Our first visit to Scotland and we found this little gem…. The magnificent and moody Ardanaiseig Hotel, upon arriving we were greeted by Dawn, who was very friendly and made us feel very welcome from the moment we stepped through the grand entrance. Dawn then showed us our lovely little room. Tea and coffee was well stocked, local toiletries in the bathroom. Big bath towels and bathrobes. After freshening up we decided to take a look around to see what the Ardanaiseig had to offer. Only to be met with a relaxing and historical interior. We were then greeted by Maxine at the bar, she was also warm friendly and chatty, just how we like it, she served us with some local brew….and after our drinks we decided on making a dinner reservation where my wife and I had what can only be described as the the best dinner ever, my wife had the lamb and I decided to have the Scottish fillet. The following day we donned our walking gear and went for bit of a hike around the hotels grounds, some 1000 or so acres of the most beautiful landscape we have seen. We were met with sublime views of the Loch and surrounding distant mountains. Breakfast the following morning……..delicious! Without a doubt we would book the Ardanaiseig again and thoroughly recommend a 2-3 night stay stay to anyone.

Such a stunning Hotel set on the bank of Loch Awe! So romantic and grand, but with a warmth that makes it relaxing and homely. The food was superb and staff were just brilliant! My daughter had son in law had their wedding here in march and it was without a doubt the most perfect setting for perfect day:-) all of our guests commented on how beautiful it was. I highly recommend staying here!

Oh how sad this place now is. Last time we were here, a few years ago, whilst the rooms were a bit dated even then and the water ‘a bit peaty’, the hotel was in good shape, there were ample staff who couldn’t do enough and the food was excellent. It’s a shame but the place doesn’t just look tired now but, in parts, exhausted. The place has clearly had a lick of paint a few years back and the public areas have had a bit of a renewal, but it would seem that that’s where the renovation has ended. Reception is a messy desk under the stairs and the three staff on duty, all act as receptionists, bar staff and wait staff - which means a long wait for a drink in the bar. Our bedroom curtains were so thin that we could see the sunrise through them, the carpet was wrinkled with age, the rugs had evidence of previous guests, the mishmash of furniture is at best odd, the bathroom tiny and the spray from the shower above the bath - well you can imagine. The extensive grounds will need a lot of work to restore them. Our ‘welcome’ note from the Manager tells us that our room will not be serviced whilst we’re here - which is not really ok (especially if your towels are wet!). Also we never actually saw the Manager around the hotel - which speaks volumes. Having said all that, the food isn’t quite up to where it was but is still very good and of course it’s not expensive to stay here. It’s very peaceful and has amazing views. This place needs some proper investment, care and love, and, with that, it could be a fabulous country house hotel. Sadly, it’s not that now.

I am staying at this £300 plus per night hotel as I’m writing this review. Staff good. Food good. But you CANNOT leave bedrooms unserviced for THREE days-that’s beds NOT made up at all and leave a note in which you ASK your punters TO MAKE THEIR OWN BEDS. Not and will never be acceptable and is NOT something that should only be told to the customer WHEN THEY ARRIVE. No no no no no. Stop it.

A birthday gift from my son and partner was the reason my wife and I, together with the two donors, came to be at this relatively remote country hotel for two nights, one of which was a Murder/Mystery evening. A look at the Gallery in this hotel’s website gives a good idea of the overall architecture and style. If you like bland, corporate mushroom and magnolia decor with fully fitted and matching furniture everywhere you look, this place is not for you! But it was right up our street. Most importantly, the room was clean, warm and comfortable; the bed was perfect; the bathroom was modern with an easy-to-use shower. The “Murder” was well executed (!), the dinner during which we quizzed the characters extremely good, especially considering the kitchen was feeding near enough thirty people simultaneously. I expected the next day’s dinner menu to overlap but, to my surprise, it was brand new with 3 choices for every course. How they manage that in a place which is off the beaten track with no passing traffic I have no idea. Breakfast was excellent. The staff were extremely friendly and caring and ensured our stay was a happy one. On a practical note, the Freesat television reception was excellent, and the hotel was well provisioned with books and board games. Internet access, however, depended a bit on geography - I had excellent online reception, but my son, only two doors down and round the corner, had a rather poorer internet connection. I would highly recommend this hotel and would return without hesitation. Worth five stars in every department.