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Welcome to the Ballachulish Hotel, a friendly, cosy place to stay. Having recently undergone a full refurbishment, all the bedrooms at the Ballachulish Hotel offer modern decor, inspired by all that the West Highlands has to offer. With free wifi, a private carpark and all the home comforts you would expect in a hotel break, the Ballachulish Hotel is a great place to stay and explore the local area. With munros on our doorstep, views as far as the eye can see and the use of leisure facilities at our sister hotel, Isles of Glencoe. Soak up the views of Loch Linnhe while tucking into the the finest seafood. Locally sourced and lovingly prepared by our chefs, our FISH restaurant is the perfect spot to enjoy a relaxing dinner. Ballachulish Hotel looks forward to welcoming you on your visit to the West Highlands of Scotland.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is officially classified according to VisitScotland standards.
HOTEL STYLE
Business
Classic
Languages Spoken
English
Location
Old Ferry Brae Nr Fort William, Ballachulish PH49 4JY Scotland
Ballachulish Hotel
1,938 reviews
Getting there
Car recommended
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The Ballachulish Hotel draws frequent praise for its spotless interiors and scenic surroundings, with many guests impressed by the comfortable, modern rooms that boast picturesque views. While the service is often lauded for its friendliness, some visitors have encountered inconsistencies. The hotel's prime location is celebrated for outdoor adventure access and proximity to local sights.
Despite enjoying the historic charm and amenities like modern bathrooms, some guests mention the beds could be more comfortable and note occasional noise. Opinions on value are mixed, with criticisms often directed toward the dining experience.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Charming
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Satisfactory
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We have stayed at the hotel 3 times now over a space of 24 years. It has declined massively in that time our first visit was in 2000 our second was 2014 and our third was 4-6 of march 2024. Each time we go we notice little changes that standards are dropping. Our room was comfortable and clean, the reception staff warm and welcoming, we chose to take our dog and paid a healthy premium for this £20.00 per night. We booked a table at the Fish restaurant for 20.00 hrs and arrived promptly, staff were welcoming, but that’s when it started to go wrong nothing that we ordered from the set menus was available , we felt obliged to order things but we should have just quit then. The food that arrived for my wife was so below par as to be inedible when we were asked if the meal was satisfactory we could not lie, the response of the staff was very very poor, we still paid full price for the meal and I was asked( not my wife) if she would like a complimentary glass of wine. I could go into minute detail but I’ll end by saying you have lost two repeat customers who have told people for 24 years how good your hotel is
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Love the location, love the building avoid the food
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Hotel Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at Ballachulish Hotel
Responded 16 Mar 2024
Thank you very much for taking the time to leave a review of your stay Fraser c. We are sorry to hear that some aspects disappointed you and have shared your feedback with the Management Team at the hotel so that they can take your comments on board going forward. I would be delighted if you would get in touch with me directly and we do hope that we will have the opportunity of welcoming you back to the hotel before too long. Warmest regards Tracey Smith, Hotel Manager
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We visited as a group of four for a couple of days in November. The hotel is located in a good location and has a lovely outlook to the front , it is a lovely looking building. The hotel reception is good and all went smoothly checking in, we opted to eat in the evening to eat in the restaurant both nights and breakfast was also included. The room (101) was warm, beds good, and very comfortable, we had 2 dogs with us, there was plenty of areas to walk them around the hotel.
The evening meal was OK, what did let it down was the poor pudding menu, both nights none of us could find anything suitable, Just no variety, no sticky toffee pudding, apple pie, crumble, Eton mess, just bland boring things on there, was a real shame, would have had pudding every night if it wasn’t so bland. The main meals were pretty good though.
Breakfast again, could have been better, the orange juice was just weak orange squash, the buffet style was good but no option for veggie sausage/ bacon etc, .
Some of the staff in the restaurant seemed not to enjoy there job which was apparent at some times.
The lounge area was ok but the fires in there were woeful, looked like they had been bought from B and Q for £59.95, it was a gorgeous period room with massive fireplaces and a poor quality electric fireplace in each. Didn’t really add to the ambiance.
There were also many picture lights on the wall with missing pictures, not sure what that was all about.
All in all an ok hotel that could be made better with not a lot of investment, we enjoyed it but marvelled at the fact there were some very cheap and nasty additions.
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Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Orange juice
Sitting in the lounge
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We stayed for 3 nights at beginning of September and had an overall good experience. Seemed very much understaffed (which travelling from the USA and many establishments in my area also in the same situation). Seemed they were doing the best with that they could. The older hotel had a lot of character and certainly expected creaks and worn nature about it. The views from the dining area were very nice as with our bedroom (facing the water). The weather was very lovely while we were there so we sat outside quite a few evening with drinks. I don't regret staying there, however would most likely not stay again. The rooms were a very nice size and looked after each day, also had a small fan provided which was helpful as it was still on the warm side and there isn't any AC (which we knew going in).
