Email The Braes Guest House enquiries & reservations: bookscotland@madbookings.com
Other places to stay in and around Spean Bridge
Highland hospitality at its best ...
If you're looking for bed and breakfast in the Scottish Highlands, look no further than 'The Braes', just 10 miles north of Fort William in the quiet location of Spean Bridge.
A warm welcome and genuine hospitality await you at 'The Braes', with spectacular mountain views and peaceful gardens in a secluded setting. We are especially well known for our superb breakfasts, offering a wide choice to suit all tastes and appetites.
The perfect base to tour the Highlands of Scotland ...
Why spend your precious holiday time packing and unpacking? We are located
at the 'Crossroads of the Highlands', just 15 minutes from Ben Nevis and
Fort William, with Skye, Glencoe, Oban, The Road to the Isles, Inverness,
Dalwhinnie, The Cairngorms and more, all less than 2 hours away.
The Braes Guest House Accommodation
Magnificent views, home-cooked food at its best and genuine hospitality await you at 'The Braes', your home away from home. Your hosts, Teresa & Philippe de Billot, pride themselves on offering a friendly and relaxing atmosphere, delicious and varied meals, and excellent facilities for climbers and walkers.
We take care to offer the little touches that will make your stay comfortable
and wanting for nothing.
Situated in more than one acre of peaceful gardens on the edge of Spean
Bridge, 'The Braes' has breathtaking, panoramic views towards the Nevis
Range and the Grey Corries.
Our secluded location and comfy beds ensure you will wake up completely rested and ready to make the most of what is on offer in the beautiful Lochaber area or beyond.
All our bedrooms (2 double bedded, one double/triple, one single and one twin) have en-suite facilities or private bathroom. Each room offers its own individual benefits, so please see the room descriptions to help decide which will best suit your needs.
Relax in our comfortable lounge with a book or magazine from our varied selection, challenge one other to a board game or simply enjoy the wonderful views of Aonach Mor & The Grey Corries.
'The Braes' is the ideal base for those who enjoy the many outdoor pursuits for which the area is famous. We have excellent drying facilities, lock-up storage for bicycles and will gladly provide an early continental breakfast and packed lunches (including Philippe's yummy homemade muffins!).
Dining
Food is very important to us at 'The Braes'! We are passionate about cooking
(and eating!) and keen to offer dishes which will excite the taste buds
and provide a memorable eating experience, as well as excellent value
for money.
With notice we can accommodate special diets, and strive to avoid the more obvious alternatives which are so often offered to vegetarians and those with particular dietary requirements.
Get your day off to a great start with a hearty breakfast. After fruit, natural yoghurt, cereal or porridge, take your pick from the traditional Full Scottish breakfast, with bacon, sausages and black pudding from our local butcher; or our special 'Full Scottish, Veggie Style', including vegetarian sausages and baked beans.
If you fancy something lighter, how about a couple of eggs (either boiled or poached), or scrambled egg and smoked salmon? All items are freshly cooked to order to ensure you receive the best breakfast possible.
Unfortunately, we no longer serve dinners at The Braes. However, there are a number of eateries in the village and a little further afield that will suit all appetites and budgets:
. The Old Station
. Russell's
. The Old Pines
. Glen Spean Lodge
Out and About
Lochaber is the "Outdoor Capital of the UK" and is the best
place for everyone to experience the outdoors.
There are so many "must-see" sights which are easily accessible from The Braes. The Isle of Skye, Loch Ness, Inverness, The Cairngorms, Glencoe & Oban are each within a couple of hours' drive, making The Braes an ideal base to explore a wide area.
Many movies & TV shows have been filmed nearby; Adverikie House (20 minutes away) is instantly recognizable as 'Glenbogle' from the Monarch of the Glen series, and the Glenfinnan Viaduct is now better known as the Harry Potter Bridge!
Walking & Climbing
Whether you're into climbing, serious hill walking, or just looking for
some gentle tracks and stunning views, you'll be spoilt for choice. A
short drive to the East of Spean Bridge you'll find Glen Roy Nature Reserve
with its striking parallel roads - geographical features formed by the
water levels of glacial lakes but fabled to have been built by the legendary
giant Fingal.
