.jpg)
Scotland, and particularly its north-west coast, is not short of spectacular settings, but The Torridon surely has one of the best of them all. Situated on the edge of Loch Torridon, a sea loch that ebbs and flows dramatically with the tides, it looks across to the imposing slopes of the mountain Liathach. Remote even by Highlands standards, the hotel is best reached from Inverness, via a 90-minute drive which ends in a single track road through the brooding peaks of Glen Torridon, only to open out onto the friendlier coastal landscape at the very final approach. Like all the best Scottish country hotels, The Torridon appears as a haven of comfort in this wild, raw landscape, offering serious luxury within its walls, as well as wonderful opportunities to immerse yourself in the natural world beyond.
.jpg)
The building itself is in the finest traditions of the Victorian hunting lodge, and was built as Ben Damph house by William King-Noel, the first Earl of Lovelace, in 1887. Like many houses of its kind, it eventually became a hotel in the 20th century, and passed through several owners before it was bought in 1993 by David and Geraldine Gregory. The couple undertook a complete restoration, and themselves passed it on to their daughter, Rohaise Rose-Bristow, who now runs it with her husband Dan. Its current incarnation is as a luxurious country house hotel, complete with sensitively restored interiors, a newly Michelin-starred restaurant, a raft of outdoor experiences, and even a herd of Highland coos.
.jpg)
Entering The Torridon from the vast world of water and mountain outside gives you the feeling of a warm embrace. The interiors, overseen by Rohaise herself, make the most of the original Victorian features (including a fascinating Zodiac ceiling in the drawing room), while infusing a fresh, contemporary spirit into the rooms. The public spaces are colourful and inviting, with huge windows opening onto the ever-changing vistas outside, and the bedrooms are deeply comfortable, each with their own particular character. Guests can indulge in one of the spacious, elegant rooms in the main house, or take up residence in the stables, which have been converted in charming rooms adjoining the hotel’s pub, Bo & Muc.
.jpg)
Food is a major draw for many visitors, especially with the recent award of a Michelin star to the 1887 restaurant. Chef Danny Young oversees both the fine-dining menus there and the more casual offering at Bo & Muc, but both have an intense connection to the Scottish landscape. The tasting menu at 1887 is not to be missed, with its sophisticated interpretations of local produce – think langoustines from Loch Torridon, Highland venison and North Sea cod. Before you embark on its many courses, any evening should start with a drink in the bar, which has a vast selection of whiskies, including The Torridon’s own whisky, Taurus. The hotel also produces its own gin, Arcturus, grown with botanicals from the kitchen garden. If tea is more your speed, book in for the glorious afternoon tea designed by Danny, with all the usual favourites, from smoked trout sandwiches to perfectly fluffy scones, and some seriously chic patisserie besides.
As ever in Scotland, though, you wouldn’t want to spend all of your time indoors, and if you can prise yourself out of the hotel’s comfortable armchairs, a world of adventure awaits. You can dip yourself gently into it – literally – by lowering yourself in the freezing loch at high tide, or taking a stroll around the trails on the estate. Or you can go for full-throttle immersion, with one of the hotel’s brilliant outdoor experiences. The surrounding region is one of the most fascinating in all of Scotland, with looming mountains made from 2-billion-year-old Lewisian gneiss, sea lochs and hill lochs, waterfalls and endless moorlands to explore. The Torridon has its own Head of Outdoors, the calm and knowledgeable Veshengo Purrum, who can book you in for a wide range of activities, from sea kayaking and gorge scrambling to mountain biking and clay pigeon shooting. The activities don’t end with nightfall, either, since the hotel works with a brilliant astronomer, Stephen Mackintosh, who can introduce you to the wonders of the night sky – if you’re lucky you’ll even catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights. On our visit we also enjoyed a spiritual journey into nature via forest bathing with the fascinating Hamish Martin, who runs courses on connecting with nature at Call of the Wild in Perthshire, and designs beautiful tartans to boot via his business Highland Outfitters.
One of Hamish’s remarks as we wandered through the pine forests around the hotel was that any gateway or doorway you go through can be imagined as a portal to another world, and you can leave ideas behind and take on new ones as you pass through. It’s an idea that very much applies to The Torridon – as we came along that single track road through the glen, we seemed to leave the real world behind, and isn’t that what every holiday should be?
Rates at The Torridon start at £465 per night for a Classic Room, including breakfast.
