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Summary of reviewsThe Old Library & Lodge is a highly praised accommodation set in the picturesque coastal village of Arisaig, attracting guests with its stunning views, exceptional hospitality and comfortable amenities. The hotel's prime location offers breathtaking seaside views and easy access to local amenities and ferries to the Isle of Skye, making it an ideal base for exploring the west coast.
Guests consistently commend the charming and cozy atmosphere of the hotel, along with the well-appointed, spacious rooms that often feature fabulous views of the bay. The cleanliness of the rooms, as well as the overall property, is frequently highlighted, ensuring a restful and pleasant stay. On top of that, the modern en-suite bathrooms boast exceptional cleanliness and spaciousness.
Dining at The Old Library & Lodge is a standout experience with both breakfast and dinner receiving high marks. Guests enjoy delicious, freshly prepared meals with a variety of local choices, such as smoked kippers for breakfast and locally sourced produce for dinner. The high quality of ingredients and the excellent service contribute to a memorable dining experience, often described as some of the best meals during guests' travels through Scotland.
The breakfast offerings are abundant and hearty, featuring dishes made to perfection with proper butcher bacon and sausages. The dinner menu impresses with its imaginative and finely prepared dishes, including fresh seafood and local lamb, served in a refined yet welcoming restaurant atmosphere.
The staff at The Old Library & Lodge are celebrated for their friendliness, helpfulness and professionalism. Guests frequently note the warm and welcoming atmosphere created by the accommodating team, led by hosts David and Penny. The staff's dedication to providing outstanding service enhances the overall hospitality, making guests feel genuinely cared for.
While the beds receive mixed feedback with some guests finding them spacious and comfortable and others noting firmness or wear issues, the overall quality of the accommodations remains highly praised.
In summary, The Old Library & Lodge offers superb location, excellent food and exceptional service, making it a commendable choice for travelers seeking a memorable, comfortable and hospitable stay on the Scottish coast. Show more
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Categories
Inn with Free Wi-Fi
Small Inn
3-Star Inn
Room Types
Superior Twin Room with Garden ViewThe twin room provides a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a terrace with garden views as well as a private bathroom featuring a shower. The unit offers 2 beds.
Superior King RoomThe double room provides a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a terrace with sea views as well as a private bathroom featuring a shower. The unit offers 1 bed.
Superior King RoomFeaturing free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. The double room features a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a carpeted floor, a flat-screen TV, as well as garden views. The unit has 1 bed.
Guest Reviews
9.0
Excellent
Location
The Old Library & Lodge boasts a remarkable location that guests consistently praise in their reviews. Set amidst a picturesque coastal village in Arisaig, the hotel offers stunning views that overlook the water, creating an idyllic atmosphere. Its positioning in the heart of the village allows easy access to local amenities and quick connections to the Isle of Skye ferry, making it an ideal base for exploring the west coast.
Visitors appreciate the charming, small-scale nature of the hotel, highlighting the inviting and cozy ambiance. Rooms are frequently described as lovely, spacious and well-appointed with many offering fabulous views of the bay. The property's serene setting and friendly staff contribute to a warm and welcoming experience.
Dining at the on-site restaurant receives high marks as well with guests enjoying excellent food served alongside the scenic backdrop. The hotel's central and coastal location is noted as perfect, allowing guests to relish in breathtaking seaside views and the tranquility of Arisaig. Overall, The Old Library & Lodge is celebrated for its superb location, comfortable accommodations and exceptional hospitality.
Breakfast
Nestled in a picturesque location with stunning views across the bay, The Old Library & Lodge has garnered significant praise for its breakfast offerings. Guests frequently commend the breakfast as being delicious, freshly prepared and abundant with generous portions that ensure a hearty start to the day. The breakfast menu includes a variety of local choices, notably featuring items like smoked kippers that have received special mention. The quality of ingredients shines through with elements such as proper butcher bacon and sausages adding to the dining experience.
Visitors have highlighted the excellent service from the pleasant and accommodating staff, who ensure that breakfast is presented beautifully and cooked to perfection. The Scottish breakfast, in particular, has been praised for its taste and authenticity. Alongside breakfast, dinner options at the hotel are equally impressive, maintaining high culinary standards with imaginative dishes made from fresh fish and meat, offering a fine dining experience.
