Driving through the glens and watching the hills and mountains rise up on either side of you, delivers a note to your heart that you have truly entered the Scottish Highlands. The sheer amount of space is incredible and the mountains slowly grasp ever more of the sky filling your vision with views of Glen Shiel.

Cluanie Inn is located in the Moor of A'Chralaig on Glen Shiel. This wee white spec of a dwelling provides the most incredible vista across the rugged russet landscape drawing your eyes down to the river and then sweeps it up across the heather clad mountains. This is Scotland people! THIS IS SCOTLAND!

Cluanie Inn is a haven for travellers enroute to Skye or braving in NC500 and the clue is in the name; it’s an Inn, not a big posh luxury hotel. It’s in the middle of nowhere, but it provides cosy warm shelter, a place to rest and rejuvenate, a place to relax and tend to those weary muscles and aches and pains from a day spent walking or driving and a place to fill your belly with food and drink.

If you are lucky enough to book Room 1, you’re body will thank you as it comes with it’s own massive jacuzzi bath and its own private sauna both of which are in your room!

The jacuzzi bath is all singing and dancing with changing light settings, jets and bubbles and headrests at either end of the bath. The sauna is perfect for two with a top and bottom bunk perfect for relaxing those muscles or just for getting warm.

I adored these room information cards for housekeeping. Out with the Flock or Feeling Sheepish. The chalkboard mugs were a nice touch too.

Cluanie Inn definitely has a breathtaking vista and its through the courtyard you’ll access the moor. Your eyes follow the path past the fountain and through the courtyard, through the vennel and out onto the inn’s picnic area with no boundaries or fence. From here you can walk down to the river and up into the hills.

The food at Cluanie Inn is a similar menu as all the other Black Sheep Hotels, a fusion of Scottish and Indian food but my advice would be to keep it simple. The Burgers and Pizzas looked good, and the steak is a good choice. I think the menu is a little pricey for what they serve and perhaps had we been able to wash dinner down with a few pints or a nice bottle of wine, I might have thought differently. Due to the current Covid restrictions, we couldn’t enjoy any alcohol after 6pm which really does affect the atmosphere is a small hotel like this.

Breakfast is basic with omelettes, eggs all ways and accompaniments such as bacon and sausage available. I opted to keep it simple with fried eggs on toast and a nice cuppa tea whilst looking out the window across the moor and up the mountain. Who wouldn’t want to start their day this way.

The Cluanie Inn was my favourite out of the three Black Sheep Hotels to stay in. It oozes Scottish charm in this rustic wilderness. The staff were wonderful being extremely helpful and super friendly.

The Cluanie Inn, Glenmoriston, IV63 7YW. Tel : 01320 340238 www.blacksheephotels.com/cluanie-inn-home/

My Spoon Award : Silver Spoon 8/10 for accommodation and 6/10 for food.

I was invited by Black Sheep Hotels to review their accommodation and menu. Accommodation, food and drink were complimentary but the views are very much my own.