An oasis of refreshment and welcome at Colintraive

The Kyles of Bute between the Cowal peninsula and the island of Bute are great sea kayaking waters.


The icing on the cake is the Colintraive Hotel which is just beside the ferry terminal on the Cowal side. I first visited this oasis of refreshment on a yacht in 1977. Last September we returned to see if the years had been kind to it.


Just inside, there was an impressive menu on the wall. Sadly due to the winds we arrived after 3pm when the kitchen had closed...


...however the welcoming bar staff lit the fire for us and brought us some freshly made prawn sandwiches. These were not only generously filled but truly delicious! Not only that but the Guinness was served at just the right temperature.

I notice that the Colintaive Hotel has won two accolades: "Scottish Hotel Awards, 2010 Winner of the Inn of the Year" and "Gold Medal Award for Real and Local Food"

It would be most churlish of us to disagree in any way, particularly in view of the excellent service, which we found on our visit. We will visit again soon, to sample that menu but this time we will arrive at this wonderful place early!

If all this was not enough, the hotel are now offering sea kayaking instruction for their guests together with local instructor Roddy Mcdowall. This must make it one of Scotland's premiere sea kayaking pubs!