STAY : Borrodale Hotel, Uist, Outer Hebrides
Nestled amidst the breathtaking beauty of South Uist Outer Hebrides, the Borrodale Hotel stands as a tranquil oasis for travellers. Located in Daliburgh this is a ideal spot for an overnight kip and a hot meal. The hotel is family run and many of the staff you’ll find work elsewhere on the island too. It’s charming.
REVIEW OF THE BORRODALE HOTEL, UIST, OUTER HEBRIDES
The decor exudes a rustic charm with its captivating wooden features and cosy tartan carpet, creating a warm and inviting ambiance for its guests. There are picnic tables outside when you need to drink a cold beer soaking up the sunshine on those glorious Summer days. The hotel has a large carpark too, which will easily accommodate coaches, cars, bicycles etc.
The hotel is a tale of two halves. My first night’s stay was in a large family room that although spotless could do with a little bit of an upgrade. Pine bunk beds and a double bed greeted me as I entered as well as the large pine closet and a tea/coffee dressing table/station.
If you are staying for more than one night, your room will not be serviced but they do provide additional sundries on the stair landing - tea, coffee, sugar, milk, biscuits etc should you need to take more for your room.
The surprise was the bathroom complete with corner jacuzzi bath and blue light which I couldn’t resist filling to the brim and soaking in the bath.
The Outer Hebrides is an idyllic location for cyclists, hikers and groups so I can understand why this room would appeal. Its spacious, basic but comfortable with a bath that will ease those tired muscles at the end of the day.
My second visit at Borrowdale, a few days later, I was booked into one of their newer and fresher looking rooms. This was a very comfortable, well appointed room. Gorgeous double bed, wee seating area and a modern bathroom with a superb shower.
Both rooms where extremely quiet and both upstairs on the 1st floor.
A busy bar functions as a restaurant but there is also a more formal restaurant too. The bar downstairs is lively with a good mix of locals and visitors alike. Be sure to stick to your reservation time as there seems to be very little wiggle room due to possible staffing and pressure on the kitchen.
The menu reads well with much of the Outer Hebrides delicious produce making it onto the menu. You’ll find salmon, Stornoway black pudding, Uist venison, local beef, Barra scampi and much more. Of course you can’t come to the Outer Hebrides without gorging yourself on seafood and luckily the menu is packed full of mouth watering seafood dishes.
I had to have the Butterflied Scottish Langoustines with garlic butter, and of course the Surf n Turf boasting local sirloin steak, more Scottish langoustines, scallops, chips and onion rings.
Portion sizes here are huge so you’d better be hungry when you sit down to eat.
Breakfast is pre-ordered the night before and is served in the very bright and airy conservatory. The morning sun fills this entire room. You can choose from the usual Full Scottish Breakfasts to various breakfast ingredients on a roll to continental.
The Borrodale is comfortable, clean, inviting and relaxing. A good place to stay in Uist
THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT THR BORRODALE
They are a dog friendly hotel
There is no lift available, only one flight of stairs to access the rooms
Reservations must be made for dinner and breakfast
Wi-Fi is decent but some spots are better than others
Depending on the time of year, rooms with full en-suite start from around £95 B&B
The Borrodale Hotel, Daliburgh, Isle of South Uist, Outer Hebrides HS8 5SS www.isleshotelgroup.co.uk