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Self-Catering Near Glencoe and Fort William: FAQs
The questions guests ask us most, answered in one place. Glencoe Holidays is the Holly Tree Hotel's fifteen self-catering lodges, beach houses and cottages at Kentallen, ten minutes from Glencoe and 25 from Fort William. Every one has its own private hot tub, dogs are welcome everywhere, and the pool at the hotel is free to every guest.
At a glance
The short version
Getting here. Kentallen Pier, Appin PA38 4BY, on the A828. Glencoe is about ten minutes away, Fort William about 25 and Glasgow about two and a half hours. Parking is free at every property.
Hot tubs and dogs. A private hot tub at every property, included in the rate. Dogs are welcome everywhere at £15 per dog, per night.
Arriving. Check in from 4pm, check out by 10am. Lodge and beach house keys are at Holly Tree reception, and Glenachulish Bay and Wildwood have lock boxes.
At the Holly Tree. The heated indoor pool and hot tub spa are free, usually 9am till 10pm. Lunch from 12, dinner from 5.30. Call 01631 740 292.
Finding usThe propertiesHot tubsDogsPool and foodArrivingThings to do
A private hot tub at every property
Finding us
Between Glencoe and Fort William
Where are your lodges and cottages?
The Loch Linnhe Lodges and the Kentallen Beach Houses are right on the shore at Kentallen Pier, Appin, Argyll PA38 4BY, beside the Holly Tree Hotel on the A828. Our two cottages are a five minute drive away. Glenachulish Bay sits on its own above the shore road, just south of the Ballachulish bridge, looking across Loch Linnhe to the hills, and Wildwood is inland, in close to two acres of its own ground with the hills rising behind it.
Are you in Glencoe?
Close to it, but not in the glen itself. Kentallen is about seven miles from Glencoe village, ten minutes in the car, and the viewpoints below the Three Sisters are another ten minutes up the glen. Being on Loch Linnhe is what gives the lodges and beach houses their view over the water to the Morvern mountains.
How far is it to Fort William and Ben Nevis?
Fort William is about 17 miles north, roughly 25 minutes, and it is a lovely drive. The Ben Nevis Visitor Centre in Glen Nevis, where most people start up the Ben, is about 30 minutes away, and Nevis Range is a little further on. Kentallen makes a quieter base for all of it, with your own hot tub waiting when you get back.
How long is the drive from Glasgow, Edinburgh or Inverness?
About two and a half hours from Glasgow, just over three hours from Edinburgh and about two and a quarter hours from Inverness. If you did not come through Glencoe on the way, the drive up the glen is well worth doing for its own sake.
Can we get here without a car?
Yes. The 918 Oban to Fort William bus and Ember's E14 coaches between Inverness and Oban both stop right outside the Holly Tree Hotel, on the same site as the lodges and beach houses. Ember is a request stop, so book at least ten minutes before departure in the Ember app or at ember.to, or the coach will not pull in. For the cottages, Glencoe Taxis in Ballachulish are the closest, on 01855 811764.
Is there parking?
Yes, free at every property. The lodges and beach houses have parking right behind them, and at Glenachulish Bay and Wildwood you park beside the house.
Near Fort William
Dog friendly, a private hot tub, and 25 minutes from Fort William
Every one of our fifteen lodges, beach houses and cottages has its own hot tub and takes dogs. We are on the shore of Loch Linnhe at Kentallen, about 17 miles south of Fort William, with the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre about 30 minutes away and Glencoe ten minutes up the road.
Dogs are £15 per dog, per night, every property except Wildwood has enclosed decking to keep them close, and the Captain's Bar at the Holly Tree welcomes dogs for lunch and dinner.
Where to stay
Which one is yours?
What self-catering do you have?
Fifteen properties, and every one has its own private hot tub. There are eight Loch Linnhe Lodges right on the water's edge, sleeping five each, and five Kentallen Beach Houses along the shore, sleeping seven to nine. Then there are the two cottages: Glenachulish Bay, three ensuite bedrooms looking across Loch Linnhe and sleeping six, and Wildwood, a four-bedroom farmhouse in close to two acres, sleeping eight. Have a look at all fifteen.
Which is best for a couple?
The Loch Linnhe Lodges are the usual choice for two. Each one sits on the water's edge with its own hot tub on a glass-fronted terrace, looking over the loch to the Morvern mountains, and the pool, bar and restaurant are on site. If you would like a whole cottage to yourselves, Glenachulish Bay is five minutes away, with a wood burning stove and a big garden in front looking across the loch to the hills.
Which suits a family?
A Loch Linnhe Lodge takes a family of four or five: a spacious double, a twin with two full-size singles, and a spare single bed from the hall cupboard for the living room. Bigger families, or two families sharing, have more room in a Kentallen Beach House, which sleeps seven to nine with four or five bathrooms, or at Wildwood, which sleeps eight around a hand-made dining table.
Do you have accommodation for large groups?
Yes. Beach House 3 is the biggest, sleeping nine, and Beach Houses 2 and 4 and Wildwood sleep eight. The lodges and beach houses sit side by side along the shore, so bigger parties can take several together. For two or more properties, email stay@hollytreehotel.co.uk or ring 01631 740 292 and we will sort it out with you directly, rather than through the booking system.
Is anything all on one level?
Yes. Glenachulish Bay and Wildwood are both all on one level. The Loch Linnhe Lodges are on one level inside too, but there are steps up to them. Every beach house has at least one ensuite bedroom on the ground floor.
What is provided?
Everything you need to settle straight in: bed linen, towels, hotel-style toiletries, free WiFi and a smart TV. The kitchens are fully equipped, with a dishwasher and a coffee machine, and there is a washer-dryer in every property except Glenachulish Bay, which has a separate washing machine and tumble dryer. Each property page lists exactly what is in it.
