Loch Melfort Hotel

Amazing from start to finish. Loved the pre email about the hotel and charges, and meet the team too. Instantly I got a good vibe and I wasn't wrong. The location is truly stunning, the hotel is clean and welcoming. The staff are professional and friendly - shout out to Sam who makes things flow seamlessly. The food is off the scale, we were delighted with choice / presentation and taste. The amuse bouche and sorbet palette cleansers were a beautiful addition - just elevates the meal experience. I was originally put off by the 10% service charge added to food / drink ( you can opt to have it removed) personally I removed it from the drink element as I thought it was extreme (you normally tip bar staff once during the evening) but I had no problem tipping on the food /service which I would do normally and the service / food was so good. Visited Inveraray and Oban / Mull idyllic, really hope to return again.

We had a lovely stay in Lodge 25, which enjoys a beautiful position overlooking the loch with its own little terrace – the perfect place to sit and enjoy the view. We were also incredibly lucky with the weather, with clear blue skies, sunshine and temperatures of around 22–25°C throughout our stay. The room itself was spacious, and the bed was very comfortable, making for a restful night’s sleep. While everything was clean, the room and particularly the bathroom are beginning to feel a little dated. A more modern bathroom, especially replacing the shower curtain, would really enhance the overall experience. Breakfast was excellent, with a good selection of choices, all served promptly and piping hot. Dinner was enjoyable overall, although we felt the menu could offer a little more variety. The beef cheek was outstanding, and the fish and chips were also excellent. Our only disappointment was the cheese soufflé, which wasn’t quite what we expected. It was more like a mild cheese filling coated in breadcrumbs and deep fried rather than a traditional light soufflé. We also asked if pâté could be served with toast instead of oatcakes, but unfortunately this wasn’t possible. Drinks on the terrace were a real highlight, with an excellent wine selection, and throughout our stay the staff were warm, welcoming and attentive. We would particularly like to thank Lena and the lovely lady with the red hair, who were both exceptional. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and they made us feel genuinely welcome. Our only real concern was the dog-friendly aspect of the accommodation. On two occasions, a dog wandered into our room after running freely on the grass outside our terrace. Whilst we appreciate that many guests enjoy travelling with their dogs, we did find the barking disruptive at times. We also felt that dogs in the restaurant, particularly where food is being served, wasn’t to our personal preference. On two occasions we nearly tripped over extended dog leads as dogs pulled away from their owners, which felt like an avoidable safety hazard. The only other issue was at check-in. I offered to settle the bill in advance but was asked to leave a credit card on file for any extras, which is perfectly understandable. However, I specifically requested that the accommodation itself was not charged to that card, and the manager kindly agreed. Unfortunately, the full stay was still charged to it at check-out. It wasn’t a major problem, but it was disappointing as a different arrangement had been agreed. Overall, we had a relaxing and enjoyable stay in a truly beautiful location. With a few small improvements and, for us personally, a room away from the dog-friendly accommodation, we would happily return in the future.

The setting is absolutely amazing and dinner was lovely too. We had a great swim from the cove. We had a pet friendly, family room which had a great view but the room and bathroom were quite tired and unfortunately the people above woke up very early and you could hear them walking above, sneezing etc! Staff were all very friendly.