Set in stunning scenery, Ardbrecknish House stands overlooking the banks of Loch Awe, in Argyll. Under the gaze of mighty Ben Cruachan, visitors can enjoy Highland hospitality and access to hiking, fishing and sight seeing in the local area. Our aim is to offer home-from-home comfort and a charming escape from the pressures of modern life in a location surrounded by natural beauty. Ardbrecknish House offers 10 self- catering units with a bar and a dining room serving refreshments and hearty fare in the evenings. Loch Awe itself is a haven for fishermen, the longest freshwater loch in the UK with some of the best pike and trout fishing on offer. The local area is popular with tourists year round; Inverary is a 15-minute drive. Oban is 50 minutes away. There is a train station on the main Oban to Glasgow route at Dalmally and Loch Awe village located 9 and 10 minutes away from Ardbreknish House respectively.
Absolutely quiet environment, nice view. Tower room in the Upper Tower is the perfect place to read. The decor is functional, but it lacks loving details that make the rooms/accommodation cozier, e.g. wool blankets in the tower room, more decoration on the walls, a few extras such as spices, vinegar, oil...... Shopping facilities are further away, few catering alternatives to self-catering, therefore best equip with a bulk purchase for the entire stay. Towels were provided by our prior notice upon arrival. In addition, 1 bottle of water, as the tap water is a bit brown, despite drinking water quality. The wifi worked almost continuously after initial difficulties. Heating and electric. Devices were functional. Only the light at the extractor hood in the kitchen did not work. In the kitchen the ceiling light is very sterile. A smaller, warmer light source for longer stays would be nice here. In the bathroom you can see the dampness of the old building, in some other places you can tell by the wallpaper. Renovating some rooms would enhance the property. Bar/restaurant was closed during our stay, but was already announced in advance in the mail. All in all we had a nice time there and all that was needed. Incl. a beautiful sunset
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Booked this for my wife's birthday, 2 nights peace and tranquility. The property sits on the banks of loch awe, with a couple of other properties on the same little road but that's about it, nothing else within reasonable walking distance. The views are stunning and the grounds are lovely, lots of wild birds and red squirrels can be seen on the grounds.
Upon arrival we were greeted by our host, she was very friendly and was full of useful information about places to visit, she showed us to our accommodation, the harness suite, and took the time to show us how everything works.
The studio itself is basic but clean and comes with pretty much everything you need, cooker, microwave, kettle, iron, TV, utensils and a very comfortable bed with nice thick duvet. Also in the studio was a very helpful information book, filled with places to visit, where to find shops etc. The mobile signal isn't the greatest but there's free WiFi which we managed to connect to and use hassle free from the comfort of the studio, the code can be found in the bar area.
The bar is very small and cosy with a few tables, a lovely fire and some friendly locals. There is also a restaurant on site however we didn't get the chance to eat there due to our itinerary, both I believe open around 6pm.
We stayed for 2 nights and would love to have stayed longer but we will definitely be back to this lovely place.
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Date of stay: April 2024
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:Â Nearest shop, a village shop is around 8miles or so from property, if you need something I advise...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
For those seeking a perfect spot for a secluded getaway, this fits the bill. Our apartment was comfortable and clean, and the owners and staff extremely welcoming and friendly. A beautiful location beside the glorious Loch Awe, and accessed via a single track road, you really feel away from the world whilst also being welcomed to the small community around. The House has a bar and restaurant, which for self catering is a bonus, but this is not its main focus so don’t expect Michelin 5 star food. Meals and breakfasts are homely and hearty, but give the option if you’d rather not self cater every day. Another plus for dog owners is that the site is dog friendly - and whilst we did not have our dog with us this time we would readily do so in future. We were here for New Years Eve and the House put on a free Ceilidh and buffet for all guests - simply wonderful fun, and highlights the ethos of the owners. We have visited Loch Awe area 3 times but this was our first stay at Ardbrecknish and we would happily return, although if we are coming again in winter we will invest in a 4-wheel drive to better navigate the single track road and the steep driveway down to the House.