Every property
Your own hot tub
Does every property have its own hot tub?
Yes, every one of them, and it is yours alone, never shared with another property. It is included in the rate, so there is nothing extra to pay and nothing to book, and our maintenance team checks every hot tub at least once a day.
Which hot tubs look over the loch?
The lodges and beach houses have theirs on glass-fronted decking, looking out over Loch Linnhe. At Glenachulish Bay the hot tub looks over the garden and across the loch to the hills. Wildwood's is on the patio beside the house, with the garden running away from it and the hillside behind.
Can we use the hot tub in winter?
Yes, they are open all year round: summer sunsets, autumn stars, and winter soaks with snow on the tops. A cold, clear night is one of the best reasons to come up in winter.
Can children use the hot tub?
Children aged five and over can, as long as an adult is with them the whole time. The hot tubs are not suitable for under-fives.
Four-legged guests
Dogs love it here too
Are dogs allowed?
Yes, in every one of our lodges, beach houses and cottages, at £15 per dog per night. Our dog-friendly guide has the walks and the practical details.
Are there dog-friendly lodges with a hot tub near Fort William?
Yes, all fifteen of ours. Every Glencoe Holidays property has its own hot tub and welcomes dogs, and we are on the shore of Loch Linnhe at Kentallen, about 25 minutes south of Fort William.
Is there enclosed outside space for dogs?
Every property except Wildwood has enclosed decking, which keeps them close while you take in the view. Wildwood has more ground than anywhere else we let, close to two acres, but it is not fully enclosed, so keep an eye on anyone who likes to wander.
Where can we walk the dog?
The Caledonia Way is close to every property. It runs just behind the beach houses, out through the back garden at Glenachulish Bay and just in front of Wildwood, and there is easy access from the lodges. Glen Duror forest is five minutes away in the car, and the flat trails round Glencoe Lochan are ten minutes up the road.
Is there a dog-friendly pub nearby?
Yes, at the Holly Tree. Well-behaved dogs are welcome in the Captain's Bar, on the Seaview Terrace and in the beer garden, and you can eat with them in the bar and out on the terrace. For breakfast with the dog, we can set you up in the Railway Lounge if you let us know the night before.
Where is the nearest vet?
Crown Vets in Fort William, about 25 minutes away.
The Holly Tree next door
Pool, dinner and the shops
Can we use the swimming pool?
Yes, free of charge. The heated indoor pool and hot tub spa at the Holly Tree are yours to use as a self-catering guest, with no need to book, from 9am till 10pm, though hours can vary with the season, so check with reception. They are on site for the lodges and beach houses, and a five minute drive from Glenachulish Bay and Wildwood. Towels are £1 to hire at reception.
Can we eat at the hotel?
Yes. Lunch runs from 12 till 4 in the Captain's Bar, and dinner starts at 5.30 in the bar and the seafood restaurant, finishing around 8.30 depending on the season. There is a children's menu, and booking is worth it in season, on 01631 740 292. Have a look at the menus.
Can we have breakfast at the hotel?
Yes. A sit-in breakfast is available at the Holly Tree Hotel for an extra charge. Please book the night before, otherwise we may not be able to accommodate you.
Where is the nearest shop?
The Co-op in Ballachulish is very well stocked, about four miles away and open from 7am till 10pm every day, and there is a local shop in Glencoe village. For a big shop, Fort William has a Morrisons, a Tesco and an M&S Foodhall, and Oban has a Tesco, a Lidl, an Aldi and an M&S Foodhall. It is worth arriving with the first night's food, especially in winter.
Arriving
Booking and check in
What time is check in and check out?
Check in is from 4pm and check out is by 10am. Lodge and beach house keys are collected from reception at the Holly Tree. Glenachulish Bay and Wildwood have a lock box, so you can let yourselves in, and we send the code before you arrive. Arriving early? Leave the car with us and make a start on the holiday, as the pool, bar and restaurant are all yours while you wait. Going to be very late? Give us a ring on 01631 740 292.
Is there a minimum stay?
It changes with the season. The live calendar on our booking page shows exactly which dates and lengths of stay are free. And if you decide you want another night or two once the view has done its work, just ask at reception and we will do what we can.
Is it cheaper to book direct?
Yes, always. Booking on our own website gets you our best rate with no agency in the middle, and you deal directly with us. Any questions at all before you book, email stay@hollytreehotel.co.uk or ring 01631 740 292 and our team will help.
Are you open over Christmas and New Year?
Yes. The self-catering stays open right through the festive season, but we cannot take check-ins on 24, 25 or 26 December, when the hotel, bar, restaurant and pool close to give our team a proper break. Everything is open as normal for Hogmanay, and self-catering guests can book a table at the hotel's Hogmanay ceilidh dinner.
Out and about
Glencoe, Ben Nevis and the west coast
What is there to do nearby?
Plenty. Glencoe Lochan is ten minutes away, the Pap of Glencoe 15 and the Lost Valley 20. Fort William and Ben Nevis are 25 to 30 minutes north, and Oban, with the ferry to Mull, is 40 minutes south. Closer to home there is the Caledonia Way for walking and cycling, sailing and kayaking on the loch, the Kentallen wall dive, and seals in the water. Our area guide has the full list.
Is there skiing nearby?
Yes, in a good winter. Glencoe Mountain is about half an hour up the glen, and Nevis Range near Fort William is a little further. Both depend on the snow, so check their websites before you set off.
Anything we have missed?
Any questions at all, however small, email stay@hollytreehotel.co.uk or ring 01631 740 292 and our team will help. For walks and days out, see our full Glencoe area guide.