Many times named Scotland’s most romantic hotel, Ardanaiseig is to re-open in 2018 as an exclusive use venue for weddings and other events, its owner announced.
The 16 bedroom Grade 2 listed mansion house on the banks of Loch Awe near Taynuilt in Argyll was acquired by London antiques dealer Bennie Gray in 1995.
It has been voted the most romantic hotel in Scotland for several years in the Scottish Hotel Awards and the Editors of the UK Good Hotel Guide gave it this accolade for both 2017 and 2018. One of its features is a Greek-style outdoor amphitheatre, often used for marriage ceremonies overlooking the loch.
“Ardanaiseig has earned a reputation for being an idyllic place for weddings and other special occasions so making it an exclusive use venue is a natural next step in its development,” Mr Gray said.
He added: “The fairytale Highland location, the charms of the building and its furnishings, and Ardanaiseig’s reputation for top class hospitality all lend themselves to an enhanced future as a get-away-from-it-all centre for weddings, corporate activities and special events such as birthdays, anniversaries and family or student reunions.”
In the 2017-2018 Scottish Hotel Awards it was shortlisted (as winner of the Argyll and Lomond region) in the Most Romantic and Best Wedding Hotel categories. It was voted Country House Hotel of the Year in the 2015-16 Awards.
Built in 1834 and set in 120 acres of wooded grounds, it looks over to the 1,130 metre (3,700 foot) Ben Lui, one of the grandest and most elegant mountains in the Southern Highlands, and showcases eccentric ornaments and antique furniture. It also has a cottage within the grounds, its own private island, and two crannogs (Iron Age wooden dwellings) on the loch.
Its bridal/honeymoon suite is the Boatshed, a two minute walk from the main building, lapped by the waters of Scotland’s third largest freshwater loch.