Enjoy the magic of the Misty Isle at Skye's Kinloch Lodge

Mist-covered mountains, wild seas and dramatic ruined castles drenched in history make the Isle of Skye one of the most romantic getaways that Scotland, and indeed the world, has to offer. But perhaps nowhere encapsulates the romance of the Misty Isle more than the luxurious hideaway Kinloch Lodge — the island's only Michelin Star establishment. Michael Alexander travelled north to find out more.

By Michael Alexander
Published in the Courier : 25.02.11
Published online : 14.03.11 @ 02.49pm

As soon as we arrived at Kinloch Lodge, accessed via a private driveway and nestled just yards from the south-eastern shores of the island, we knew we were in for a memorable two-night stay that offered the best in Highland hospitality.

Ghillie Mitchell Partridge.

Invited to take a seat in the cosy reception area with its crackling log fire and deep sofas, we were handed a complimentary glass of bubbly and invited to relax in what turned out to be the oldest room in the hotel — dating back 300 years — to the days when this was the hunting lodge of the Macdonalds of Sleat.

In fact, the links to this ancient clan are alive and well with the family-run business owned and managed by Lord Godfrey Macdonald of Sleat and his wife Claire who has carved a career as one of the nation's best-known cooks. Nowadays, the day-to-day running of Kinloch is carried out mainly by their daughter Isabella and her husband Tom Eveling, assisted impeccably by one of the longest-serving employees at the hotel, reservations manager Rachel McKinnon, and a warm and friendly staff, ranging from local Gaelic speakers to New Zealanders, who exude the impression that they genuinely love their work.

skye trip

Tom (42), a former London-based Sky Sports football reporter who humourously acknowledges his move "from Sky to Skye", takes pride in giving all guests a personal welcome and tour of the premises. We are no exception, and we learn a lot about the efforts that go in to making residents' stays as comfortable as possible.

Original portraits of Macdonald ancestors hang on the walls, while family photographs, fresh flowers and, come evening, flickering candles, make for an unforgettably romantic scene.

Taking time to relax in our room with its spectacular views out over Loch na Dal and the Cuillin, the dramatic beauty outside serves to maximise the cosiness within. But such is the warmth of the welcome we've experienced, my wife and I can't help but feel that we're staying in someone's house rather than a hotel.

skye trip

Invited to the bar for a pre-dinner drink, Tom explains that this "home from home" feel is exactly what they are trying to achieve at Kinloch. He explains how his mother-in-law Claire established the hotel business in 1972 and over the years she wrote articles and books that cemented her reputation as a self-taught cook. Today, she is famed not just for her cooking but also for her demonstrations, which she hosts from her very own kitchen.

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