We begin with...
The Taychreggan Hotel
(by Taynuilt in Argyll and Bute}
“Increasing numbers of our guests make EV charge points a top priority in choosing where to book their next Highland vacation,” - general manager.
The privately owned Taychreggan Hotel sits on the shores of Loch Awe, enjoying some of the best and most spectacular views anywhere in Scotland. This is a country house hotel exuding character and charm with an air of peace and seclusion.
Couple this with a Fine Dining experience in a warm and cosy atmosphere and visitors can enjoy a blend of uniqueness to be found only in the best hotels in Scotland.
The Taychreggan – with a history dating back some 300 years when drovers used its position on the edge of the loch as a launching point for their cattle - has recently seen a huge upsurge in guests... “who come to enjoy the tranquillity, food and service of Taychreggan” says general manager Michelle Kelso.
Over 150 five star reviews on Tripadvisor last year alone is proof enough of what to expect at this impressive Highland hotel.
Just some of the accolades bestowed on this unique hotel include….
THE SCOTSMAN
“The hotel’s list of awards from organizations ranging from Michelin to the AA and the Scottish Tourist Board, fills at A4 page.
THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY
“The Scenery is breath-taking, the silence broken only by birdsong.”
THE SUNDAY HERALD
“You would need to have undergone a soul-ectomy not to appreciate the inn’s glorious setting... and it’s just 88 miles north of Glasgow, this really is a hidden gem.”
With independent reviews such as these it’s easy to understand the popularity of this hotel. Added to this the Taychreggan has a Michelin “Red Rocking Chair” award, two AA rosettes and four star Tourism Scotland accreditation. These are but a few of the ‘gongs’ it has collected in a proud history of going that extra mile for its guests….a focal point reflected in its acute awareness that numbers of electric vehicles are on the rise, showing in increasing enquiries now coming from EV owners!
For EV owners… currently, there are two electric sockets at the rear of the hotel but these may soon be (replaced / enhanced) by the installation of more powerful multi-point EV charging facilities.
“We are keen to further expand the appeal of the Taychreggan to the increasing numbers of guests who drive electric vehicles and who expect a variety of charging facilities when they arrive from afar,” said the general manager.
“It’s clear there continues to be a rapid upward surge in new EVs on our roads and we have guests arriving from across Scotland and (increasingly?) from south of the border who of course expect to be able to plug-in. More and more prospective guests make this a top priority in choosing where to book their next Highland vacation.
“With the help of EVA Scotland we have been put in touch with one of Scotland’s largest charge point installers and we’re hopeful that soon the Taychreggan will be amongst the best equipped to meet the rising numbers of EV visitors heading our way in their all-electric vehicles.”
Taychreggan has 16 rooms offering a choice of standard, superior, Junior and Master Suites and some with stunning panoramic views of Loch Awe.
There is a superb fine dining restaurant and a ‘Ghillies’ bar where guests can experience the same high quality of food and with their canine friends.
Pooches are treated almost as well as their owners…. “here at Taychreggan they are our VIP’s and we offer a chill out corner in each room for them to relax, with a complimentary treats box and a cosy blanket just for them oh yes, and owners will of course be just as well looked after,” says Michelle, “ and we do not charge for pets, asking only that they are sociable and well behaved.”
From reception to the kitchen, the Taychreggan staff excel, presenting a high level of personal service – and all with a smile!
Taychreggan is one of five hotels in a collection with each hotel being completely unique …. many are regarded as “hidden gems, places not stumbled upon accidentally”, making a visit a mandatory addition to anyone’s ‘bucket list’.
HISTORY
(taken from the hotel’s website)
Samuel Johnson and James Boswell stayed here in their historic journey to the Hebrides.
The journey was gruelling and the philosopher grumbled about the lodging along the way. But something about Taychreggan put him at peace and he finally relaxed enough to take his first taste of Scottish whisky. And then he enjoyed a blessed night’s sleep.
Taychreggan has been bringing peace and comfort to weary travellers for over 300 years now.
Taychreggan originally was a rest station on the cattle drovers route. It took great skill to captain a cattle drive through the Highlands. There were steep mountains, unpredictable weather, and furths and lochs to swim your cattle across. There were cattle thieves from rival clans watching and waiting for an opportune time to steal your cattle.
What a welcome sight the whitewashed stone walls of Taychreggan must have been to the drove captain. Here he could be indulged a bit, dining and sleeping in a cosy room overlooking the loch while outside his men slept in the sheltered courtyard, guarding the cattle from thieves like Rob Roy who had a hide-out nearby.
Today, Taychreggan offers the weary traveller much more than the humble hospitality of the past.
TAYCHREGGAN Kilchrennan, By Taynuilt, Nr. Oban, Argyll, Scotland PA35 1HQ
Tel:+44 (0)1866 833 211
Email: www.taychregganhotel.co.uk