The Ness Walk Hotel
If you’re looking for a historic hotel with a small town feel and access to a large city, the Ness Walk hotel is the place for you. It has all the luxurious amenities of a large hotel brand, but it’s nestled in the hills of Scotland so you can still enjoy the tranquility and peace of the countryside. Although you’d never know from looking at it, the town of Inverness is just a short distance away; it’s close enough to walk and grab breakfast, or see the sights. The Ness Walk hotel really has everything you didn’t know you needed for the perfect trip to Scotland.
The Ness Walk shares an owner with the Kingsmill Hotel in Inverness, and the luxurious details from the Kingsmill certainly transfer over to the Ness. But the Ness Walk has something the Kingmill doesn’t- access to nature. The Kingsmill is located directly in the town of Inverness, whereas the Ness Walk was built right on the River Ness. The views from the hotel are incredible, and they come with a sense of peace that you just can’t get in the city. BUT the city of Inverness is still extremely accessible to guests of the Ness Walk; it’s just a short walk (or bike ride) away!
Huge picture windows grace the walls of the Ness Walk, both in the guest rooms and shared spaces. The dining room showcases a giant window so you can sip coffee and enjoy a meal while staring at the stunning scenery of the Highlands. The rooms themselves are huge compared to European standards- they feature giant king beds and a spacious sitting area. The Cedar Rooms even have a private terrace for guests to enjoy. Hotel patrons are greeted with a glass of champagne upon check in, just one of the many ways the hotel staff goes above and beyond to make you feel at home.
The Ness Walk hotel also features excellent traditional Scottish cuisine in their restaurant, the Torrish. The view is spectacular, the stone fireplace makes the setting extra cozy, and the food is amazing. Chef Craig Douglas takes care to curate a menu of Scottish foods with a worldly twist, and he uses locally sourced ingredients grown on the grounds of the Ness hotel whenever possible. We especially enjoyed the breakfast menu, and the cocktails weren’t bad either.
This hotel really goes the extra mile when it comes to thinking about the small details that make a visit memorable; the “Do Not Disturb” sign in our room said “counting sheep” as an ode to all the local sheep farmers. We had caramels made with Scottish whiskey placed on our bed at turndown, hotel staff dropped off shortbread cookies in the mornings, we were given the aforementioned glass of Prosecco when we checked in, and the towel racks in the bathroom are heated. Even the name of the restaurant is clever; Torrish refers to the salmon fly that fishermen commonly use when fishing in the River Ness. This hotel is unique in so many ways, and these creative elements truly help it to stand out from other hotels in the area.
We were so sad to finally leave the Ness Walk; the staff became like family (notice a trend? We always seem to find hotels with the best staff!), and the hotel was our home away from home. Scotland is full of history and beautiful sights (not to mention it’s where the filming for Outlander takes place!) and we’re already planning another trip back; there’s so much more to discover, and I can’t wait to make the Ness Walk hotel part of our journey once again. Maybe next time we’ll see Jamie... Dylan would be thrilled.