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Date of stay: December 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Access is via a steep sharp turn from a single track road, and can be challenging in icy or...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sarah Graham, Owner at Ardbrecknish House
Responded Jan 12, 2024
Thank you for the lovely review we are delighted that you enjoyed your time with us. We hope you will visit again in the future. Kind regards, Sarah
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It's hard to write a negative review, because it can affect someone's livelihood, but I have to be honest. Our two-night stay didn't get off to a great start when our host turned up half an hour after we arrived. She was very sweet and apologetic and we were okay with that. She mentioned that the private water supply could be discoloured, but was safe and again that was fine. Having showed us the apartment we were staying in (the Study), she asked if we had any questions, which we didn't, other than to ask about the towels we had arranged to hire from her. She said she would drop them off to us shortly. However they didn't materialise until late on our second day, when we'd had to make do with what we'd brought with us (one bath towel for the two of us, which was intended for a different purpose). Sarah messaged to say she had left them outside the room and was again apologetic. She said that she wouldn't charge for the towels because they were supplied so late on. Of all the self catering accommodation we stayed at during our trip, this was the only one where towels were not supplied as standard. My partner ran himself a bath on the first evening and couldn't get any hot water. We wondered if it had been used up by guests in other apartments as can happen, and so resorted to boiling kettles and pans of water. It was only when I was hunting for a light switch for the kitchen later, that I discovered a button with markings that had worn off and couldn't be read and three little buttons beside it, marked 15, 30 and 60. It turned out that this had to be turned on to get hot water in either 15, 30 or 60 minutes! There was no information pack in the apartment to advise us of this or anything else - a shame. There was however a notice advising about the discoloured water, stating that bottled water was available inside both the back and front doors, but my partner didn't find any at all on either of the days we were there. As a previous reviewer has noted, there was minimum kitchen equipment - 2 of the basic crockery and cutlery items and the most hilarious thing to me was a washing up bottle with literally a millimetre of washing up liquid in the bottom of the bottle and that had been diluted! To be honest it would have been less insulting to have left none at all. Luckily I had taken some with us. I honestly don't think that this was the service that the host intended to give; we all have off days, but unfortunately we could not recommend and would not return.
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Date of stay: June 2024
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I visited Ardbrecknish house on the 22/08 for 7 nights. There was 15 of us in total and we rented 3 separate units. Each accommodation was welcoming, very clean, spacious and equipped with everything you could possibly need in the kitchen ! There is also the added bonus of a laundry room where you can wash & dry clothes if needed. My 17 month old niece had a travel cot & high chair provided which saved on car space. I ate in the restaurant 2 nights and enjoyed my meal on both occasions, it was such a luxury after a fun packed day on the loch to sit down to a nice dinner prepared for you ! Like a real holiday ! There was a pool table and darts which made for some competitive fun in the evenings after watching some of the most breathtaking sunsets we’ve ever seen ! My niece also saw 2 shooting stars ! There is plenty to do in the surrounding area and our accommodation had guide books with recommendations. The very scenic Inveraray is a 20 mins drive and has the best chippy and ice creams you can buy ! Try the Eton Mess ice cream it’s to die for ! There’s also various restaurants and a really cool beer garden with cocktails and music. The owners Sarah & Jon couldn’t have been more welcoming and were always around to help when needed. Ardbrecknish house and the surrounding area is absolutely stunning, the loch view from the house is breathtaking and changes throughout the day. It is well equipped for all ages, we know because our age range was 17 months to 75 with a teenager who loved it! We’re already planning our next trip !! Ps it’s dog friendly !