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Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Crieff Hydro, General Manager at Ballachulish Hotel
Responded 13 Oct 2023
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback on your visit GatorMo. Although it's great to hear of the things that you liked about your visit we are really sorry to note that other aspects of your stay were disappointing. Your feedback has been shared with the Management Team and we do hope that you will visit us again in the future and that we will have the chance of welcoming you back soon. Warmest regards Tracey Smith, Hotel Manager
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Room was lovely but on the small side but the bathroom was freezing. The radiator had a very hot warning on it but was cold and the fuse for the bathroom radiator had been removed. I asked at reception why this was and was told it was because the towel rail got so hot they didn’t wire some up but they would get maintenance to sort it the next day which they did. Given it was January and the coldest weekend we have had I think this should have been on.
When we came back to the room after the cleaners had been in, I went to make a cup of tea and the mugs were still wet with a strong smell of bleach. I think they had just been rinsed out with a bleach solution rather than replaced with clean mugs. I had to wash them out in the bathroom sink.
One of the sitting rooms had 2 electric fires it which were only for effect and the actual radiator was also cold to touch.
We had dinner the first night and the only option was for a fixed 2 or 3 course menu. The burger was very basic and no additional salad on the side.
Breakfast buffet was variable. Nice selection of fruits and continental but cooked breakfast was poor. First morning it was undercooked and cold- bacon black pudding and potato scones, and the second day the bacon and black pudding were better cooked but potato scones were over cooked and all still cold. There was no orange juice on day 1. Only option was cranberry but both orange and cranberry available 2nd morning. If I’d ordered in a restaurant I’d have returned the cooked breakfast due to temperature and have never had any issues in other hotels with buffet breakfasts being cold.
As expected drink and food were expensive. We tried to go to the sister hotel, The Isles of Glencoe, for a late lunch but were told that they were also only doing main meals after 6pm however the menu looked better and was not a set 2 or 3 course. We ended up going to a cafe in glencoe for soup and a sandwich.
Overall very expensive for the value and I wouldn’t return
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Date of stay: January 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Hotel Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at Ballachulish Hotel
Responded 31 Jan 2024
Thank you very much for taking the time to leave a review of your stay lynnemiller2015. We are sorry to hear that some aspects disappointed you and have shared your feedback with the Management Team at the hotel so that we can take your comments on board going forward, some of which we have already implemented changes. We do hope that we will have the opportunity of welcoming you back to the hotel before too long. Warmest regards Tracey Smith, Hotel Manager
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We stayed for only one night on our way home after a Hebridean holiday. It was the best hotel by far - wish we could have stayed longer. As for the breakfast - outstanding! Personally I like the continental option and here the choice was extensive, the best breakfast of the holiday. My husband was equally happy with his cooked breakfast. The staff on duty made sure that nothing ran out so there was no waiting for dishes to be replenished. Our room was very pleasant, clean and comfortable with everything we needed.
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Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:There was no porterage so steps can be difficult with luggage.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stayed 2 nights with our dog last weekend, dog friendly staff friendly and you can eat in the bar area with your dog, food delicious great value for money and good menu. Lovely relaxed drawing room with fire to sit in and relax (dog allowed too). Stayed in a superior double beautiful room with large bathroom free standing bath tub and separate shower. Lovely breakfast. Hotel beautiful with Scottish features and charm. All staff helpful and friendly. Location stunning and nearby glencoe fort william and Glenfinnan. Part of crieff hydro hotels and stayed at crieff hydro over the years and cant fault it. Would stay again can't fault it.
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Date of stay: December 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Dogs can stay in any type of bedroom
Carpark at rear and ample space at rear or front of hotel...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Hotel Manager , Guest Services / Front Office at Ballachulish Hotel
Responded 14 Jan 2025
Thank you so much for posting a review Dream794131 and for your kind comments which are much appreciated. We are so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your visit and plan to return and stay with us again. Thank you for choosing The Ballachulish Hotel and we look forward to welcoming you (and your furry companions) in the future. Kind Regards; Will Marshall, Operations Manager
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While the hotel is in an incredibly beautiful location, we were very disappointed with our room. Rooms don't match rooms advertised on website. We paid premium price and don't feel we got what we paid for. When we checked in and got to our room, we were horrified to discover the bathroom had not been cleaned properly. Loads of hairs in bath and on shower wall. Used towel behind radiator. Brought it to the attention of reception. House keeping were sent and bathroom was cleaned but recieve no apology. I asked if we got the correct room as it was very very small. Was told yes, you got the feature double room. I asked what was the feature and told it was the window!!!!!!!!!!! Staff work hard but they were not friendly. We were refused a seat in the bar to have a drink because they were sitting the tables for breakfast, it was just after 8.30pm. Overall, we both were disappointed as we felt we paid alot of money for a below average service and room.
