Eleanor Whitticombe

With only a stay of about 17 hours, it is difficult to give much detail. Nevertheless, the interior had recently been updated and highlighted the interests, hobbies, and personalities of members of the Colcuhoun family who have been in the luss area for centuries.

Our room was okay and the bathroom quite small. It took a very long time for the shower to get hot water. PIllows were not very "fluffy" but we had been spoiled by previous hotels on this trip. By the same token, the more simple accommodation was just fine and seemed completely suited to the locale and flavor of Port Charlotte in a good way.

As we only had one night's stay, it's a bit harder to rate this hotel in its entirety. We didn't take advantage of the spa. We had dinner in the more casual restaurant, the Deck. We did wander around the island and enjoyed the views and encounters with both farm and wildlife. Our room was a bit on the small side and quite a climb to via a steep stairway.

This was quite exceptional between the stately, elegant stone building, the carriage houses, and the property with walking trails.

We had a very brief stay from early evening to early morning as we were transitioning from our stay on Harris and Lewis to heading towards the Applecross penninsula.

Broad Bay House is located 15 minutes north of Stornoway and was built to be a Bed and Breakfast rather than converting a private home to such. On our first night's stay we enjoyed a sharing platter of seafood for dinner. It was ample, attractively presented, and very good. On specific nights they serve a plated dinner but our stay didn't coincide with this option,

Our room was absolutely gorgeous. It felt more like a suite with a small hallway leading off the bedroom to the spacious bathroom that had both a shower and free-standing bathtub. The food is amazing. We had 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts there. Dinner is a series of small courses which can be paired with wines for each course. Unique to this hotel is that breakfast is fixed and presented as small courses much like as the dinner. but with breakfast type food/dishes. No wine at breakfast!

Perfectly nice hotel. Room was on the small side. Lobby and public areas make it clear that this area is ideal for fishing.

Forss House is tucked away in the woods off the main highway. The main house has 4 or 5 rooms and there are also cottages, popular with the fishing crowd. Our room in the main house was spacious and comfortable. For dining, there is a dining room and a conservatory (a glassed-in porch) which was especially nice for breakfast. We had dinner at the hotel that was orchestrated very well. We began in the Bar where we were served Champagne and hors d'oeuvres. Then went into the dining room for dinner. The food was exceptional. We wandered the grounds and enjoyed the waterfall and the meandering river. The gardens around the house are lovely.

We only had a one-night stay at the Rocpool Reserve. The room was very attractive and unique in that the bathroom was downstairs from the bedroom. The bathroom was the most spacious I've ever encountered! Going downstairs when nature calls in the middle of the night might not be to everyone's liking. Other rooms may not have this same configuration. It was in a convenient location for us to explore Inverness on the afternoon of our arrival. Breakfast in the morning was excellent.

Even though I'm not much of a whisky drinker, this tour was very well done. Very cleverly, they provide everyone (except the designated driver) a lanyard that supports a whisky tasking glass. As the tour progressed we sampled whiskies along the way.

This was well worth a visit. We were fortunate to get good weather (meaning only a little rain). I highly recommend this reserve. As we are birdwatchers, we did have some nice birding along the Fern Walk. Combined with the path to the suspension bridge across the gorge, it makes for a long enough walk to work of that morning porridge with cream and honey.

Day 2 with our driver, Donald, we toured around the coast of Harris. Because it is so mountainous, there isn't the same level of historic sights as on Lewis. The one historical site is St. Clement's Church with 15th century carvings and graves within. The west coast of Harris offered beautiful beaches.

We were picked up at our B&B at 10 am and proceeded to the very northern tip of the island to see the lighthouse and the dramatic cliffs in strong winds. From there we made a brief stop at the Port of Ness, formerly a herring fishing port. Next we visited a small, but mighty museum, Comunn Eachdraidh Nis that highlights the local history. A small cafe provided a delicious lunch. Moving down the west coast, we visited the Clach An Truishal Standing Stone, The Shieling Barvas and Brue, Whalebone Arch, Gearrannan Blackhouse Village, a Harris Tweed factory, and Dun Carloway Broch.

