Have you always wanted to stay in the Highlands, with the chance to view or go to the Isle of Skye? Well, West Highland Hotel Mallaig could be your choice. Mallaig is a working port on the west coast of the Highlands and it has been the busiest herring port in Europe during the 1960s! It's colourful and charming, and no matter where you are, you'll get fantastic views of the sea. In fact, from each one of the rooms in the hotel, you'll be ensured of sea views.
Even though Mallaig is small enough for a quick visit, it is highly worth staying here as the area itself has plenty of things to do and see. For instance, think about spotting wildlife, taking a trip on the steam train over the 'Harry Potter bridge, and more. The large village still drives mainly on fishing rather than tourism. This makes it very interesting and refreshing as a Highland town. So be prepared for sea, boots, and fishermen!
Besides, Mallaig is the perfect starting point to explore the Highlands and the Isle of Skye. Not for nothing is it named ‘’Road to the Isles’’. From Mallaig, there’s a network of ferry services to Skye, the Small Isles, South Uist, and the Knoydart peninsula. Moreover, Mallaig is also the place to be if you want to catch a ferry to the islands of Rum, Eigg, and Muck. Or you can take the boat to the village of Inverie. This is the only village in Scotland with no link to the road network, located on the southern side of the Knoydart peninsula.
So sooner or later, you’ll probably visit Mallaig.
Today, we will review West Highland Hotel Mallaig. Even though it has a superb location, is it still worth staying there? What is the price-quality ratio? What can you expect?
Let’s get started.
west highland hotel mallaig
About West Highland Hotel Mallaig
As said before, West Highland Hotel Mallaig is the hotel that will offer you brilliant sea views from every single room. It's also closely located at the railway station and ferry port, making it the ideal place for travellers (only 5 minutes away). From the hotel, you'll get views over the islands of Skye, Rum, and Eigg. Good to know that West Highland Hotel Mallaig is dog-friendly. This means that you can bring your four-legged friend(s) with you. The owners seem to adore dogs. You can also tell that the owners are passionate about Mallaig.
The staff of West Highland Hotel Mallaig is very friendly. They work hard, which is also necessary as there are staff shortages all over the country. Do you have a problem? They will fix it for you. They could even let you move to another room if there’s something wrong. The hotel is modern and classic, so you won’t stay in an old creaky hotel. Did you know that Mallaig is not even 200 centuries old? It became an established village between 1841 and 1851. The population rose from 24 people to 134 people during this period. So this hotel hasn’t been there for centuries. But still, you can taste historic vibes.
The number of guests in this hotel can vary a lot. It also depends on the number of ferries that are working at the time. The hotel is a clean and tidy place and serves as a great base to explore the rest of the area.
How is the restaurant at West Highland Hotel Mallaig?
When it comes to menu choices, West Highland Hotel Mallaig excels most with fish dishes. So if you like to eat fish, I highly recommend opting for this. You'll be eating in a working fishing port, so it makes even more sense to go for a meal with fish. These are probably freshly caught by the fishermen in the morning. There isn’t a lot of choice on the menu, but enough to be satisfied for a few days. There are quite a few options to sit:
- The Island View Restaurant
- The Terrace Brasserie
- The Library Room
And the best thing about eating in this hotel is that you have the chance to watch a glorious sunset over the Island of Rum and the inner Hebrides.
You can be sure to eat well at the terrace restaurant with friendly staff and good service. If you want, you can also eat in the bar or visit other restaurants which are nearby. The local restaurants are quite good.
Rooms at West Highland Hotel Mallaig
What about the rooms? These are known to be clean and tidy, but as with most hotels, not all rooms are spacious or luxurious. The cheapest rooms are quite small and the bathroom is nothing fancy. But the biggest plus about these rooms is the views. So you can tell that the location compensates for this. Be aware: if you want nice sea or harbour views, you have to make sure you choose the right room. And you know what comes with great views? You probably have to take some steps up. And that’s also the case with a part of the rooms in West Highland Hotel Mallaig.
For example, there are more than 40 steps up to get to a room – there’s no elevator. So if you bring members with you with mobility issues, then make sure you’ll choose a room that’s on the ground floor (or choose another place to stay). For example, the Superior King Suite is located on the ground floor (which is the best room in the hotel with a private terrace).
The rooms are charming, and tastefully decorated, and all have free WiFi. And as mentioned before, not all rooms are small. You can choose a family room, a superior room, or a King Suite, for example, to get more space. Oh, and there’s a surprising room I’ll show you at the end of the list. Here are all the different rooms you can choose from:
Single room
This room is perfect if you’re planning to stay alone in this hotel. You will have the cheapest room, and all single bedrooms have an en-suite bathroom with either a shower or a bath. Every single room has a unique character. What's for sure is that you'll enjoy either a sea view (including an island) or a harbour view.
Standard room
The standard room is your cheapest choice if you want to stay with 2 people. You can either choose a cosy double room with a double bed or a cosy twin room with single beds. No matter which room you choose, you won’t get the guarantee of a beautiful sea view.
Family room
Are you planning to stay with a family? Or do you want a bigger room where you'll be guaranteed a sea view or a harbour view? Then the family room is your choice. The family room has 1 double bed and 1 single bed. It can be used for a maximum of 3 guests.
Classic rooms
The classic rooms are an upgrade from the standard rooms. If you just want to have a little more space, and to be sure of a sea or harbour view, then the classic rooms are your choice. You can choose from a classic twin room, a classic triple room, or a classic double room. It depends on if you want single beds or not, and if you’re planning to stay with 2/3 people. Note: all the classic double rooms offer Television.
The single room and the family room are also categorized under the ‘’classic rooms’’ but for more clarity, we decided to separate them.
The King Suite
If you want the best room in the hotel, then you should go for the Superior King Suite. This room is located on the ground floor with access to a private terrace. You'll have amazing views of the islands and the sea. With a king bed, relaxing sofas, luxury toiletries, a walk-in shower, and a coffee machine you'll get even more comfort and extra amenities that the other rooms don't have.
Superior Rooms
You can also go for the Superior King Room or the Superior Double Room, which are a little cheaper than the Superior King Suite. These rooms don’t offer a private terrace, but they will offer you the best views of the hotel.
Surprise: Hot tub studios
Surprise! West Highland Hotel will also have hot tub studios available for booking. At this time writing, you can’t book them directly from their site. They’re still working on these rooms. But what’s for sure, is that the views are amazing. Just have look at the picture below. There’s no better place to sit in a hot tub after exploring the beautiful Highlands or one of the isles.
Conclusion: Is West Highland Hotel Mallaig worth staying in?
If you're looking for a base to sleep in to explore the Highlands, or the isles nearby, then West Highland Hotel Mallaig is worth to consider. The rooms are clean and tidy, the staff is friendly, and if you choose the right rooms you will have brilliant views. The cheapest rooms are quite small with bathrooms that are nothing special – so don't expect high value for money for these. West Highland Hotel Mallaig can be suited for people with mobility issues, but then you have to make sure you choose a room on the ground floor. From the hotel, you can reach the ferry port and railway station in just 5 minutes.
After West Highland Hotel Mallaig
What do you think about West Highland Hotel Mallaig know? We’d love to hear from you in the comments. And if you like more inspiration about places to stay in Scotland, then have a look at our other articles:
