Cuilfail Hotel, Isle of Seil

Nestling at the foot of rolling hills close to the shores of Loch Melfort and dating from 1840, Cuilfail Hotel is a splendid former coaching inn, one of the oldest hotels on the west coast. Part of the hotel was originally an old drovers’ inn, however the majority of the hotel was built during the Victorian era and many features of that period have been preserved. The name Cuilfail (pronounced “cool-fail”) in Gaelic appropriately means “Sheltered Corner”.

The inn is one of the area’s most popular and favourite country eating out experiences. Much of the produce used, including wonderful Scotch beef, comes from the surrounding farms and the local farmers are very discerning about how their endeavours are presented and flavoured on the plate. The public rooms, while deceptively spacious and plentiful, preserve the intimacy and easy friendliness of the place. There’s an authentic village bar with its real fire, imposing fireplace and stone walls, a cosy “snug” lounge area, a restaurant and a grand function room with wood panelling and vaulted ceiling. On offer at the Cuilfail is a good range of ales aperitifs and malt whiskies naturally specialising in those originating from the west coast of Scotland and the western Isles.

The Cuilfail Hotel will appeal to visitors who wish to relax in peaceful highland countryside and be near a wide range of activities and places of interest. The Cuilfail is just 15 miles from Oban - "The Gateway to the Isles", with craft and souvenir shops, Oban distillery visitor centre, Miniatures Museum and Sea World.

Close to the hotel there are many places of historic interest, including castles of Kilchurn and Inverary. Also nearby are the National Trust for Scotland's gardens at Arduaine, An Cala Gardens at Easdale and Crarae Glen Gardens at Inveraray