Decided to visit Scotland and found the An Lochan hotel through a seach engine. We were very impressed with the website and it sounded just the place for us to spend 5 days. The hotel receptionist was extremely helpful and pleasant at the time of booking and also on arrival. We had booked a superior room with garden view!!! On arriving at the hotel the check in was painless and were then shown to our room - this was up 2 flights of stairs there being no lifts. (Fortunately we were able to climb these but on closer inspection around the hotel and outside there did not appear to be any amenities for people with walking/climbing difficulties. Perhaps this should be stated in on their website.)
What a disappointment this room turned out to be. The king size bed was in fact 2 beds placed together and the room was painted in dark green (I realise that this may have been fashionable in victorian times but really didnt help the room). The bedroom itself contained an old dressing table along with 2 bedside cabinets, one of which had been wedged with a fold of paper to prevent it opening. The room contained also a tray with tea/coffee and biscuits plus a plate of fruit which were replaced along with a bottle of water daily, 2 whicker chairs which I must admit without there being any cushions on were extremely uncomfortable and a tv/dvd. The large sash windows were dressed with dark green tartan curtains which matched the bases of the beds and throw. These, coupled with a black headboard and black bed cushions were extremely depressing. The bathroom was very large however again this had been painted over wood a dark green but where the bath/shower was they had put a slate tile effect. The wardrobe was a sight to be hold. Yes I said wardrobe for this is where they had placed it. I have seen better on a bonfire. The cornice of this did not sit correctly and the base was coming adrift from the main body. However the worst was yet to come on opening the wardrobe instead of finding a rail for clothes they had secured several coathooks. The inside had also been wallpapered and you could see where it had been damp. There was also signs of mould on the net curtains. The bath was very slippy and there was no rubber bathmat provided. You had to take extreme care when getting in and out to save slipping. They did however supply toiletries even down to spare razors and toothbrushes plus dressing gowns. The garden view consisted of looking at a bit of untidy shubbery and the car park (not what I would call a superior view) but I suppose in fairness the shrubbery could be constituted as a garden.
The hotel is old victorian and whilst the general areas downstairs are comfortable with leather settees where free daily newspapers are left for anyone to read in the lounge and where you can partake of the complimentary tea and shortbread in the afternoon. There is also an additional comfortable area across the hall where the bar is which leads to the dining area which has wonderful views of the mountains and water.
Now to the food This hotel has won for several years the AA Food rosette. The breakfasts are fine where you have a selection of cereals, fruits, juices and yoghurts which you help yourself. Once seated at the breakfast table your order is then taken from whatever your choice maybe from the menu ie full Scottish breakfast, kippers, toast, tea or coffee. The real disappointment was the evening menu novelle cuisine may be fine but I have never heard or seen until now having ice cream served on the same plate as steak. The vegetables where a small carrot and asparagus tip, my husband said the steak was slightly overcooked although ok. I ordered tomato and basil soup which I could not eat as there had been far too much spice/pepper added to it plus a swirl of oil had been placed on top very unappertising. I then ordered scallops which were tiny in size and very overcooked being almost crisp on the outside. Again no vegetables where included or indeed did we see any as extras on the menu. Unfortunately because it was still early May and the village is small we did not have much choice as to where we ate - so again had to eat there the second night. We both ordered fish mine was halibut steamed in red wine and my husband had seabass both were small in size and lacked taste. The meals are not cheap at this hotel. Our saving grace was on Saturday as 5 minutes walk is a Bistro called the Burnside which is run by Joyce and David. This little gem is akin to a small cafe which is transformed into a bistro evening times. Unfortunately again because it was early May it only opens Saturday evenings. From June it opens every time during the summer months. This truly was the best meal of our stay and Joyce's cooking is fresh, tasty, satisfying and extremely inexpensive.
In conclusion I think paying extra for the upgraded room (certainly at the rear of the property) to be a waste of money as for eating there well hopefully you will stay in the summer months and have more choice of places as if you have a large appertite then it wont be satisfied here. They have by the looks of it redecorated however the dark reds and greens do little for this hotel and it would have helped had the decorator rubbed down the paint work instead of just repainting over all the flaking woodwork and replaced the torn wallpaper instead of painting over this.
Its a shame the evening menu and cost of these meals together with the decor spoil a hotel whose location is wonderful and staff very pleasant. Would we stay at this hotel again - no.
