Frances' Sketch Pad
from £250.00 Per night*
Inverskilavulin Estate, Glen Loy, Fort William, PH33 7PD
T: +44 (0)7868 782 131
A studio built around one view and one hot tub
Glen Loy runs west off the Great Glen, and the Inverskilavulin Estate is spread along it. Frances' Sketch Pad is the small one: an open plan studio where the kitchen, the living space and the bed share the same floor-to-ceiling glass.
The layout does one unusual thing. The bathroom, with its walk-in shower and basin, opens straight out onto the hot tub, so getting in does not mean crossing a cold terrace in a dressing gown. The terrace is at the front and looks at Ben Nevis and the mountains around it. The estate says its hot tubs are filled with Highland Spring water.
The kitchen is stocked further than most. Alongside the oven, hob, microwave, dishwasher and fridge, the estate leaves cooking basics such as oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, tea, coffee and sugar, so a late arrival does not have to start with a supermarket run. There is a log burner in the living space and a king bed with linen the estate makes a point of.
Good to know
- Check out here is 11am. The estate's other lodges are 10am, and check in across all of them is between 3pm and 5pm unless something else is agreed.
- The hot tub has written rules. Shower before you get in, swimwear only, no fake tan, no pets, no children under five, and a soak kept to about fifteen minutes at 40 degrees.
- A non-refundable 10 per cent deposit holds the booking and the balance falls due 14 days before arrival. Book inside 14 days and the whole amount is payable up front.
- Cancel more than 14 days out and 90 per cent comes back. Inside that the balance stands, though one date change per reservation is allowed.
- Towels, bed sheets, soap, toilet paper, shampoo and body wash are provided, along with a hairdryer and an iron.
- No smoking. Free parking is on the premises and the lodge has its own entrance.
Features
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private hot tub
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fully fitted kitchen
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king size bed
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fully fitted bathroom
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terrace with mountain views
Location
Where it puts you
The estate puts Fort William at ten minutes away, and Glencoe, Oban and the ferries to Skye and the Western Isles at around 45. That is the useful thing about Glen Loy: quiet enough to be genuinely off the road without being a long haul from anything.
The glen has a history the estate is proud of. The land was bought in 2006 from Clan Cameron of Loch Eil, who had held it since 1665, and before that it passed through King Malcolm IV, the MacGilliechattans and the MacKintosh, and it saw fighting during the Jacobite Rebellion. The wildlife list is unusually good as well, including chequered skipper butterflies, lesser spotted woodpeckers, pine martens, wild boar, and red, fallow and sika deer. Walking and cycling routes start at the door.
Out of the glen, the Glenfinnan Viaduct is west along Loch Eil on the Mallaig road, with the Jacobite Steam Train crossing it in season.
Nevis Range Gondola
The gondola up Aonach Mòr north of Fort William, and what is at the top.
Frequently asked questions
How is the hot tub reached?
Through the bathroom. The walk-in shower, WC and basin open straight out onto it.
Are dogs allowed?
Yes, up to two per lodge. Tell the estate in advance, expect a cleaning charge, and keep them off the furniture, out of the bedroom, and on a lead anywhere on the estate.
Can children use the hot tub?
No. The estate's hot tub rules exclude children under five, and the lodge itself is built for two people.
What is in the kitchen?
An oven, a hob, a microwave, a dishwasher, a fridge, a kettle and a pod coffee machine, with dishes and cutlery. Cooking basics such as oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, tea, coffee and sugar are left for you.
Is there a washing machine?
Yes, and a dishwasher, a smart TV and wifi.
What else is on the estate?
Four more places to stay: Maclean House for six, Beinn Loy Lodge and Beinn Bhan Lodge for four each, and bed and breakfast rooms for up to six at Inverskilavulin House.
Important
*Make it Scotland provides general information and aims to be as up to date as possible. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information or pricing provided.
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