The Prince’s House Hotel, a privately owned and run characterful small hotel set amidst the stunning scenery of "Bonnie Prince Charlie" country in the Highlands of Scotland. Proprietors Kieron and Ina Kelly offer personal attention in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. Comfortable rooms and some of the finest Scottish cuisine available will ensure that you have a memorable stay.
Email The Princes House Hotel enquiries & reservations: bookscotland@madbookings.com
Other places to stay in Glenfinnan
The perfect location to unwind and explore the outstanding natural features of the Western Highlands of Scotland. Visit us and enjoy the warm, friendly service and modern comforts of this charming old hotel, you will wish you could stay longer!
Our bedrooms are all individually decorated and have en-suite facilities,
the public rooms are spacious, light and airy - ideal after a hard day
walking or sightseeing.
"Lose yourself in the dramatic beauty of our surroundings"
- "Find yourself in the warmth of our Highland hospitality"
About us
We are a small family-run hotel set among dramatic scenery in "Bonnie
Prince Charlie" country. Originally a coaching inn called "The
Stage House" and dating back to 1658, the hotel exudes a charm and
character seldom found in modern buildings and currently has an STB "Three
Star" Small Hotel grading. We also have the Green Tourism Scheme
"Silver" award for the environmentally friendly way we run the
hotel.
In accordance with current Scottish legislation, smoking is not permitted
anywhere within the hotel building. We have designated an area to the
side of the hotel for those who wish to smoke, umbrellas are available
if it’s raining and midge repellent (not guaranteed) is available
if it’s not.
All of our rooms have en-suite facilities, superior rooms
are more spacious and most are located to the front of the hotel. Standard
rooms, whilst having the same facilities, are smaller and located to the
sides and rear of the hotel.
A perfect location just for unwinding, or touring the Western Highlands
of Scotland.
Come inside and experience the Prince's House Hotel for yourself. We
promise you will fall in love with the ambience pervading this lovely
old building, and once settled here, you will wish you could stay longer.
Visit us and you will find friendly service and a relaxed, informal atmosphere
- the perfect getaway from the stresses of modern life. So unplug the
laptop, switch off the mobile and immerse yourself in the majestic splendour
of our West Highland scenery.
The historic nature of the building gives an individual character to each
of our bedrooms. All rooms are designated non-smoking and have colour
television, hairdryer, direct dial telephone and hospitality tray. They
also all have en-suite facilities, some with bath and over-shower, some
with shower only. The Our finest room is the Stuart Room, shown here.
This charming and spacious room, with its Jacobean four post bed, is situated
in the oldest part of the building at the front of the hotel and has fine
views over the glen.
This room offers many extras including luxury bathrobes, sherry, chocolates,
fresh flowers and mineral water.
The Stuart Room is much in demand for celebrations such as Honeymoons,
Anniversaries and Birthdays - or just for those who wish to treat themselves
- so early booking is recommended! Don't forget that you can order Champagne
to be waiting on ice for you on arrival too!
We have one single room to the front of the hotel which has a box bay
window. Bedrooms at the front of the hotel have wonderful views over the
glen and are allocated on a first come first served basis.
"Here is that elusive essence of Scotland, good food, historic location
and wonderful atmosphere"
The Restaurant
Chef/Proprietor Kieron Kelly is an accomplished, award winning
professional chef who has worked at leading Scottish establishments
such as Gleneagles and Culloden House Hotel. With this experience and
our passion for using the best produce available to us, you can be assured
of some of the finest food in Scotland.
The Dining room is situated in the oldest part of the building with a
log fire lit during the colder months. The adjoining conservatory is the
perfect place to enjoy after dinner coffee and liqueurs whilst watching
the sun go down, or to relax and read the newspaper after breakfast.
Please note the Dining room and conservatory are non-smoking, during the
quieter periods the Dining room is open for pre-booked dinners only.
We are fortunate to be situated in an area that has such a rich, natural
larder. Fish and shellfish from the boats in Mallaig, venison from the
hills around us and feathered game from the surrounding estates. The Highlands
of Scotland produces some of the finest Beef and Lamb in the world, along
side farmhouse cheeses and locally smoked salmon and meats. Our fruit
and vegetables are sourced from a small local organic grower, supplemented
with top quality produce from the markets of Glasgow, London, Paris and
Milan. During late summer and autumn our menus feature a variety of game,
locally gathered wild mushrooms and berries.
We offer a daily changing menu using the best seasonal produce available
to us, simply prepared and cooked to retain the natural flavours and textures.
To complement our menus the fine wine list features carefully selected
New and Old World wine vintages, our extensive range of ports, cognacs
and malt whiskies are there to round off that perfect meal.
The Stage House Lounge Bar
The lounge bar is a spacious room, with a vaulted pine clad ceiling which
overlooks the burn running adjacent to the hotel. Light, airy and comfortable
it is the ideal place to relax and enjoy a pre-dinner drink.
We also serve evening meals in the bar with an extensive bar and grill
menu featuring a wide range of dishes. From deep fried Mallaig haddock,
sausages in onion gravy or venison casserole, to grilled steaks, chicken,
duck and venison. During the busier months we also offer a daily changing
range of simply cooked fresh fish and shellfish.
