The Grange Fort William

Best place we have ever stayed at!

I simply cannot imagine anywhere better. The view was incredible, the place was impeccable in every way, the owner could not have been any nicer, the food was superb, the bed excellent, spacious and gorgeous rooms. Just perfect in every way. I cannot sing the praises of this place and the owner high enough! Perfect place!

A lovely property

This was the nicest property we stayed at during our 10 night stay in Scotland. We booked the upstairs luxe Rob Roy room, since it was our anniversary, and I wasn't disappointed. The bathroom is enormous, and I luxuriated in the soaking tub, the only one I had during the trip. Nonstop, voluminous hot water to be had, which was welcome after our semi-circumnavigation of Ben Nevis. Hint to hikers: DON'T climb the mountain unless it's clear. Instead, divert across her flanks, passing the gray cliffs and the mountain rescue hut as you hike on down to the distillery. You can catch a bus or taxi easily back into town - but be warned, this is at least 9 miles...

Joan has decorated the entire house with antiques and collectables, and it was a pleasure to stop here and there and admire her things. Rather like staying at the house of a wealthy friend you haven't seen in years. There are some lovely antique purses, for example, used for all sorts of unusual purposes. We really enjoyed the way they set our little bottle of scotch in the arms of the teddy bear on our bed when we returned from a long day of hiking. Little touches like these will grace your stay.

The porridge is a must-have, and you must have it with whiskey! Try the smoked Haddock for breakfast - meals are rich and abundant in the lovely dining room. Joan also served the best shortbread at tea, and I was sorry not to eat more of it since we were usually out on all-day jaunts.

She offers a great collection of travel, nature and Scotland books to peruse in planning your next day's adventure.

Highly recommend the little Cafe 114?? (A number, and not to be confused with another cafe of similar name just off the main street) It's on the main street of town, and you first walk over to the wine store to pick out a bottle to bring with. They serve an excellent latte in the morning, too, for those who want more than basic coffee or tea.

Lastly, if you're arriving at the train station and intending to walk - be warned that there is a steep hill to negotiate after going through the town. If you're tired or out of shape, take a cab rather than tote your bags that far.

A beautiful place to stay

My husband and I have recently returned after a visit to Fort William and a stay at The Grange, this guest house is perfect, the rooms are to die for as are the views, we stayed in The Turret room with beautiful views over the garden and the Loch, Joan and John are very welcoming and all the little finishing touches make your stay that bit special i.e. homemade shortbread and sherry in your room and tea on arrival, if your are visiting Fort William I would not hesitate to recommend this place. Do NOT have a meal in the Everest Indian Restaurant in Fort William we ate there one evening and i can honestly say it was the worst Indian food we had ever had, I even had a bone in my so called chicken breast! It was AWFUL!

Even Better the Second Time Around

It had been three years since our first visit (see review #1 below) and finally we were able to return to The Grange in May, 2005, for four nights. It was every bit as terrific as the first visit and then some. Rooms were perfect (we had the newly refurbished Garden Room this time, our friends and traveling companions had the ground-level Terrace Room), breakfast was awesome, Joan was as gracious as ever and couldn't have done more to make our stay the best it could be. We'll never stay anywhere else when in this part of the world, which is a very convenient jumping-off point for the inner isles (Skye, Mull, etc.), Inverness area, Grampian Mountains, etc. One tip (provided to us by Joan) - when visiting the not-to-be-missed Cawdor Castle, have a meal at the nearby Cawdor Tavern - the best culinary surprise we had on this trip, which included dinner at the highly-praised Three Chimneys.

The Highlight B&B of our two week travels of Scotland

All of the positives of the previous reviews were confirmed during our two night stay at the beginning of June. We were made welcome as soon as we walked in the door and that attitude continued throughout our brief stay. The Terrace Room was a delight. The breakfasts were delicious and their presentation outstanding. Joan is an excellent host. Recommended without qualification.

All being well, we will return.

Fantastic, Fantastic and Fantastic

Don't bother looking for any other hotel in Fort William or surrounding areas. This is the most beautiful hotel we have ever stayed in. We stayed in the Rob Roy room which overlooks the Loch from the window. All of the rooms are beautifully furnished with an eye for detail and your own decanter of sherry. The bathrooms have great showers and the towels are even wrapped with a ribbon. The owners Joan and John are a lovely couple and are very welcoming. Joan also cooks lovely breakfasts which is chosen from an extensive menu the night before.

Along the road is a gorgeous restaurant called The Waterfront/ Crannog which is a fish restuarant. A little expensive but well worth it.

We will definately be visiting The Grange again.

The view from heaven

My husband and I stayed at The Grange in late September 2004. This bed and breakfast is an absolutely wonderful place to stay. The home is beautiful and really well furnished. The Grange is a place where everything works. You can't tell it from looking at the traditonal decor, but it's a newly remodeled building with great conveniences. Even better, Joan is one of the hardest working, best hostesses in all of Scotland.

Wonderful place to stay!

We stayed at this beautiful 5 star guest house a couple of summers ago. The rooms are wonderful, particulary the Rob Roy room which has beautiful views and lovely decor. Beds are comfortable with soft pillows, crisp linen and good mattresses.

There are lots of little touches in the rooms, homemade shortbread, jugs of fresh milk and very nice toiletries in the gorgeous bathrooms (garden room bathroom is divine)

The lounge is stunning and we were made welcome on arrival with tea and goodies, the breakfast room with its glass topped tables and crystal is amazing. Proper linen napkins, silver tableware and the food is mouth-watering, wonderful breakfasts set you up for the day.

Its most def a place for couples and romance, with four rooms its intimate but not too cosy!

If you go to Fort William its a must and we will be back!

Nice quaint place

The Grange is a nice, quaint place to stay. It has nicely decorated gardens, tea room, and lounge. It is a pleasant walk from the main parade (maybe 10-15 minutes).

I stayed in the Rob Roy room and the room was comfortable and nicely decorated. However the side table next to the bed was a wooden board with some cloth draped over it, and the bed needed to be change as it sagged too much. Otherwise, I would recommend this place; if you stay in the Rob Roy room, ask if the bed has been replaced.

A Jewel in the Magical Highlands

Anyone intending to visit the Highlands should know about The Grange. My wife and I spent 3 nights there in June, 2002 and have every intention of returning at our first opportunity. The 4-bedroom Victorian is secluded on a hill overlooking Loch Linnhe, just a short walk from the center of Fort William and a great base from which to explore the Highlands and the Isle of Skye, as we did. The rooms are very comfortable and well-appointed, the baths are modern and the full breakfast in the formal dining room offered a great start to each day. When we sat in the parlor at the end of the day, we felt as if we were back home. The Grange's greatest asset, however, is its proprietress, Joan Campbell, who could not have been more welcoming and helpful. We left The Grange feeling that we had gained a friend and a place to stay on every return trip.