Hotel reviews: The Lochside Hotel, Islay, Scotland
“The Lochside Hotel is to be found on Shore Street, in Islay’s capital and administrative centre, Bowmore. Islay is an island off the west coast of Scotland, the most southerly of the group known as the Hebriddean Islands. This extremely friendly, spotlessly clean, family run hotel affords the visitor an excellent place to stay and to base themselves when making a visit to Islay.
Bowmore is the capital of and the largest settlement on Islay and is located very centrally upon the island, on the southern shore of Loch Indaal, the sea loch which bites in to Islay’s west coast. It is no more than half an hour’s drive from either of the island’s two ferry ports, Port Askaig or Port Ellen, which link it with the mainland. It is about a fifteen to twenty minute drive from the airport which has a twice daily service to and from Glasgow.
The Lochside Hotel is to be found just off Bowmore’s Main Street. It has a well stocked, brightly lighted bar to the right of the hotel lobby offering a wide range of beers, wines and of course single malt whiskies and this bar in turn leads on to a magnificent conservatory and adjacent dining room where meals are served and entertainment is often provided. The conservatory offers spectacular views out over Loch Indaal and on to Bowmore’s pier and small harbour.
There are ten rooms in The Lochside Hotel, including a ground floor bedroom for full disabled access. Several of the upstairs rooms look out over Loch Indaal and the others on to Shore Street. Breakfast is served daily in the downstairs dining room.
The Lochside Hotel can get very lively and busy at weekends as it is seen by many as the definitive place to socialise in Bowmore at such times. The hotel lounge bar is adjoined by the public bar, Duffie’s Bar (named after the hotel owner,) where a more traditional pub experience can be enjoyed. TV’s in the public bar often show a wide range of live sporting events via satellite.
The menu in The Lochside Hotel is changed regularly and a specials board can be found in the hotel bar. Very often, there is a wide range of fresh Islay seafood, red meat and game to choose from, as well as many more traditional favourites. A vegetarian option is also available.
The Lochside Hotel can therefore afford the visitor to Islay a friendly welcome, a pleasant stay and a superb central location at which to best base themselves to see as much of possible of this beautiful Scottish island.
Tags: Ferry Ports, Sea Loch, West Coast