Ross-Shire is an historic county, with a spectacular landscape from the long coastline with its deep-sea lochs, to the mysterious peat bogs, and the mountains — especially the Torridon Hills, with the peaks of Beinn Eighe and Liathach. The best places to stay in Ross-shire are a wide ranging selection with everything from boutique hotels, pubs-with-rooms and converted country houses that suit not only hikers, hill-walkers, and outdoors-folks. Many are family friendly too and all are ideal if you're looking for a proper escape.

Some of the best places to stay in Ross-shire have truly incredible views. We have discovered a number of country house properties right on the shores of long, narrow lochs, and a couple of hotels with views of the coastline. Most are also united by the high quality of their restaurants. Not all of them are exceptional, but there are a lot of very excellent picks, along with some seriously impressive whisky bars.

Ullapool, Applecross, Dingwall and Gairloch are some of the old Ross-shire centres, if you’re looking for museums, or historic architecture, and the hills are littered with ruins and old country estates. Ullapool is the ferry gateway to the islands, but also a harbour town with some great pubs, surrounded by nature reserves known for their bird-watching potential. Gairloch is the place to head towards for fisher-folk, or dramatic ocean scenery, and Applecross is an ancient charmer with a rich, individual culture.

The area is also known for the NC 500 road trip. It's a stunning 500 mile circular route from Inverness that takes in large swathes of Ross-shire. So if you find that the roads are a bit busy, be patient there's plenty of stunning scenery to admire!

However don't forget that this part of Scotland is incredibly busy during the peak summer season. If you want to guarantee a room in one of the best places to stay in Ross-shire during July or August, get organised and book well ahead.

The Best Places to Stay in Ross-Shire

For a Rural Escape

• Shieldaig Lodge is a beautifully resorted, Victorian built hunting lodge, positioned right on the shore of Loch Gairloch. Its 12 charming rooms offer either spectacular views of the water, or lush woodland scenes. During the conversion much of the building’s original Highland charm has been kept — think cosy wood panelling, sash windows, and open fires. The bar and lounge are similarly decorated, but on a grander scale. The restaurant serves a daily changing menu of locally sourced produce — much of it grown on the estate. This is an ideal pick for walkers and outdoors-folk, and while it’s extremely romantic, they also have three rooms suitable for families.
• Glenmorangie House is your classic country house hotel, complete with the outstanding location, collection of antiques, open fires around which pre-dinner drinks are served, and sumptuous three course meals served in a proper dining room. There are just nine rooms, all individually decorated and offering a range of grandeur, from simple luxury, to all-out-opulence. You’re not far from the coast, or dramatic Highland views, and the area is ripe for exploration. Come back to open fires, a house party feel, and an excellent whisky selection.
• A country escape surrounded by 58 acres of park and woodlands, at the foot of Ben Damph, and on the shores of Upper Loch Torridon, The Torridon is your total Highland country escape. There’s dozens of outdoor activities you can start right from the hotel’s doorstep, and inside there’s a 3 AA Rosette restaurant specialising in Scottish cuisine, an impressive whisky bar with a list 300 strong, and 18 luxuriously contemporary rooms and suites. The views are really something too.

For the Sea

• The Summer Isles Hotel is a charmingly small, and slightly old fashioned hotel, with incredible views over Badentarbet Bay, and on to the Hebrides. The 12 large rooms, and one separate cottage, are all light and airy, and decorated in classic, but cosy, hotel style. Our favourite rooms have large windows with views of the gardens and the water beyond. The location is superb too, it’s perfect for walking and watersports.

For Families

• Newhall Mains is a collection of nine self-catering cottages and suites, on a 900 acre estate on the Black Isle. The suites and cottages were originally farm buildings, but have been cleverly converted to offer traditional country style, but with contemporary features — meaning beautiful wood burners, and kitchens with all the latest technology. There’s no restaurant, but they do offer the delivery of oven-ready meals to your cottage on request. Remote yet totally kitted out.
• The Ceilidh Place is an historic pick in Ullapool, close to the ferry port, and the perfect jumping off point for both the Highland and Islands. From the outside this long, low building looks like a country inn of sorts, with whitewashed facade and black details, and inside there’s a homey welcome, of open fires, and plenty of wood. Many of the 13 rooms, which come in all shapes and sizes, have exposed beams. Families have a number of options, but we recommend the Clubhouse, with back-to-back bunkbeds. The bar and restaurant are cosy too, and there’s a charming little library.

Best Pubs-with-Rooms

• The Applecross Inn is a charming pub with rooms, right on the waterfront in pretty Applecross. The atmosphere is homely and family friendly, and the family who own and run the property give a warm welcome to all their guests, whether they’re coming for the good beer, or food in the organic restaurant, or to stay in one of the seven generously proportioned rooms. Some of the rooms are large enough to accommodate a family of four.

Best B&Bs

• The Westlea House guesthouse is peacefully positioned on a tree-lined road in central Ullapool, close to beautiful Loch Broom and the ferry terminal. The Westlea’s five rooms are all spacious, with contemporary bathrooms. They vary in decor, from some really fun designed twin rooms — perfect for kids, a mountain themed room with a stand-alone tub, and a simpler ocean themed triple. The communal spaces are decorated with the same welcoming charm and whimsy, and there’s an open fireplace in the lounge, and a record player in the conservatory.
• The Old Schoohouse B&B is a charming, owner-managed guesthouse on the banks of Strath Bay in Gairloch. There are just two rooms, both beautifully arranged, one double and one twin, so it’s an ideal choice for families or small groups. The house itself is historic, the location perfect for exploring, and the breakfast is hearty and homemade.

Prefer a Private Apartment or Cottage?

• If you'd prefer the privacy of a self-catering option then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

• Inverness Airport is probably your closest airport for Ross-shire. It has good connections to London, but also Ireland and Amsterdam. Inverness Railway Station is probably the best station to head for. Aberdeen International Airport might also be useful to consider.
• If you want to hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
• The busiest time of year to visit Ross-shire is summer, which is also the most popular time for midges. But Ross-shire can be magical in the summer months, when the light seems to last and last, from late June to early July it doesn’t get dark until about 11pm! It’s still not warm, but it’s certainly pleasant out. The region’s maritime climate is known for summers that are warm, rather than hot, and cool, rather than cold winters, so there’s certainly an argument to say that you can visit this region any time of year. What visitors to Ross-shire need to be savvy about is the rain, and it’s not that there’s a lot of it, just that it can come about quite suddenly, so pack your waterproofs.

Still not sure?

• Expand your search to include all the best hotels in the Highlands and Islands
• Refine your search to just the best places to stay in Ullapool, Gairloch or even to Lewis or the Outer Hebrides
• Or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.