- Lovat Arms Hotel near Loch Ness in the Spring - The Lovat Arms Hotel, Loch Ness
The Lovat Hotel near Loch Ness may be Victorian in origin (it was built in the 1860s as a station hotel) but there is nothing Victorian about its eco-friendly practices nor its modern award-winning Loch Ness Brasserie restaurant which serves contemporary Scottish cuisine from a kitchen using seasonal local produce as much as possible..
Rooms at the Lovat Hotel near Loch Ness
There are 28 rooms at the Lovat, ranging from studios through to grand suites. The studios are in a more modern extension of the main old building and have their own private parking bay, internet access, under-floor heating, a wet room, Sky TV and other amenities not normally found in hotel studio rooms. Top of the range is the Grand Master Suite, a huge double bedroom with views of Loch Ness and the surrounding hills, and a bathroom with a double-shower, old-fashioned free-standing bath, and a bathroom TV.
Eco-Friendly Hotel Practices
The Lovat's young manager, Caroline Gregory, is the force behind the hotel's green endeavours. Unlike many hotels where going green means no more than asking guests to re-use their towels, the Lovat's eco-friendly ethos is at the heart of the hotel's operations. When Caroline totally refurbished the hotel after taking it over in 2005, she introduced numerous schemes. These include the use of only degradable cleaning products and energy-efficient appliances, a donation to Trees for Life for every single room booking, reduced tariffs for guests arriving on foot, by bike or using public transport, the use of low-energy lamps and economical flush cisterns, a complete recycling program, and the introduction of a computerised biomass wood chip burner to control the hotel's heating and hot water.
Awards and Accolades
Caroline's commitment to green practices has brought her and the hotel many awards over the last few years, including:
- One of the ‘Twenty Best British Hotel Discoveries’ in the Good Hotel Guide 2010
- Young Ambassador of the Year and Judges’ Recognition Award (special award for excellence) from the Highlands and Islands Food & Drink Awards 2009
- Young Ambassador of the Year and Developing People Award in the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards 2009
- Environmental Management Award from VIBES 2008
- Envirowise Award for Excellence in Resource Efficiency from SCDI 2008
- Gold Green Business Tourism Award from VisitScotland
Award-winning Loch Ness Brasserie Restaurant
In contrast to the Victorian architecture and country house style of the main hotel, its Loch Ness Brasserie restaurant is modern in both its decor and its cooking. The kitchen's creative approach to dishes featuring the best local Scottish produce has won its the coveted award of two AA rosettes. Starters include tasty combinations like chicken liver and foie gras terrine with a fig chutney, while main courses on the menu might include a mouth-watering slow-cooked pork belly with Stornoway black pudding, chive mash and asparagus, or a seared sea bass fillet with orange scented cous-cous, scallop carpaccio and an orange and star anise reduction. The Lovat Arms has also resisted the temptation of many fine-dining restaurants to over-charge for their wine, as the wine list here is modestly-priced yet still extensive.
Location of this Hotel near Loch Ness
The Lovat sits on top of a small hill overlooking Fort Augustus and beyond to Loch Ness. Its entrance is off the A82 toad which runs from Inverness to Fort Augustus and then on to Fort William. There is ample free parking in the hotel grounds.
Public Transport to Fort Augustus
There are several buses a day from Inverness bus station to Fort Augustus, also stopping at Drumnadrochit and Castle Urquhart on the way. Journey time is about one hour. There are no train services to Fort Augustus as the station closed in 1946.
Driving to Fort Augustus from Inverness
To drive to the Lovat in Fort Augustus from Inverness read this account of a Loch Ness Driving Tour.
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Loch Ness Hotel Contact Details
Fort Augustus
Inverness-shire
Scotland PH32 4DU
Tel: 01456 459250
Email: info@thelovat.com
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Mike Gerrard - Mike is an award-winning travel writer who has worked for National Geographic, the London Times, and many other clients. ...
