TORAVAIG

Plush country house on scenic Skye – complete with private yacht

IF A SLEEK PRIVATE YACHT is high on your list of must-haves for a romantic weekend getaway, then you need to make tracks for Toravaig, on the wild and wonderful Isle of Skye coast.

This welcoming country house offers guests the chance to set sail aboard Solus Na Mara, the owners’ 42 foot yacht, on daily excursions around the Skye and the surrounding islands. Toravaig's co-proprietor Ken Gunn has the perfect credentials to skipper these nautical adventures through Loch Nevis, Loch Hourn and the isles of Rhum and Sandaig – he used to be master of the luxury cruiser MV Hebridean Princess. 

Even if splicing the mainbrace isn’t quite your thing, you’ll relish a stay here in Sleat – dubbed the Garden of Skye – with its terrific views over the sea to the mainland and the hills beyond.

Built in the 1920s, Toravaig was renovated from top to bottom a few years ago. Bedrooms have that freshly-laundered feel, with inviting sleigh and brass beds dressed in crisp white bedlinen and luxurious touches – silken cushions, a swathe of rustling taffeta or a glowing lamp. These cosy and immaculate surrounds are beautifully done out in shades of peach and cinammon, plums and golds.

Beds in the Isles

Each room is named after a Scottish island, so you could be bedding down in Islay, Raasay or Colonsay. Views from Toravaig are equally beguiling, and you’ll awaken to views of grazing sheep, the hills of the Scottish mainland or the little fishing port of Mallaig – end of the so-called Road to the Isles.

Downstairs you’ll find yet more to lift your spirits. There’s a plush sitting room where you can order drinks before dinner or sink into a wide russet sofa with a malt whisky by a crackling fire later. Dining is a highlight, with fresh salmon, scallops, game and beef coming fresh from the Highlands and islands on the doorstep. Traditional cullen skink goes down a treat as a starter, followed perhaps by local lamb, pan-fried saddle of venison or sea bass. Our scallops were the best ever.

Staying at Toravaig feels more like being at a well-off friend's house than a hotel. We snuggled up around a roaring fire for afternoon tea, trading stories of our day's adventures with another couple staying.

You can also try dining with the wind in your hair aboard Toravaig’s private yacht as you set sail through the waters of the Western Isles. (Stormy Scottish weather meant this was a treat we had to pass up on). You’ll pass by Sandaig island – home of Gavin Maxwell, author of the classic Ring of Bright Water – and your day at sea includes a picnic lunch with wine – divine.


Toravaig was reviewed for Room for Romance by Jemma Tabraham 

Click on any picture to enlarge it and move through the gallery.

Dining in
Toravaig's candlelit Iona restaurant is intimate and tastefully done out with leather high-back chairs, white linen napery and plaid curtains in shades of mulberry and cream. Chef Peter Woods makes full use of the natural larder on their doorstep, with dishes featuring hand-dived west coast scallops, Skye lobster, Highland halibut  and organic veggies.

Breakfast
Full breakfast is served until 10am. Try the kippers, smoked haddock or Scottish porridge.

Room service
No





See & Do
Have a day out at sea on board Toravaig's own 42 foot yacht Solus Na Mara (the name means Light of the Sea), or wander down to the ruins of Knock castle by the shore. The iconic Eilean Donan castle is within easy driving distance, as is Skye's capital Portree. You can trace your Scottish roots at the Clan Donald centre or visit the ancestral home of the Clan Macleod at Dunvegan castle. Keen walkers can follow in the footsteps of Skye's keen "Munro baggers" and climb one of the island's peaks.

Diary Dates
July
Come and join in the island's biggest  ceildh at the Skye Gaelic Music Feis.

August
Put a spring in your step at the Skye Highland Games in Portree.

GETTING THERE

Location
Knock Bay, Sleat, Isle of Skye IV44 8RE

Parking
There is free guest parking

Trains
Kyle of Lochalsh station – 17 miles

Ferry
Ferries operate between Mallaig and Armadale Pier on Skye. It's a short drive from here.

Taxis
GBP 15 from the station

Airport
Inverness – 80 miles. There's a helipad 100m from the hotel.

ESSENTIAL INFO

Rates guide
GBP 210-240 per couple for Dinner Bed and Breakfast

Open/closed
Open all year

Check-in
2pm

Check-out
11am

Minimum night stay?
No

Children
No children under 12

Pets
No

Air conditioning
No

Wedding license?
Yes – with parties of up to 18 accommodated. Weddings for up to six people can be held aboard Toravaig's  yacht.