Hotels in Inveraray, Scotland

The Royal Burgh of Inveraray is located on the Argyll peninsula in the West of Scotland, on the shores of the famous sea loch, Loch Fyne, at the point where that loch merges with Loch Shira. Inveraray affords an excellent central base to anyone wishing to explore the largely unspoiled beauty of Argyll and boasts several excellent hotels at which it is possible to stay.

The beautiful little town has a perceived uniformity to it, with its whitewashed buildings and its simple but effective layout on the shores of the loch. This is because the old village of Inveraray was completely reconstructed in the latter part of the 18th Century by the then Duke of Argyll, to provide a more fitting companion to his new castle and stately home. Inveraray Castle sits slightly to the North of the town and to this day remains home to the present Duke of Argyll, Chief of the Clan Campbell.

The three Inveraray hotels featured on this page are included in the order by which they are reached, travelling from the direction of Glasgow. They each afford something different for visitors to Inveraray and will all serve to make guests welcome and comfortable during their stay in the town. The first two hotels, The Argyll Hotel and The George Hotel, are located within a few hundred yards of one another in the very centre of the town, while The Loch Fyne Hotel is slightly to the South of Inveraray proper but within easy walking distance.

The Argyll Hotel is situated on Front Street and is encountered immediately after crossing the small, humpedback bridge over the River Aray and swinging left in to Inveraray proper. The Argyll Hotel is one of the oldest buildings in Inveraray, dating back to circa 1750. The image to the right was taken one beautiful, frosty morning, immediately after breakfast and the fact that the photograph was taken standing on the very edge of Loch Shira shows just how close to the loch the hotel sits.

The Argyll Hotel has 36 en-suite bedrooms but when booking, an attempt should be made to obtain one at the front of the hotel. This will afford spectacular views out over Loch Shira and Loch Fyne. The hotel also has a conservatory for sitting admiring the views and the dining room and bar are located immediately to the left and right respectively when entering the building.

If you are visiting Inveraray from overseas, or even from a more urban part of Scotland or the UK, it will help you to get the most out of your trip if you are prepared to try the incredibly fresh and delicious local food produce that you will find available in any of the hotels on this page. Although much of the produce is seasonal and therefore menus will vary, Inveraray and Argyll as a whole offers some of the best and freshest seafood and wild game anywhere. There really is far more to Scottish food than haggis and shortbread...

The picture to the above right is of a Seafood Platter, typical of many such dishes served throughout hotels in Argyll.

The George Hotel is located on Inveraray Main Street, right next to Inveraray Jail (now a museum.) Simply due to its location, that may make The George the least attractive of these three hotels from the exterior but the interior more than makes up for that in every possible respect.

The George Hotel is a family owned hotel, now stretching back over an incredible seven generations. The restaurant and bars afford excellent local food, a staggering choice of Scottish single malt whiskies and roaring log fires to warm the coldest of Winter evenings. The outdoor beer garden is available during warmer times.

It is perhaps the bedrooms in The George Hotel, however, which really make it stand out above all else as a truly excellent place to stay. Each one is subtly different and furnished and decorated in keeping with the hotel's historic ambience.

The video below is of the Inveraray Highland Games March in July 2009. In the first part of the video, the camera is located at the junction of Main Street and Front Street, looking up Main Street. The George Hotel is the last building visible on the left, while The Argyll Hotel (unseen) is located approximately 200 yards to the right. The Loch Fyne Hotel is located in the direction of where the camera is pointing but is also unseen.

Simply click once on the arrow in the centre of the screen to play the video.

The Loch Fyne Hotel and Spa - to afford it its full title - is located very slightly South of Inveraray. The walk from the hotel to the town, however, takes only approximately ten minutes. This hotel is situated on the shore of and facing Loch Fyne and obtaining a room to the front of the hotel for the best views is once again desirable.

The plush restaurant and bar areas in The Loch Fyne Hotel, as well as the spa facilities and pool, are available to residents and non-residents alike, in the latter instance naturally for a small charge. There is even an outdoor hot tub in which to sit and relax, not something many people expect to find in Scotland!

There are any number of beautiful, scenic walks which can be taken immediately around Inveraray. It is also possible to fish off Inveraray Pier, where good fun can be had with a light spinning rod for mackerel in the Summer, though the water is fairly brackish due to its proximity to the mouth of the River Aray.

Equally, however, there are several museums and attractions which are more than worth seeing in or around Inveraray. The slideshow and links below will hopefully be of some use to visitors in this respect. Alternatively, the Inveraray Tourist Information Centre is located on Front Street, very close to The Argyll Hotel.

There are no railways on the Argyll peninsula in modern times, which means that most people will either have to get to Inveraray by car or by bus from Glasgow. The Scottish Citylink service from Glasgow Buchanan Street Bus Station to Campbeltown is the best way to get to Inveraray via public transport and the journey along the shore of Loch Lomond and over the Rest and Be Thankful is breathtaking.