This was exceptional. Our guide took us on a wonderful hike on the Shieldaig Penninsula. We learned a lot and we quite on the same page in terms of interests and what mattered most to us.

Took a look. Pretty but did not blow our socks off (even the though the wind was blowing hard enough to do so).

The Summer Isles Boat Trip had to be canceled due to rough winds and water, but we were able to go on the Whale and Dolphin cruise later in the afternoon in a high-speed RIB boat. No whales spotted but playful dolphins kept us entertained. We also saw Common Seals resting on the rocks.

Ullapool is a nice town that occasionally gets cruise ships so the shopping along the waterfront is geared to tourism. The shops are more reasonable and of strictly local fare than some cruise ports we've experienced. From Ullapool we visited the Corrieshalloch Gorge and Nature Reserve which is a must see.

Single track roads galore. Two great stops: Strathnaber Museum (the story of the clearances told well) and Smoo Cave (wild to see a river disappear into a cave).

We had good weather although the wind was blowing furiously. We were past the seabird nesting time but saw a number of seabirds flying about. It's worth the walk to see the stacks.

We were at the Marmelade Hotel so briefly that I hate to say anything negative. The room was very comfortable and well equipped, and we fell asleep almost the moment we hit it. Breakfast was fine.

Lots of atmosphere and a great location adjacent to Luss and short walk to the Loch. Our room was up several flights of stairs, but the bellman was very helpful in carrying our suitcases up. A smallish room and smallish bed. The shower was powerful (loved that) and sprayed widely into the bathroom (which I didn't like). Lots of plugs, unlike some older hotels. The restaurant was good, and the bar was fine. You order in the restaurant and carry your whiskey to the library where there are chairs.

We were in a smallish upstairs room with a fairly small double bed. There is a severe deficiency of electrical outlets for the modern traveler. We unplugged the hotels lamps and coffee pot so that we'd be able to charge phones and the like. The staff were very nice and helpful, opening for breakfast early so that we could sprint to the ferry in Port Askaig in a timely manner. The restaurant is good and locally popular. The bar, on the other hand, is a whisky lover's dream. Also popular, for good reason.

This is an elegant old manor house on a private island. The house is charming, although our room was up several flights of stairs. The room itself was well equipped and comfortable. The grounds are gorgeous and worth more than the afternoon's walk that we took. The Terrace Restaurant was quite good. Not formal and all small plates (not tapas, just small plates).

Grand in every regard. "Regal" might also fit. As characterful as the 1890s style would suggest, while still having every modern convenience. Those towels - so soft, so absorbent - and that shower. Ahhh, satisfaction. Both restaurants are excellent (Bo and Muc is more casual, 1889 a multi-course extravagance). Breakfasts are, as you would expect, very good, although our omelets were a bit under-done. We went hiking with the Torridon Outdoor Experience, and it was an excellent walk near the hotel. We also hiked the hotel grounds, which are extensive and very pretty.

The Broad Bay House is a purpose-built small inn near Stornoway. Super clean and well equipped. Tom, the owner, has thought of everything any traveler could need. He has loads of material about Lewis and Harris, and has prepared a guide book that reflected his deep knowledge of the area. Breakfasts were excellent, esp. the porridge. And we had the seafood passed-plate meal for dinner one night. The location is right on the beach, and it's worth going for a walk past the sheep.

At every level, the Dipping Lugger is amazing. They think of everything. The room was gorgeous, the bed super-comfortable. The food was spectacular! There are only 3 rooms, but this is luxury writ large and in a comfortable, not ostentatious way. The only quirk is that they pick your meals - dinner is a fixed 7 course meal (and what a meal it is!) (the bread I will NEVER forget) and breakfast is chosen for you. It's all more than good, but maybe not what you would have picked. Just an idiosyncrasy, not a problem.

