Plockton Hotel

Now run by the younger generation, this family-owned hotel is in the centre of a lovely National Trust for Scotland village and part of a long, low terrace of stone-built houses. The comfortably furnished lounge bar has window seats looking out to the boats on the water, as well as antiqued dark red leather seating around neat Regency-style tables on a tartan carpet, three model ships set into the woodwork and partly panelled stone walls. The separate public bar has pool, board games, TV, a games machine and piped music. Cairngorm Trade Winds and the local Plockton Bay on handpump, 25 malt whiskies and several wines by the glass. Most of the comfortable bedrooms (it's worth booking well ahead) are in the adjacent building - one has a balcony and woodburning stove and half of them have extraordinary views over the loch; good breakfasts. Tables in the front garden look out past the village's trademark palm trees and colourfully flowering shrub-lined shore, across the sheltered anchorage to the rugged mountainous surrounds of Loch Carron; a stream runs down the hill into a pond in the attractive back garden. There's a hotel nearby called the Plockton Inn, so don't get the two confused.