Culdearn House Hotel

If you are looking for a warm, friendly and welcoming Highland hotel with excellent accommodation and dining in Scotland’s beautiful Speyside area, the Culdearn House hotel is the place for you. During our most recent visit to Scotland in September 2009 my wife and I had the pleasure of spending two days enjoying the attentive hospitality of William and Sonia Marshall our hosts at the Culdearn House hotel. The Marshall’s have created one of the best small hotels to be found anywhere in the Scottish Highlands, in a stately Victorian on the outskirts of the pleasant village of Grantown-on-Spey. Our cheerful corner bedrooms was large, warm and comfortably furnished and the queen sized bed and elegant linens just perfect. Our bathroom was huge, bright and stylish, appointed with modern, continental style fittings and large, fluffy towels and bathrobes. As with everything else at Culdearn House, dining is a pleasant and relaxing experience beginning with drinks and appetizers in the lounge enjoying one of William’s many single malt whiskies. I particularly liked the local Cragganmore malt he selected for me. The dinner menu changes every evening and includes a nice array of starters, soups and salad, a choice of three or four entrees, of mostly local produce, and a nice selection of deserts and some excellent Scottish cheeses. There is a capable wine list with a variety of styles and prices, and William has provided a short narrative discussing each wine and why he selected it. The dining room, which overlooks the front garden through a large bay window, comfortably holds half a dozen or so tables. Decorating one wall are numerous plaques that Sonia has earned from various Scottish culinary societies attesting to her skills as a chef. Everything we selected was perfectly cooked and creatively presented and as good as we have tasted anywhere. After a full Scottish breakfast, including award winning black pudding no less, Sonia and William helped us organize our activities for the day. Sonia recommended that we visit Ballindaloch Castle, a traditional Scottish castle that is still the residence of the McPherson-Grant family. To top off the day William had arranged for us to join the tour at Aberlour distillery. For whiskey lovers this is a must as it includes the ultimate tasting experience. However, being the designated driver, I could only enjoy the sight and smell of the six Aberlour malts presented rather than drink them. Next time!! And there will be a next time. Culdearn House is located in a beautiful part of Scotland, well away from the normal tourist spots. It is a classy and comfortable place to stay and William and Sonia will go out of their way to make sure you enjoy your visit… they certainly did for us.