We very much enjoyed our stay at the Scourie House because the people were so nice. It's not fancy - a well maintained older hotel that was probably built as an inn. Our room wasn't that big, so suitcase space was at a premium. But what the room may have lacked in upscale fashion, the staff made up in friendliness. And the food in the restaurant was very good.

One of those classic old manor houses. Our room was spacious and had a very comfortable sofa on which I could sit and relax. It's an odd omission, but there was no desk chair in the room, so my laptop computer really was a laptop computer. The staff was superb, the dinner excellent.

A very nice hotel in a good location for walking to central Inverness. Our room was exotic in that the bathroom, which was large and well-equipped, was down a winding staircase from the bedroom.

A great distillery tour! Understand that I almost never say that because all distillery tours have the same core content. You get the local nuance, but the stills, fermenters, washbacks, and the like, are pretty much the same. This tour had a great guide (Darren) who was funny and knowledgeable, and it included four serious samplings of Kilchoman whisky at key places on the tour. It made it much more fun!

We walked through the Loch Gruinart trails a bit to quickly to find birds. Dougie knew the area well - he used to live there - and he had fascinating stories about the history. But he could have had more awareness of how birders like to walk through a preserve.

it was hard to believe a canyon this deep is so close to Ullapool. We spent extra time here, birding and enjoying the scenery. We also had lunch at the visitor center cafe (shared outdoor picnic tables).

Again, Donald Matheson was a great guide. We loved seeing Harris. Harris isn't about history the way Lewis is - it's scenery. And the scenery and beaches are beautiful. Donald was aware I'm a photographer, and he made sure to stop at appropriate places so I could take pictures. A very memorable day - one of the highlights of our trip.

Sadly we didn't go. It was raining and most of the interesting birds have flown the coop (well, the island). However, we used the day to see the spectacular Allt Chranaidh Waterfall and breathtaking B869 to Drumbeg and Lochinver. Breathtaking both in beauty and in the twisty-turny uphill-downhill single track road. That drive would get 5 stars, so our substitution was sound from my point of view.

Our guide, Donald Matheson, was fantastic! He's a lifelong resident of Lewis, and he knew every nook and cranny, every bit of history. He was a wealth of fascinating information. This was a delightful day. We went to the north end of Lewis and worked our way back, stopping at museums, Ness Harbor, the Carloway Harris Tweed mill, black houses, and standing stones. We skipped Callanish because we had seen it the day before on our own. A completely memorable day. I highly recommend Donald as a guide.

We had a great walking tour of the Shieldaig Peninsula. The guide pointed out interesting natural features as we went. I would say his knowledge of plants was greater than birds, but he did well with both (in our couple, one of is more birder, the other more a plant person). The walk was sane topographically, and quite pretty.

We had rough seas, so the boat trip was a blend between visiting the Summer Isles and doing dolphin and seal watching. There was a guide, but she didn't speak very often, and English wasn't the boat driver's primary language.

The highlights on this leg were Smoo Cave (a must) and the Strathnaver Museum in Bettyhill, also a must-see. The museum tells the story of the highland clearances in a very personalized way that provides real emotional impact. The drive from Thurso to Scourie is mostly single track roads, so be psychologically prepared. And know the rules of single tracking. Too many people don't understand it.

By September, most of the interesting birds have wandered on. Better to spend time in John O'Groats and at Duncansby Head (spectacular!). I'll bet this is wonderful place to bird in Spring and earlier in the summer.

A wonderful way to end our vacation was to stay at the Cliff at Lyons. while we were only at the property for a short time, it is conveniently located close to Dublin airport. The property is beautiful and the staff was very friendly. They have a lovely bakery/Café on site with delicious treats.

While not actually in the castle, the accommodation was terrific. I’m sure the handicap accessibility of the castle rooms didn’t fit my needs. Anyway, the accommodation was very nice the on site restaurants were great. well, the property is very large. They are more than willing to mow you around the property.

