The Best Hotels to Book Near Urquhart Castle, Inverness

Diving right in, this mid-19th-century accommodation has cosy rooms with tartan cushions and ensuite bathrooms. The on-site bar, meanwhile, has beers from a local brewery on tap and a decent selection of whiskies. It’s all located in Drumnadrochit, the closest settlement to Urquhart Castle and the main resort town for Loch Ness visitors – the inn is just a 30-minute walk from the ruins and the shores of the loch.

Further up the glen from Drumnadrochit and Urquhart Castle is the Glenurquhart House hotel, a whitewashed country house surrounded by hills and woodland. It’s a great place for anybody looking to get out into the Scottish wilderness while remaining a short drive from Inverness and the region’s major attractions. Rooms are decorated with classic Scottish purples and blues, and there’s a large snug room for guests, with leather sofas and a fireplace.

Inverness is the de facto capital of the Scottish Highlands and has plenty of highlights of its own, including Inverness Castle. As such, many top hotels are located in the city, including Kingsmills Hotel Inverness, which has its own indoor pool, fitness centre and spa. Rooms are spacious, thanks in part to the 18th-century mansion’s original design being carefully maintained through the years. For a debonair evening, the hotel’s whiskey bar is a great place for a wee dram or two.

If you’ve come to Loch Ness for the whimsy and lore of the Loch Ness Monster then you may well be intending to visit one of the two museums dedicated to the wee beastie. Nessieland and the Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition are rival attractions set roughly 500ft (150m) apart, and they’re both on the doorstep of the Loch Ness Lodge Hotel. The building dates to 1740 and has a traditional bar and restaurant.

Another historic hotel in Inverness is Glen Mhor, a sprawling complex of Victorian buildings that house everything from standard double rooms to self-contained apartments. In the latter, a fully equipped kitchen is ideal for dining – but if you want to leave the work to somebody else, head to Glen Mhor’s pleasant Waterside Restaurant. Many rooms have views over the River Ness, and the city centre is a few minutes’ walk away.

This OYO hotel is another option wedged between the Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition and Nessieland. If you want to go and find the monster yourself, Urquhart Castle is only a few miles away, and the views from there cover a swathe of the loch. As with most OYO properties, the rooms are competitively priced and offer simple, clean and comfortable rooms.

Are you visiting Loch Ness in the hope of bagging your own Nessie sighting? Why risk inclement weather on the shore when you can keep an eye on the water from the comfort of your hotel room? The Loch Ness Clansman is perfectly situated to provide views over a broad span of the loch. A full Scottish breakfast is included in the room fee and there’s an on-site gift shop for all your Loch Ness souvenir needs.

Up the steps and through the portico doorway of the Rocpool Reserve Hotel & Restaurant is an upscale hotel that blends tradition with modernity seamlessly. Rooms are separated into three classes: hip, chic and decadent. All are decorated in tasteful cream-and-gold, while the decadent rooms have walk-in showers and freestanding bathtubs. If you’re looking to really stay in style, the extra decadent room has a balcony with its own hot tub.