More about Portsonachan Hotel & lodges on Loch Awe
loved it
by TripAdvisor Member doasyoulikey
we have just returned from a long weekend at the portsonachan hotel. We had a really lovely time here. Travel directions where easy to follow.Apartment was everything it said in the brochure, very well equipped. Staff where most helpful & very friendly. We where a little dissappointed when we didnt get any black pudding or potato scone's for breakfast (as stated on the menu). the food was very nice although it is the first (& last) time i have had coleslaw served with steak pie!! Over-all a pleasant stay & the dog loved it.
A Peaceful Retreat with Stunning Views
by TripAdvisor Member Nexusgroup
12 of us from Northamptonshire stayed for 6 nights in 6 very comfortably furnished lochside apartments attached to Portsonachan Hotel during April/May 2007. The hotel staff made us very welcome and the waitresses looked after us especially well, never losing their cool with our complex breakfast orders. Everything in our apartments was exceptionally clean, and well serviced daily. We were very lucky with the weather and saw some most spectacular scenery during our stay, but the view we were greeted with each morning and each evening from our apartments was unsurpassed. The size of the lounge/diner in the apartments meant that we could all gather in one apartment each evening to arrange our next day events, but equally we could have gathered in the conservatory or on the hotel patio and enjoyed the same specatular views. We all were extremely satisfied with our stay and most certainly will be visiting again.
Fantastic
by TripAdvisor Member AliceWeybridge
Had a wonderful stay at the Portsonachan. We stayed in one of the loch side appartments which has fablous views out onto the loch. This well managed hotel had very helpful and friendly staff. Lovely food and brilliant menu! Id go back tomorrow!!!
Absolutely idyllic location !
by TripAdvisor Member Borisandfriends
Absolutely idyllic location, with staff so warm and friendly ever wishing to please, should be a winning combination. We were so fortunate to have “wall to wall sunshine” that made our visit so wonderful, well almost ! Apart from the dining experience !
Part of the experience of Scotland should be the great cuisine, particularly the sea food, but not at The Portsonachan ! Neither for the breakfast nor evening menu. Why have choices on the menu when it is not available, not once but twice.
But the worst was yet to come. An evening meal in the restaurant to forget (well hopefully). Not in 40 years of dining have we experienced worse. Only 6 diners in the room that seats 50, but we waited 40 minutes for the starter to arrive then offered a main course that was totally inedible. Concern and complaints to the trainee manager were dismissed with the comment “we are busy” !
But back to the general staff, they were wonderful, very concerned at our anguish but unable to assist due to the indifference of the management.
Moral of the story, if dining at the hotel opt for the bar menu, or better still have a wonderful meal at The Loch Fyne Oyster Company a mere 20 minutes away at the head of Loch Fyne !
Scottish retreat
by TripAdvisor Member HampshireBirdman
Stayed for 6 glorious nights at the marvelous Portsanachan Hotel at the end of a two week tour of Scotland and this was the highpoint of our tour. The hotel has marvellous views over Loch Awe. This was our second visit and it did not dissapoint in any way. The staff, mainly from eastern europe, were very pleaseant and helpfull. Food served in the restaurant and bar is of a very high quality and locally is sourced, a Portsanachan breakfast sets one up for a good days exploring and there is a lot to see in the area. If given the oppertunity it is worth going for a room upgrade as the larger rooms have a magnificent view over Loch Awe and they have a window seat that is a great place for tea. We are hoping to return next year.
Isolated but very beautiful
by TripAdvisor Member Lincsdumpling
This was our second stay at this hotel. It is relatively remote, especially if you do not have a car. Several families with young children were staying at the same time and although there are some toys and games provided, and the staff do their best to provide appropriate meals, I did notice one young Mum struggling with a small baby. Perhaps too remote if you have very small children.
For our adult group, the rooms were clean and adequate...as previously mentioned, the "peaty" coloured bath water takes a bit of getting used to but at least the hotel thoughtfully provide bottled water on arrival so tooth-brushing is not affected.
The staff did struggle in the early part of the week. Many of the young ladies have English as a second or other language and did not always understand what had been ordered - hence a few mishaps before we finally got what we requested. One lady seemed quite surly but I honestly think it is that she does not understand that the way she speaks can be construed as brusque.
The food was ok. Some of it was highly recommended - one member of our party had the pate every night. The rest was a bit hit and miss. The pie was great one night and awful on another. The soup was consistently luke warm but they will warm it up when you ask. The menu is a bit limited, especially when a number of items are "off". Oh, and the drink is quite pricey especially if you want to stay in rather than have someone drive.
On the plus side, you have the opportunity to fish and to walk in beautiful surroundings. The building is very quaint and kept clean and tidy.
This would be a lovely place to come for a quiet break. Come off season if you want to be relatively child free. We recommend bringing your own rods should you fancy going fishing.
Old & Crumbling
by TripAdvisor Member WGWinters
We paid for a "Family Room" which was advertised with multiple bedrooms. What we received (at first) was one regular sized room with a double bed and a twin bed turned lengthwise against another wall. When we complained, we were moved to a detached apartment outside the hotel. This area of the hotel was unkept, dirty, and the floor sank as you walked across it. (Several snails were on the floor in the morning when we awaoke, so I would question nest control as well.)
The television and the phone did not work properly. The water was brown (smelled of peat) and we were given bottled water to drink and brush our teeth as the tap water was deemed undrinkable due to "filter problems".
The hotel is miles from anything exciting and is almost an hour from the city of Oban. The last 5 miles of the road to the hotel is a single lane road, so be careful if you decide for some reason to stay here.
By far this is the worst hotel I have ever stayed in.
Brilliant excellent superb
by TripAdvisor Member RichardJRippingale
I booked this hotel through the Ideal Home exhibition for a price of £33 per night per person. I read the reviews of this hotel and had some doubt in my mind before even getting there. Now i have returned home i must say that the hotels location is fantastic and for the price is even better i don know what some people expect for this price but i am fully satisfied. the staff are kind and helpfull which is most important for a remote location like this. overall i would recommend the hotel to all who is looking for a relaxing get away.
10 out of 10 is my view.
Nice views but not peaceful
by TripAdvisor Member MACCA91
Very disappointed when I saw the room as had asked for a room with a shower - unfortunately didn't get one.
Although location very peaceful we were awakened early each morning with loud music blaring from the kitchen, so make sure you don't get one of the rooms above it!!
Wasted potential
by TripAdvisor Member ikemo
Booked a double room but was allocated , with no explanation, an apartment 150mtrs down the road and on the opposite side. Although this was a reasonable standard, it resulted in walking to and from the hotel for dinner, in torrential rain. We had friends with us who had a room in the hotel and were very pleased with it, so any one making a booking should confirm that they will not be in any annexed room.
Although the staff were extemely helpful and pleasant, the service in the restaurant and at breakfast was abysmal. This was unbelievabley slow, with the problem presumably being in the kitchen. At no time during our stay, did we observe any one both in the dining room and the hotel generally, who was in charge and taking any responsibility.
It is unfortunate this review is not very positive because the hotel has so much potential being located at such a stunning location. Until the hotel resolves their problems and have 'hands on' front of house managent in place, we will not be returning.
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