Well, definitely a less refined accommodation than the others we experienced, the room was clean, comfortable, and had all the modern accessories. The on site restaurant had a great seafood chowder.

Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Definitely worth going to the Falls restaurant, it was a highlight of our dining experiences in Ireland

Wonderful hotel, friendly staff, close to the center of town.

This was probably the most unexpected experience we had in Ireland. We had no preconceived notion about what this experience would be like. Peter just comes up to you and starts having a conversation, taking us to various parts of the facility and ending with a lite lunch at the pub. While we probably wouldn’t have booked this experience on our own. We are surely appreciative that Eleanor pick this experience for us.

The Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport was not very nice. It felt dirty and less than welcoming. However, it served its purpose as a place to stay before departure, but I wouldn't stay there again for other parts of a trip.

The Lodge at Ashford Castle was nice with lovely breakfast, but the lodge rooms weren't as good compared to Lough Eske. We were disappointed that even as guests, we couldn't tour the main castle unless we booked a meal there. The amenities on the property were wonderful, including falconry and archery, but the approach regarding castle access left me a bit dissatisfied.

Lough Eske Castle Hotel was our favorite. The garden suites were amazing, almost as big as my daughter's apartment! The grounds were beautiful, and the staff was wonderful. They had a great cab service that made it easier to explore. Just be mindful about the distance from towns, which was challenging for nighttime driving.

Bushmills Inn was beautiful, like a little fairy tale. The staff were amazing, and everything was super nice. The only downside was the lack of AC during a heatwave, which made it a bit uncomfortable despite having a fan in the room. The food, people, and overall experience were great.

The Grafton Hotel in Dublin was terrific. It was in a great location, allowing us to walk everywhere without needing an Uber or cab. The hotel was very clean, and the staff were super nice. I would say it's a wonderful hotel for being centrally located and to easily explore the area.

The boat cruise by Slieve League Cliffs was a fantastic experience. It was very neat, and we had a lot of fun seeing the cliffs from the water.

The boys enjoyed playing golf at Rosapenna Golf Resort. They loved the experience and had a great time on the course.

The visit to Glenveagh National Park and Castle was enjoyable. The natural surroundings were breathtaking, making for a peaceful and refreshing experience.

Carrick-a-Rede Bridge and Dunluce Castle were beyond anything we imagined. It was some of the coolest things we saw during our trip.

The Carrick-a-Rede Bridge experience was beyond our expectations, offering stunning views and a thrilling walk. Truly one of the standout highlights of our trip.

The Guinness Storehouse Tour and visiting Trinity College in Dublin were perfect ways to start the trip.

The Guinness Storehouse Tour was exciting and well-organized. We loved it as part of our first-day Dublin activities, pairing perfectly with the visit to Trinity College.

The Traditional Sheep Farm Tour at Killary Sheep Farm was super fun! We enjoyed the sheep herding demonstration, and watching the sheep shearing process was fascinating. The views from the farm were gorgeous, and both my kids got to hold a sheep. It was a delightful experience for everyone.

The surfing lessons in County Sligo were fun, but compared to Bundoran, the waves were not as good. I would recommend going to Bundoran for a better surfing experience and setting.

The tour of Wicklow Mountains National Park was terrific. Our guide was personable and took us to see extra locations like the forty foot from the show 'Bad Sisters'. We had a really nice time visiting the mountains and Glendale Monastery, capped off with a delightful lunch.

Staff are exceptional

This house was spacious (for London). The photos are accurate and the owners left good instructions. They cleared out generous space for food in the fridge and the temperature was very comfortable. Beds were large and comfortable and having 2.5 bathrooms was excellent (and the main reason that we selected the house). Being from the USA, we were completely clueless on how to work the microwave and the washing machine. Many thanks to YouTube for assistance. Directions would have been helpful. I'm not sure we ever really understood the washing machine. Special Note: The house is clearly owned by artists who enjoyed modern and avant garde art. There were artistic drawings and photos of semi-nude women in the house. They were beautiful but a bit shocking and my sons informed me where each drawing/photo was as they wandered the house. Younger kids would likely not notice and adults may appreciate them, but teenage boys are likely not the audience for these photos. We were not offended but I know many a USA family who would be unappreciative of these decorations.

