Sconser Lodge — Hotel in Skye

Winter has made its presence felt where I live. Darkness arrives earlier and lingers later making the cold seem all the more endless. Settling into a comfortable chair while reminiscing about my travels in Scotland becomes an ideal way to spend an evening. When I roamed the rugged highlands and drove the narrow, winding roads from one destination to another this past June, one highlight was visiting the Isle of Skye. While planning for my trip I was captivated by the otherworldly rock formation and landscapes that have become iconic over the years. My lodging for this adventurous leg of my journey was the Sconser Lodge. In recalling my trip, I have come to realize how much the character of the lodging (and those involved with the running of it) can enhance the experience. The Lodge, appearing to be straight of the Gothic period, looms almost forlornly on the water's edge, forever watching and waiting. This is part of its charm, as is the blend of period and contemporary furnishings that outfit each room. The warm and inviting ambience is immediate as soon as you enter the Lodge. The owners, Lisa & Craig, along with their staff, provided such personal service, that I felt like I was a guest in their house instead of a tourist. I had a sunrise photography workshop my first morning, calling hours later on my way back to see if I was still in time for breakfast. When I returned to the Lodge, a place at a table had been set out for me in anticipation of my return. Every meal was an introduction to delicious Scottish food - I looked forward to trying something different every night. Their desserts were no exceptions. For a heavy consumer of chocolate desserts, I was immediately won over by the Sticky Pudding. In addition to the exceptional service, what I will remember most about the Sconser Lodge is the view that I had, not only from right outside the front door, but also from my window which overlooked the water. I am not a water person; I prefer solid ground under my feet. But, something about the way the clouds moved and formed overhead while the water lapped casually against the shore, provided a calming view that I could have looked at endlessly. Occasionally, the ferry crossed the blue water taking visitors to the opposite shore. Most of the time though, the view was of water stretching far out to the horizon with shoreline providing a baseline for the deep, brilliant...

This b&b is absolutely AMAZING! The best place I stayed at in my 10 days in Scotland. They are so kind and the house itself is a real treasure. Very well kept. My check in was super easy and since I was early, there is a great lounging room with lots of pamphlets for local excursions. Lisa was also able to recommend to me the ferry just a 10 minute walk away that I had no clue about, goes over to the beautiful Ramsay house which was a great surprise to my day. The restaurant at Sconser Lodge itself was absolutely delicious and it was wonderful to get some authentic Scottish food especially the delicious breakfasts, the seafood dinner, and wonderful desserts.

It was so nice to be in a quiet spot but close enough by cab or bus to Portree, although the bus isn’t always the most reliable depending on time of year (I had just missed the more frequent summer schedule by the beginning of August it was back to a lesser schedule with fewer frequency) for that reason I’d recommend a car if you can.

The beautiful view of the water was so peaceful in the evenings after a long day of hiking or touring around Portree. I wish I had taken a swim in the water, but I guess I’ll have to save that...

The most wonderful place to stay on the Isle of Skye in Scotland! Gorgeous view of the water with a small dock, warmest hosts of this historical family-owned establishment, decadent meals and drink selection (seriously the best meals I had over our 2 weeks in Scotland), and just an all-around excellent place to stay. Close drive to various attractions like the Fairy pools without being close enough to break the budget. Highly recommend staying here if you are in the area. And what a beautiful area it is! Such a magical isle. ||Huge Mahalo (thank you) to our wonderful hosts, Lisa and family, who went the extra mile to provide comfort after I sprained my ankle quite badly on the Fairy Glenn hike and gave me a left-behind hiking stick to get around. Can't tell you how much we enjoyed our stay despite the tumble! Hope to come back one...