Keltic Lodge

We were a little nervous about booking a room at the Keltic Resort for our two-night stay in Ingonish given some of the negative reviews, but all in all we enjoyed our stay and would stay there again. The hotel is clearly making an effort, the staff are trying hard, and we were happy to support the business as it gets back on its feet. The number one reason to stay at Keltic Resort is its location, situated on a peninsula with water on three sides. The long drive up to the resort takes you past the golf course, which is beautiful in its own right (I'm a golfer) and looked underplayed. The hotel itself is spread among three buildings: a small building with a one-desk check-in reception, fitness facilities and a living room; a two-story building containing the guest rooms; and the Arduaine restaurant. Half of the rooms face the water, and those on the ground floor have a porch, though you share it with the room next door. Our room had two double beds, a coffee maker and a fridge. It had a vaguely 1980s ski-lodge feel, but it was bright, spacious and comfortable for our party of three adults. We were on the side facing away from the water, but since we were on the second floor we could see past the parking lot and restaurant building toward the ocean on the other side, so it wasn't too bad. Apparently the hotel was fully sold out the nights we were there, but it certainly didn't feel crowded. We barely saw other guests during our stay. If you drive farther past the hotel area, you'll come to one of the older buildings, which I assume is the former main lodge and is now closed and shuttered, a reminder of a bygone era. Just beyond it is another parking lot and the trailhead for the Middle Head Trail, an easy, mostly flat 1½-hour hike with stunning views almost the entire way. We also hiked the Franey Trail, a short drive away and a longer and more challenging hike up and down the mountain. Both were worthwhile, but we preferred Middle Head for its consistently beautiful views. We ate dinner at the Arduaine restaurant one night and thought the food was just okay, but the service was very good. We really enjoyed dining outside on the patio under a heat lamp, with blankets thoughtfully provided for the cool evening. There's also a nice outdoor play area where kids can enjoy various games. Keltic Resort charges a steep price for its location, views and facilities. Ultimately, though, we felt the premium was worth it. The setting is exceptional, and the other hotels we saw in the area seemed like a significant step down in those respects. Despite our initial concerns, we were glad we stayed at Keltic and would do so again.

Spectacular scenery! I have a mixed review after staying here! The views are amazing, the bed was comfortable, but the rooms were dated and felt… like they needed more attention to be cleaned. The shower and bathroom needed a deep clean with bleach! The food at the restaurant was great, music and atmosphere.. nice. Staff nice! Weird weird hot tub/ locker room area… it’s multi gender and felt uncomfortable as men walked through the area to use restroom and go to the gym. I was surprised to have an added charge of 12.00+ per day for destination marketing charges!

We recently stayed at Keltic Resort and had a wonderful visit. The view from the property on both sides is spectacular. Our room was an ocean front ground floor and it had a lovely walk out patio and we sat outside both evenings enjoying the view. We dined both evenings in the Arduaine Restaurant; food, service and the view was amazing and definitely worth the visit. We also enjoyed the evening entertainment in the lounge bar by Buddy MacDonald. This spot is not to be missed.