Overall, the combination of great food, friendly hospitality and a scenic location makes breakfast at The Old Library & Lodge a memorable aspect of any stay.
Dinner
The Old Library & Lodge offers a dining experience that consistently receives high praise from its guests. The dinner options feature excellent cuisine with a notable focus on locally sourced produce, including fresh seafood and local lamb, prepared with utmost care. Generous portions, beautifully cooked vegetables and a wide variety of dishes are recurrent highlights. Many reviewers enthused about the divine starters and delicious mains, such as halibut in a creamy crab sauce and chicken in a creamy leek sauce.
Guests frequently mention the excellent dinner and breakfast with some considering it the best meal of their trip through Scotland. The consistently good food is complemented by a refined and welcoming restaurant atmosphere. Attentive and friendly staff further elevate the dining experience, making it both pleasant and memorable. Reservations for dinner are recommended due to the restaurant's popularity.
Overall, the dining at The Old Library & Lodge stands out for its superb food quality, local ingredients and excellent service, forming a central part of the guests' enjoyable stay.
Rooms
'The Old Library & Lodge' offers a delightful stay with its beautifully decorated and clean rooms, providing guests with a range of pleasant amenities. The rooms are spacious and tastefully furnished with many boasting lovely views and private balconies or terraces. Guests appreciate the comfortable beds and the modern en-suite bathrooms, which are well-equipped and spacious. The rooms are noted for their exceptional cleanliness and quietness, ensuring a restful stay. Some rooms offer additional privacy by being situated in separate buildings, enhancing the overall experience. The lodge's charming location by the peaceful cove and the quality of the food in the restaurant further add to the appeal. For those seeking both comfort and aesthetic pleasure, 'The Old Library & Lodge' is a commendable choice.
Beds
The beds at The Old Library & Lodge have received a range of feedback from guests. While many found the beds to be spacious and very comfortable with lovely sheets contributing to a restful night, others noted several issues. Some beds were described as a bit firm or hard, making it difficult for guests seeking softer mattresses to get comfortable. A few guests mentioned that the mattresses felt a bit worn or tired and in some cases, the beds had an unfortunate slope or a noticeable hump in the middle, which affected the quality of sleep. Additionally, squeaky beds were a recurring comment, causing some disturbance. Despite these mixed reviews, many guests did find the overall quality of the beds high, praising their comfort and size.
Cleanliness
The Old Library & Lodge continues to impress guests with its impeccable cleanliness and friendly staff. Visitors consistently highlight the property's spotless condition, describing rooms as clean, spacious and well-appointed. The external and internal areas are frequently noted for their immaculate presentation. Guests appreciate the warm welcome and friendly demeanor of most staff members, which enhances the overall experience. The bathrooms are particularly praised for their spaciousness and pristine state. Furthermore, the breakfast receives high marks for being freshly prepared and abundantly satisfying with a special mention of the authentic Scottish options available. In addition to cleanliness, the lodge's excellent location and breathtaking views contribute to its appeal, making it a highly recommended choice for travelers seeking comfort and hospitality.
Staff
Nestled in a fantastic location, The Old Library & Lodge stands out not only for its picturesque surroundings but also for its exceptional staff. Guests repeatedly highlight the friendliness and helpfulness of the team, noting the warm and welcoming atmosphere they create. The owners and staff are described as very accommodating, consistently going above and beyond to ensure a comfortable stay. Their kindness and dedication shine through in every interaction, from reserving dinner tables to providing cheerful and efficient service.
The staff's professionalism and attentiveness do not go unnoticed, making guests feel genuinely cared for during their stay. Descriptions of the service being outstanding and the hospitality very good are common. Guests appreciate the welcoming environment and the effort put into making meals enjoyable with special mentions of the excellent breakfast available on site.
David and Penny, the hosts, receive particular praise for being exceptionally helpful and gracious, contributing significantly to the overall positive experience. The consistent theme in reviews of friendly service, attentive staff and a homely atmosphere confirms that The Old Library & Lodge excels in delivering warm and courteous hospitality, ensuring guests feel right at home.
No, The Old Library & Lodge doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at The Old Library & Lodge.
No, The Old Library & Lodge doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at The Old Library & Lodge.