Premium draught beers, a wide range of bottled Scottish ales, an extensive
wine list and a superb selection of malt whiskies and cognacs make The
Stage House Lounge bar the ideal place to meet for an informal meal, or
just come for a drink and enjoy the “craic”.
"Here is that elusive essence of Scotland, good food, historic location and wonderful atmosphere"
Because of a lack of records very little documentary evidence exists
about the building, but we can be fairly sure it was one of the only buildings
in Glenfinnan when Bonnie Prince Charlie raised the standard at the start
of the 1745 Jacobite rising.
The hotel was originally built as a "change house" to provide
shelter and a change of horse for travellers on "The Road to the
Isles". This road runs between Fort William and Mallaig, where the
ferry to Skye can be boarded. At that time the inn would have been very
basic with one large room upstairs with straw on the floor for bedding.
The hotel gradually expanded, at one time it is recorded as being owned
by the "tallest landlord in Scotland", and served to help save
the life of Malcolm McAlpine during the construction of the West Highland
Railway.
The hotel now has nine rooms, all with coombed ceilings in the traditional
Highland style. The decor is fresh and homely, while downstairs the public
rooms are light and airy with an emphasis on pine panelling. What has
been achieved is a blend of old and new that gives a welcoming and friendly
atmosphere which will make even the shortest stay enjoyable.
Day Trips
There is so much to do around Glenfinnan that it makes it impossible
to put into a short list!
Fort William and Glen Nevis, only 25mins away, walks, waterfalls and visitor
centre and the best views of Ben Nevis.
Loch Ness and Inverness. Culloden Battlefield.
Mallaig and Skye, the "Road to the Isles" up to Mallaig is one
of the most scenic routes in the world.
Ardnamurchan peninsula, the most Westerly point on the British mainland.
Mull. If you only ever visit one island , Make it Mull! Tobermory is a
picture-postcard village, and after lunch there you can come back over
the Oban ferry to make a memorable round trip home.
Golf
Golfers are particularly fortunate in having a choice of courses nearby
Just 45 minutes drive away towards Mallaig is the golf course at Traigh.
Set right on the shore with views over to the Small Isles and Skye, it
is probably the most beautiful golf course in the world. Only a nine hole
course but well worth the effort to get there. See their own web site
at www.traighgolf.co.uk
There is also an 18 hole course at Fort William, nestled under the slopes
of Ben Nevis, and another nine hole course at Spean Bridge
Activities in Glenfinnan
There is so much to do in and about Glenfinnan. Walking, cycling and
fishing can all be enjoyed from the hotel, and steam trains pass close
by. With Glenfinnan as a touring base, Loch Ness, The Isle of Skye, Ardnamurchan
and Oban are all a comfortable day out.
The famous monument is the focal point of Glenfinnan, marking the point
where the standard was raised by Bonnie Prince Charlie and his followers
at the start of the doomed 1745 Jacobite rebellion.
If you want to travel further afield or are looking for other local information,
one of the best web site guides which we have found is The Internet Guide
To Scotland maintained by Joanne Winters. Do visit her site, it is very
informative and up to date. A site which has a great deal of local details
is maintained by the Road To The Isles Marketing Group, of which we are
members.
Cycling
The area round Glenfinnan offers both mountain biking and touring routes. The main drawback is that there are very few circular routes other than those requiring a great deal of stamina. Bike Hire? Off Beat Bikes in Fort William hire out bikes and have tandems and children's bikes for hire (Tel 01397 704008). Bespoke Highland Tours at Arisaig will arrange tailor-made cycling holidays to suit all abilities and wallets.
Historic Glenfinnan
Glenfinnan is famous as the place where Bonnie Prince Charlie, "The
Young Pretender", raised his Standard on 19th August 1745 to rally
the Clans loyal to the Stuart cause at the start of the doomed Jacobite
uprising.
Later Flora MacDonald helped the Prince "Over the sea to Skye"
and became immortalised in the romance of the lost Jacobite cause.
From Glenfinnan it is easy to visit many of the other sites associated
with Bonnie Prince Charlie: The Seven Men of Moidart, Trees commemorating
the men who helped the Prince. The Prince's Cave, where he hid from the
Redcoats. Culloden Battlefield, where the Jacobites were defeated. The
Prince's Cairn, where Charles departed from Scotland forever.
Steam Trains
The beautiful West Highland Line runs at the back of the hotel and during the summer steam trains run every day from Mid May to Mid October from Fort William to Mallaig, seven days a week during the months of July and August
The train stops at Glenfinnan station for 20 minutes in the morning at
11.00 and passes back through at 15.10, giving an ideal chance for photographs
either at the station or crossing the viaduct.
At the station there is the Glenfinnan Station Museum which has a fascinating
collection of railway memorabilia associated with the railway and the
building of the viaduct. For more details visit the Jacobite Steam train
web page Walking
The area around Glenfinnan is a paradise for walking and climbing with
many of the famous Munros within easy reach There are flat level walks
for strollers and taxing walks for enthusiasts.
