Food Drink & Travel in Scotland

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STAY : The Caledonian Hotel, a dog friendly hotel in Ullapool

Ullapool in the Northwesten Scottish Highlands seems to be a destination that many have visited or want to visit. It is a gateway to the Outer Hebrides and the Isle of Harris and Lewis but it is also one of the main stops on the North Coast 500 route so it’s always going to be busy with tourists.

Luckily Ullapool is packed with a variety of accommodation providers and dog friendly hotels like The Caledonian Hotel which lies close to the harbour and a 2 minute walk from the ferry terminal.

DOG FRIENDLY HOTELS, ULLAPOOL

I don’t have a dog (I desperately want one) but I do have dogs in my family (a sausage dog called Artie and a German Shepard called Shadow) and I know many of you are dog owners, so I always keep an eye out for places that welcome dogs.

I’m also not overly fussed at staying at a hotel that welcomes dogs as long as the hotel is clean and dogs are well looked after.

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REVIEW OF THE CALEDONIAN HOTEL, ULLAPOOL

I was pleasantly surprised at The Caledonian Hotel. This 3 star hotel is fairly large and is one of the oldest buildings in Ullapool having been built in the early 1900’s. I checked in with my expectations set to low which were then raised instantly with the friendly staff, ease of check in and water bowls at reception for the pooches!

This hotel is not modern, its not sleek and contemporary. It’s like a well worn pair of wellies - comfortable, cosy and does the job! They are in the process of upgrading rooms, and so far it’s looking great.

I was very impressed with my room. A light and bright double bed, plenty of walking space around the bed, a dressing table with tea/coffee making facilities on a tray set to the side, wall mounted TV, and a cracker of a bathroom with a superb shower.

The bed was comfortable, the room was spotless and warm, the curtains, blackout and the room overall super quiet. I was on the second floor and there is no lift available but that’s a minor point to comment on.

BEST RESTAURANTS IN ULLAPOOL

You can book breakfast here, but we skipped it as we were catching the ferry to the Isle of Lewis to eat at the BEST RESTAURANT in the Highlands and Islands, The Harbour Kitchen in Stornoway. Read my review HERE.

They don’t have a restaurant here so you need to book dinner at a restaurant in town and I suggest you book or arrive early as there are not many places to eat in Ullapool and a lot of tourists to feed.

My suggestions for food are:

We ate at the Seaforth which is owned by a South African family. This restaurant has indoor seating as well as in the conservatory/outdoor area. They serve up large portions of tasty food, the service is fantastic and the staff are super friendly.

We tucked into a Burger with chips and onion rings, and a platter of hummus, olives and fresh bread and of course a sticky toffee pudding.

Definitely worth booking.

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THINGS TO NOTE : CALEDONIAN HOTEL ULLAPOOL SCOTLAND

  • Free wi-fi

  • Dog friendly

  • Free parking to the rear of the hotel

  • The Caledonian Hotel closes for the winter season, usually around the end of November and re-opens at the end of March

  • Many places in Ullapool will close for the winter season so do check beforehand

I know at the time of publishing this, many places in Ullapool will have closed for the Winter Season, but you’ll still want to book as soon as you can. I can’t stress this enough, most places on the NC500 route are extremely busy and get booked up months if not a year in advance. If you are looking to travel to Ullapool in the next year, then book your accommodation, ferries and restaurants as soon as you can.

The Caledonian Hotel, Quay Street, Ullapool, IV26 2UG www.caledonianhotel.top