Duisdale House is a Victorian country house near Isleornsay on the Sleat peninsula, built in the 1860s as a hunting lodge for the chief of Clan MacDonald and now a four-star hotel. It sits in gardens and around thirty-five acres of wooded hillside with views across the Sound of Sleat to the mainland mountains, and it is one of the best-rated hotels on the island. Rooms are individually styled, the restaurant serves Scottish produce in a conservatory-style dining room, and there is a hot tub in the garden for evenings under the stars. It suits couples and anyone wanting a comfortable, quiet base in the south of Skye.
Location
The hotel is on the A851 in Sleat, about fifteen minutes from Broadford and the main road north, and around twenty minutes from the Armadale terminal for the ferry to Mallaig. Torabhaig Distillery and Armadale Castle and Gardens are close by, and the Skye Bridge is within about half an hour. Portree and the northern sights are roughly an hour away by car, so Duisdale works best as a base for the south of the island or as one stop on a two-base trip, with Portree or Sligachan for the north.
Rooms and dining
Rooms range from standard doubles to larger rooms and suites, many with garden or sea views, and the decor mixes country-house character with contemporary furnishings. The restaurant focuses on local seafood, game and island produce, and the bar and lounges are relaxing places for a dram by the fire. Breakfast is served each morning. Guests often praise the staff, the setting and the food, so book dinner when you book your room, as there are few alternatives nearby.
Who it suits and what to know: couples on a romantic break, travellers arriving or leaving via the Mallaig ferry, whisky fans visiting Torabhaig and anyone who values peace and views over being in town. Parking is available on site. Some rooms are in the main house and others in later extensions, so ask for a sea view if it matters to you, and check rate terms for breakfast and dinner packages.
Why stay here
- ✓Country house in wooded grounds
- ✓Sound of Sleat views
- ✓Restaurant
- ✓Bar and lounges
- ✓Garden hot tub
- ✓Breakfast available
- ✓On-site parking
- ✓Near the Armadale ferry
Good questions
Where is Duisdale House?+
In Sleat in the south of Skye, near Isleornsay, about fifteen minutes from Broadford and twenty from the Armadale ferry.
Does it have a restaurant?+
Yes, it has a restaurant serving Scottish seafood, game and local produce, plus a bar and lounges.
Is it a good base for the whole island?+
It is best for the south; Portree and the northern sights are about an hour away, so many guests combine it with a night in the north.