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sarah Surgeoner , Owner at Ardbrecknish House
Responded Aug 18, 2022
Many thanks for the lovely review, we are so glad that you and the family enjoyed yourselves on your visit. We very much look forward to welcoming you again in the future. Kind Regards, Sarah & Jon
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This beautiful old house is located above Loch Awe and from our table we had a fantastic view over the loch and the hills. The bed and the couch are comfortable. Everything was very clean, but the apartment is a bit poorly equipped. Just one towel for the dishes, no salt, pepper, oil, emergency cans etc, only the most necessary kitchen tools. Only the window in the kitchen could be opened, the others were stuck. The water from the tap was yellow-brown as the have an own source, but that is not inviting for bathing.
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Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ardbreckenish House is tucked into the hill around a 5 minute walk from Loch Awe’s banks. We were a party of 15 and every accommodation was made to make our stay magical! The owners and staff were all extremely friendly and nothing a bother. Beds were cosy and comfortable with fresh crisp linen, bathroom and kitchen were practical and with our family of 6 it was handy having everything at your finger tips to cook breakfast and dinner. There are plenty of adventures and activities to keep you busy during the day with Inveraray 9 miles away the shops are quaint and some amazing ice cream. Additionally the jail and the castle are always interesting. After a long day exploring winding down on the grounds around Ardbreckenish House are absolutely stunning and the Sunsets are something to behold. Sitting at the rear of the property watching the sunsets every evening was again Magical a few family members even seen shooting stars. This holiday was a way for our family to reconnect after covid and we all had the most amazing time and we’ll definitely be back. Massive thank you to John and Sarah for making our stay a memorable one!
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sarah Surgeoner , Owner at Ardbrecknish House
Responded Aug 17, 2022
Thank you so much for the lovely review, we are delighted you enjoyed your time with us and were able to take advantage of what the local area has to offer! We would welcome you back any time and wish you all the best. Kind Regards, Sarah & Jon
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I was on a 3 day trip fishing trip to Loch Awe so chose Ardbreknish due it's close proximity, walking distance, to the boat yard that I was fishing from. I stayed 4 nights in their Harness apartment, 25% discount for 4 nights Monday to Friday, and it was perfect for my needs, clean, comfortable with an excellent shower. I self catered due to the start and finish times of my fishing days and the apartment was perfectly adequate for doing that with cooker and microwave. However I am sure that the food served in their restaurant is really nice and good value. Jon and Sarah the owners were very welcoming and friendly and I will definitely look to go back when I am fishing on Loch Awe again.
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Date of stay: July 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Comfortable self-catering accommodation. We stayed in a well-equipped studio, with a small kitchen, comfortable bed and a TV dining area. There was an en-suite shower room and plenty of room in the entrance way for wet walking gear etc. The building is set in nice grounds and Loch Awe is a short walk away, and there are opportunities for boating, fishing and wild swimming. The property has WiFi but there is no mobile coverage - but perhaps that’s an advantage when you want to get away from it all!
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Free parking on site. Guests are asked to bring their own towels (though bedding and tea towels...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We got back yesterday from a family stay at Ardbrecknish House. The location is remote and rural with stunning scenery and views. Jon & Sarah were welcoming hosts who were relaxed and helpful with any request. The onsite restaurant had a small menu but the food was lovely. No dishwasher in our accommodation and only enough cutlery, plates etc for the exact number of guests. If you are to self cater then you need to bring everything you require with you except tea towels and washing up liquid & cloth. No bath towels supplied so you need to bring your own. Tesco seem to be the only shop who will deliver to this address and they have limited slots so book early. Plenty to do both locally and further afield. We don't have a dog but the place was definitely dog friendly as there were lots about. We will almost certainly be going back sometime in the future.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, Children are definitely allowed in the restaurant and bar. I'm not 100% sure about the time though,sorry.My partner and I ate in the restaurant around 8pm and there were children dining then. I hope that helps, enjoy!
There are more places to choose from in the Ardbrecknish area.
LOCATION
United KingdomScotlandArgyll and ButeArdbrecknish
NUMBER OF ROOMS
10
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