Also a short distance away you can enjoy woodland walks along the River Spean and mountain passes in the Grey Corries to the south or you can take on the mighty Ben Nevis, Britain's highest peak.
A little further east, you reach the Creag Meagaidh National Park, home to Mountain Hares, Golden Eagles, Ptarmigan and some spectacular scenery. This area has something for every one, whether you're out for a gentle stroll or an exhilarating climb. There are more than 80 Munros within easy access of The Braes.
Winter Sports
The Braes is just a 10 minute drive from the Nevis Range which offers
excellent opportunities for skiing, snow-boarding and climbing. A little
further afield is the Ice Factor at Kinlochleven, offering the biggest
indoor ice climbing facility in the world and the UK's largest articulated
rock climbing wall.
Mountain Biking
The Nevis Range has played host to the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup for
the last 4 years, and more experienced off-road cyclists can brave the
downhill track - take the 15 minute gondola ride to 2150 feet, then descend
525m in 2.6km.
The top bikers makes it down in around 4 minutes! For a more sedate experience, the Leanachan Forest offers 25 miles of bike trails in a stunning setting.
Golf
Scotland is the home of golf, and there is an almost endless number and
variety of courses not too far away. Nearby, Spean Bridge has a 9 hole
course and Fort William an 18 hole course. Both courses (along with most
of those in the area) are open to the public.
Fishing
There is a good choice of trout and salmon rivers within easy reach, loch
and sea fishing can also be arranged locally and courses are available
for the beginner.
DIRECTIONS
Arriving by Car:
From: -
. Edinburgh - 147miles, 3 Hrs
. Glasgow - 116miles, 3 Hrs
. Inverness - 55, 1½ Hrs
The Braes' is set back from the North side of the A86 Spean Bridge to Newtonmore road. We are located on the eastern outskirts of Spean Bridge village and 3 miles west of Roy Bridge village.
SAT NAV/GPS USERS - PLEASE NOTE!!!
If you enter our post code into your Sat Nav/GPS device, it will not deliver
you to The Braes! It will send you up a road adjacent to the school, signposted
'West Tirindrish', which is a cul-de-sac.
If coming from Fort William or the centre of Spean Bridge, continue 100 metres past the school and you will see our sign on the left hand side of the road. If entering from the Roy Bridge side, our sign post will be on the right hand side, just before the village signage.
From Fort William
Take the A82 to Spean Bridge. After passing the Woollen Mill (on your
right) and the bridge, turn right onto the A86 (you will see the 'Old
Smiddy' on your right). Continue for approximately 800 metres, passing
the School on your left. Just as you leave the village, you will see 3
houses on your left, and the sign for 'The Braes' - you're here!
From Inverness
On the A82, you will pass the Commando Memorial on your right, before
descending into Spean Bridge. Before the road veers to the right and continues
past the Woollen Mill, turn left onto the A86 (you will see the 'Old Smiddy'
in front of you). Continue for approximately 800 metres, passing the School
on your left.
Just as you leave the village, you will see 3 houses on your left, and the sign for 'The Braes' - you're here!
From the East/A86/A9
We are 3 miles west of Roy Bridge. Before you enter Spean Bridge, look
for our sign on the right hand sign.
Arriving by Rail:
The Caledonian Sleeper train runs directly between London Euston and Spean
Bridge every evening of the week (except Saturday), meaning you go to
sleep in London and wake up in our village. Having saved a day's travelling,
it is a very civilized way to get here!
The daytime rail journey is a real treat too, as it winds it's way from Glasgow through the Loch Lomond area and over Rannoch Moor, giving you the opportunity to see sights not accessible by car. We would be happy to meet you at the station. Car hire is available from local providers for your onward journey.
Arriving by Air:
Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh receive flights from many domestic, continental
and transcontinental locations.
Arriving by Coach:
Spean Bridge is accessible by buses and coaches from Inverness, Glasgow
and beyond. We would be happy to meet you at the station.
Arriving by Foot!
'The Braes' is approximately 4 miles from Gairlochy, the first stop on
the Great Glen Way from Fort William to Inverness. We are happy for you
to leave your car with us for the duration of your walk, before catching
the coach back to Spean Bridge from Inverness.
Email The Braes Guest House enquiries & reservations: bookscotland@madbookings.com