This is a lovely church. We thoroughly enjoyed climbing to the top and enjoying the views. All three teenage kids really liked that experience.

This was a lovely place although we attended at peak tourist season, so a bit crowded.

This was an excellent day but a long drive home afterwards. I wish we had done Bath first and then Stonehenge (or just skipped Bath and found some closer place.) The museum at Stonehenge is interesting and the walk around the stones was lovely. Our entire family really enjoyed Lawrence and he was a helpful and responsive guide. I highly recommend him for future tours. His car was comfortable and he had a lovely personality.

Great food and lovely seats. A bit high up, but good view of the field. You can arrive early and also stay after the game.

Our guide was Ann. She was knowledgeable and flexible, adapting to what we wanted to see. It was a lovely day and a great experience.

Wonderful stadium and food. Lovely atmosphere but our tickets were DIRECTLY in front of opposing team fans which was an odd experience. Now if only Tottenham had played well. Since Villa won the game there was much taunting by these fans directed towards Tottenham fans. My kids thought that this was amusing and not typical of the USA.

This would be great, if the weather would cooperate. My kids liked the view but it was considerably cloudy, so buying tickets ahead of time is a gamble. We have done it once, so don't need to repeat this experience.

Lovely hotel. We stayed on the top floor and it was very quiet. Staff was helpful. Breakfast was very good.

This is a great hotel, within walking distance of everything you need to see.

Friendly staff, comfortable rooms, nice location.

Friendly staff, nice rooms and fun decorations, and good food.

Nice rooms, fascinating history, and beautiful outdoor patio.

Beautiful location, friendly staff and delicious food!

Great location, beautiful rooms, friendly staff!

The setting is beautiful, lovely gardens to sit and have a drink or eat. The rooms are very spacious and nicely decorated. The staff are very friendly and accommodating!

It was a beautiful boat ride along the coast. We stopped along the way to learn about the history of some of the coastal towns, which was very interesting.

It is amazing to see! Plan to spend a lot of time, because there is so much to see and learn. There is so much to learn, it is fascinating!

Tony Abbott was an excellent guide. He knew so much about the history of Bath and the architecture of the buildings. We learned a lot!

Beautiful house and gardens! The docents in the house were able to give us a lot of information about the history of the home and family. Well worth the time to visit!

Edward Taylor was interesting, and very knowledgeable about Oxford and its history. He had a lot of fun stories about the colleges, and buildings around town.

Beautiful ride on the lake, I appreciated hearing about the history and points of interest around the lake.

Loved seeing Beatrix Potter's home, filled with her personal things that you see in her drawings. It is a beautiful spot. I can see why she loved living there! The docents where very knowledgeable and had a lot of great stories to tell.

Definitely worth taking the time to go see it. Sarah our guide was great at pointing out things that we would never have seen or known about.

Sarah Cowling did an amazing job showing us around York and giving us the history that goes back thousands of years. She was interesting and welcomed our questions and was able to answer them all!

Extremely helpful staff especially Alicia when we checked in. Nice to be close to airport for morning flight

Beautiful place with great mix of old and new Very helpful staff especially helping with luggage to third floor

You know you are in a place a great history. Everything is done with such care and yet very much friendliness

Perfect place to start London adventure Room was like stepping back in time

Seeing history and current events in the history of monarchy was very interesting Buildings were amazing Audio program at times confusing. Headphone became uncomfortable

Our guide Laurence was amazing. His knowledge and love of the area made it special

Audio tour was very well done

Fantastic experience. Robin made sure we saw the best of Stratford-upon-Avon and made the history of the Cotswolds and beautiful country side an unforgettable day

Great way for quick overview of London. Boat trip was outstanding