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Date of stay: July 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Tracey Smith, General Manager at Ballachulish Hotel
Responded 18 Jul 2023
Many thanks for taking the time to share your feedback Kar R. We are so sorry to hear that you felt that the level of cleanliness fell short during your visit. On checking with the team I understand you arrived early prior to check in time which is no problem at all and the Housekeeping Team made cleaning your room a priority to save you waiting, unfortunately I understand the bathroom hadn’t been thoroughly cleaned and there were some of hairs in the bath tub, for which the Team apologised immediately, after this had been resolved our Housekeeping Supervisor came back later in the evening and re cleaned the bathroom and supplied extra towels. We did apologise again on checkout. It is super clear on our website that our feature rooms are all different and double aspect views of the Loch are normally enjoyed by our guests. It's disappointing to learn our Warm Highland Hospitality was lost on you. Warmest regards Tracey Smith, Hotel Manager
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Setting is beautiful, but the hotel is tired. The room was extremely expensive, and when we ate in the dining room, the chicken we ordered had blood coming out of it, and was not fully cooked.
It has to be said the staff were warm, friendly and very sympathetic. We decided to leave without staying overnight, and we were duly offered a full refund.
In summary - Great staff, tired building that requires some investment to bring it up to standard, and very poor menu & food.
Real shame as it has the makings of a great hotel.
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Date of stay: June 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Hotel Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at Ballachulish Hotel
Responded 13 Jun 2024
Many thanks for taking the time to post a review of your visit jerrywX7823NY. I was sorry to hear that you were disappointed with the standard of food and our Head Chef and Food and Beverage Manager have addressed the issues. I can only say that your this is certainly not our usual guest experience and I am pleased the Team were able assist you both. Warmest regards Tracey Smith, Hotel Manager
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This hotel is absolutely wonderful - and possiby one of the best we have ever stayed at. We thoroughly enjoyed the surroundings, furnishings and comfort of this wonderful old building. Our room was HUGE (2 adults, 2 teens and 2 dogs had plenty of room) The bathroom was furninshed with modern fittings, and was spotless. The dogs enjoyed a lovely welcome package. The breakfasts and dinners we enjoyed were absolutely delicious. A huge selection and variety to cater for all tastes at breakfast, kept hot and re-stocked throughout service. The dinner menu certainly kept our mouths watering for a week - each offering as delicious as the last. Fresh, tasty and served with a smile. All the staff from front desk, to restaurant/bar and housekeeping were very friendly and welcomed us into the Ballachulish family. They were full of advice, tips and ideas of places to go, things to see, and how to time the activities for the best of everything. We were very sad to leave, and will certainly make a return visit just as soon as we can. Thank you so much to all of you for an absolutely BRILLIANT time.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: July 2022
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Crieff Hydro, General Manager at Ballachulish Hotel
Responded 6 Aug 2022
Dear LisaC119, Thank you for your excellent feedback which I will share with all team members. I am delighted you loved every minute of your stay and we look forward to welcoming you back in due course. Kind regards, Ken Buchanan General Manager
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Absolutely shocking! Don’t waste your money. Our room was tiny & you couldn’t open the bathroom door fully because the chairs were in the way. I really felt like the best rooms were given to the coach party guests & not the independent (or maybe English) travellers.
The lounge was the only area to take drinks but unlike what’s advertised, the cosy fires consisted of electric plug in fake wood burners & worn, smelly sofas. (See photos)
The restaurant was shockingly overbooked & understocked. We couldn’t get a decent meal on either night we stayed & felt they were more interested in the amount of covers v the quality. For a ‘celebrated’ seafood restaurant, to have very little seafood on the first night & even less, almost none on the second was disgusting.
The bar staff were very rude & the manager nowhere to be found even though we asked many times to speak to them (I don’t like leaving a bad review before talking face to face).
This hotel felt like theme park for the overseas coach parties and not what we wanted at all. At £250 a night??? Shockingly bad. If you want an authentic highland hotel, try the Altnahrra Hotel. A fraction of the price and the other end of the scale.
Absolutely ruined our holiday at this dump
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Don’t stay here
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The hotel building looks like an old castle. It's a little quirky getting to your room but it is a nice place to stay. The surroundings are very picturesque, right along a river. I'm pretty sure there are no elevators but the hotel was very clean and the food was great. The room I was in had a really great view and was very roomy. The bathroom had towel heaters which are wonderful! I hope you enjoy your stay.
There are more places to choose from in the Ballachulish area.
PRICE RANGE
$272 - $371 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
ballachulish hotel
LOCATION
United KingdomScotlandScottish HighlandsGlencoeBallachulish
NUMBER OF ROOMS
53
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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