The Coll Hotel, Isle of Coll

Winner of Hotel Review Scotland’s Scottish Island Hotel of the Year award in 2008 and 2009 and with good reason. Unlike some of the rather basic and run down hotel bars in the Hebrides, this is a very well appointed establishment, clean and well kept, with a good range of drinking options. As well as the Public Bar and Lounge Bar, there is an extensive beer garden at the front stretching down to the shores of Loch Eathearna. The relatively expensive restaurant, "The Gannet", had (according to the bar staff) Princess Anne as a customer on one of the nights I was in the bar. The separate restaurant means that the drinking areas don’t become clogged up with diners, or royalty, although eating in the bars (at restaurant prices) is an option. The hotel is unusual in that it has retained both a cigarette machine and a payphone, although the latter can be invaluable as mobile phones don’t always work here. The bar is also unusual for the islands in that real ales are available. This is the only pub on the island, but with a population of just 180, it is heavily reliant on the tourist trade. Opening hours are, therefore, restricted during the winter months and change according to the ferry timetable (it doesn’t sail every day in winter). The hotel has been family owned for the past 27 years and it was good to see the owner, Kevin, working behind the bar at busy times. Well worth a visit and, if you’re on the Isle of Coll, you almost certainly will visit it.