Hotels and Guest Houses, Pubs and Inns, Restaurants

Cuilfail Hotel

Kilmelford, by Oban, Argyll PA34 4XA

Tel: 01852 200274  Fax: 01852 200264

e-mail: mail@cuilfail.com

website: www.cuilfail.co.uk

Located close to the shore of Loch Melfort and dating from 1840, the CUILFAIL HOTEL is a splendid former coaching inn, one of the oldest hotels on the west coast. Part of the hotel was originally an old drovers' inn and is at least 250 years old, however the majority of the hotel was built during the Victorian era and many features of that period have been preserved. The name Cuilfail (pronounced "cool-fail") in Gaelic appropriately means "Sheltered Corner".

Outside, the magnificent display of ivy bedecks the hotel with quite amazing colour for most of the summer and autumn months.

As soon as you enter this charming little hotel you will be struck by its homely highland feel. This rather infectious highland ambience provides a superbly stress-free, unhurried environment.

For the owners Yvonne O'Shea and Simon Fletcher, excellent cuisine is a top priority. Two contrasting dining areas provide the perfect setting for enjoying delicious uncomplicated Scottish cuisine. The Ceann Mòr restaurant is a spacious light room which gets its name from the surrounding hillside visible through the large sash windows and the amazing bar with its stone walls and large collection of notes from around the world. On offer at the Cuilfail is a good range of real ales, beers, aperitifs and malt whiskies naturally specialising in those originating from the west coast of Scotland and the western Isles.

The inn is one of the area's most popular and favourite country eating out experiences. Much of the produce used, including wonderful Scotch beef, comes from the surrounding farms and the local farmers are very discerning about how their endeavours are presented and flavoured on the plate. They are some of the inn's most regular customers so there is a local recommendation if ever there was one!

The public rooms, while deceptively spacious and plentiful, preserve the intimacy and easy friendliness of the place. There's an authentic village bar with its real fire, imposing fireplace and stone walls, a cosy "snug" lounge area, a games room, the residents "whisky lounge" and a grand function room with wood panelling and vaulted ceiling.

Accommodation at the Cuilfail comprises 12 very individual rustic in style and spacious bedrooms, most having a good view of the surrounding countryside. All have en suite facilities, individually controlled heating, hospitality tray and colour television.

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