I recently went on a north of scotland trip with my two children, which are under 5. We ate at the summer isles bar at lunchtime and evening, there is no childrens menu available but the chef was more than happy to do a childrens portion. The food was cooked to a very high standard and was delicious. It was reasonable priced considering the quality of the food and local produce. I would eat there again at a drop of a hat.

Very unpleasant experience : we didn't stay there but went for coffee at 11am on a Sunday morning : after going into the main part of the hotel we were directed to the bar and told it was open for coffee, by someone who appeared to be the manager. We were told to go around (outside) and the bar did appear to be open with several very scruffy men drinking lager at 11am, only to be told by the equally scruffy barman that the bar was closed. When I queried this, saying we were told by the manager it was open the barman said they had no coffee ! In the end we had a good cup of coffee in the Piping Centre cafe just a little further down the road, where they also serve breakfast and lunch. The people in the Summer Isles Hotel did not bother to tell us this ! I would really not want to stay there after this experience (which is a shame because the main part of the hotel looked quite pleasant in a traditional Scottish house hotel style, though the bar seemed very downmarket), my recommendation is that there are several really good hotels in Lochinver.

A beautiful place to arrive on a sunny day and the staff were all very friendly and helpful. Gorgeous room and enormous bathroom. Bliss. Not a Scottish accent to be heard anywhere though - guests or staff - which seemed a shame. The menu was very meaty and so not good value for a veggie. Instead we had dinner in the bar which was perfectly nice, full of locals and much cheaper!

Having stayed (and eaten!) at the Summer Isles Hotel many times in the past, it was with some trepidation that we went back in the new era, since the departure of Mark and Gerry, and Bob and Mary. However, Duncan and Aurelie are a charming couple, the style and excellent hospitality are pretty much unchanged and, crucially, Chris is still cooking.