Five great views in Scotland

SCOTLAND is famed for its breathtaking views, from Munros and lochs, to mediaeval city skylines and sea views. Here, we pick five places (in no particular order) to stay, where an incredible view is right on your doorstep.

Torridon Hotel

The Torridon Hotel looks out onto its namesake Loch Torridon, in Achnasheen, Wester Ross. Although the hotel itself is impressive, we’ve chosen to focus on the more secluded Boat House. Ideal for romantic getaways, or simply those after a bit more privacy, it offers one of the best views in Scotland in our opinion. Looking out over the loch, with views of Beinn Alligin and Liathach, the unspoilt mountainous scenery combined with the loch make for a tranquil yet classically Scottish view.

Torridon is a small village, located on the North West coast of Scotland, in the Applecross area. For those who want a bit more action as it were, there are countless hills and Munros to conquer in the vicinity, including Liathach, Beinn Eighe, Beinn Alligin (which we’ve included in our gallery) and Beinn Dearg.

Ardanaiseig Hotel

This is another loch-and-mountains combination in terms of scenery, but don’t stop reading just yet. On the banks of Loch Awe in Argyll, the Ardanaiseig Hotel, located in Kilchrenan, by Taynuilt is a four-star hotel with five-star views. Situated near the small town of Oban (which has its own distillery), the views over Loch Awe are breathtaking. Situated right on the west coast of Scotland in the shadow of Ben Cruachan, the scenery is perfect for photographers, adventurers and hill-walkers, with numerous walks and activities to keep everyone happy.

If you have time, you should visit McCaig’s Tower, a vast, half-finished structure built for wealthy banker and philanthropist John Stuart McCaig. Overlooking Oban, the Tower was designed by the eponymous McCaig, who was a great admirer of Roman and Greek architecture. He had grand plans for a McCaig family monument based on the Colosseum in Rome, comprising a museum and art gallery, along with a central tower. He had also planned for statues of himself and his family, but his death brought a premature end to construction, leaving only the outer walls complete. It does, however, provide fantastic views.

Fairmont Hotel, St Andrews

Boasting two golf courses and sumptuous surroundings, the Fairmont Hotel has long been a favourite with golfers and politicians alike (the Northern Irish peace talks were held there in 2006). The hotel has its plus points - a choice of restaurants and spa treatments - but one of the crowning glories of the resort is its view over St Andrews Bay. Upon opening, the hotel was named after the bay that can be seen from most of the hotel’s bedrooms, or from the golf courses. The club house restaurant also offers panoramic views of the bay and the coastline, and we recommend embarking on a short walk along the coastal path next to the resort.

The hotel is also fairly secluded, located a short drive from the centre of St Andrews, which adds an air of peacefulness to the surroundings. The position of the hotel means that the view is almost panoramic, with views over to Dundee on especially clear days.

The Highland Club, Loch Ness

Scotland is well-known for its lochs and glens, especially Loch Ness, the country’s second-largest loch in terms of surface area, but the largest in terms of volume, reaching up to 755ft at its deepest point (although Loch Morar is deeper at 1,017ft). Allegedly home to Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster, it is known for its rugged scenery and beautiful surroundings.

The Highland Club self-catering apartments offer an incredible view across the loch, with the mountains in the background. The high levels of peat in the surrounding areas mean the water is very murky, adding to the mystery of the loch. The facilities and close proximity to Fort Augustus mean that there is plenty of activities to keep yourselves occupied - that’s if you ever tire of the view, of course...

Rhian Guest House

Set in 22 acres of ground, the Rhian Guest House in Tongue, is open all year round, with the lounges providing panoramic views of Ben Loyal. A former gamekeeper’s cottage, it is situated in the wilds of the Sutherland countryside, and is a long way to go (over 150 miles from Edinburgh) but certainly worth the drive for the views, and the chance to climb Ben Loyal. Being able to relax in the guest house, with a view of the mountain you’ve just conquered is a rather good feeling.

Jenny and Stuart, the proprietors offer superb breakfasts featuring their own home grown produce, including free-range eggs (hens permitting), and provide a warm welcome. Whatever activities you choose to do, peace, quiet and comfortable surroundings are what makes this remote location so appealing.

If you’ve got a suggestion for what you feel is the best view in Scotland, why not let us know on our Facebook page?