so couldn't go too far and so decided to explore more of the country around Kinloch Rannoch.
  • 24th September
    Today I spent the day in Inverness at the SNP conference.
  • 25th September
    Today I went to Aberfeldy to visit the Cranogh and also took in Menzies Castle.
  • The Dunalastair Hotel CaliNet ISP service for full Internet access26th September
    Today was spent in Rothiemurchus which is around an hour and fifteen minutes from the Dunalastair Hotel and right beside Aviemore.
  • 27th September
    Mostly around the Dunkeld are but also back to Aberfeldy but up in the hills.
  • 28th September
    Mostly around Pitlochry and in the hills above Aberfeldy and also at the Dewar Distillery.
  • 30th September
    Headed for Blairgowrie then to Braemar going through Glenshee.
  • 1st October
    Today headed down to Comrie to get a final fitting for my kilt.
  • 3rd October
    Not a lot happening but this is what happened :-)
  • 4th October
    Day for exploring Pitlochry.
  • 10th October
    Explored Fortingal
  • 11th October
    Spending the night at the Rannoch Station Hotel
  • 12th October
    Exploring the walk at East Schiehallion
  • 12th October
    Doing the clan trail around Loch Rannoch
  • 13th October
    Headed down to the Scottish Borders for a meeting
  • 14th October
    Return journey from Hawick in the Scottish Borders
  • 14th October
    Continuation of my return to Kinloch Rannoch
  • 17th October
    Today I had a meeting with Scottish Enterprise at Rannoch Station and as it was a really beautiful day I decided to take some more photographs.

So what did I think of the Dunalastair Hotel?  Well it has some superb advantages for me as it is also the home of CaliNet, an ISP operation, so I was able to get full broadband access to the Internet to allow me to keep my site updated and to do all the email.  The folk are very friendly and at the back of the hotel is the "local" pub where you get to meet the locals. Being in a small village it is normal for folk to wish you "good morning" and all in all you will feel right at home.

The staff at the Dunalastair come from all over the world with folk coming from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Hungary, etc., as well as Scotland so you have a great mix of accents :-)  While staying here there were folk staying from the United States but also a lot from Europe. 

The food is excellent with large portions and the soup in particular was excellent.  The Lamb shank was also a great dish but you do need to have a large appetite to finish it :-).  Rooms are excellent but no telephones in the room which I was surprised at.

So.. were there any downsides to my experience?  Only two minor ones... first, this hotel is not Men friendly!!!  I stayed in several rooms and in each the toilet lid has a distinct tendency to fall down on you.. so beware guys!!! :-)  The only other wee problem was getting a nice hot cup of coffee.. but if you asked they would get you some fresh.

I will say that the chef was very accommodating and if you wanted something a bit different to what was available he would do his best to help out.  I got a bit fed up with the wee new potatoes on offer so asked for something different and he obliged with sauté and roast potatoes.  Also a couple of nights I couldn't take another dinner and they were happy to do sandwiches for me with some chips. 

They have an excellent bar and if you like whisky you'll get a fabulous selection to choose from. Must be over 100 malt whiskies on offer.

Just around the loch you can also follow the clan trail and as 8 clans are associated with the area you can enjoy exploring the places that the clans lived and worked.  The MacGregor island is now flooded so you only see the top of the tower they built but really... there is just so much to experience and explore you should base yourself at an hotel like Dunalastair for a week and then perhaps move on to another destination for a similar and new experience.

So.. would I recommend a stay at the Dunalastair Hotel?  You bet I would... great people.. great accommodation... great food... and lots to see and do plus they offer full Internet access!!!

You can visit their web site at www.dunalastairhotel.com


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