| Price Group 3, 4, 5 and select |
Originally opened in 1880, the expanded and modernised Castlebay Hotel overlooks the Isle of Barra’s township, harbour, castle and beyond to Vatersay.
Castlebay Hotel – a slice of history with modern comforts.
Comfort, relaxation, good company and great hospitality. What more could you ask of the hotel you’ll choose to begin or end your Scottish island hopping holiday?
Castlebay Hotel menus feature local shellfish – scallops, crab, cockles and langoustines plus fresh fish landed from local boats. Quality meats and salmon from Uist also feature. Parking is available beside the hotel with direct access to a disabled suite.
Overlooking the small township of Castlebay, the hotel commands panoramic views of the natural harbour, ancient Kisimul Castle and the island of Vatersay beyond. It’s only a couple of minutes walk to the delightful village centre, where you’ll find a bank, tourist information centre and a few local shops, plus the ferry to/from Oban.
The Castlebay Hotel blends a good deal of character with modern facilities and offers a very convenient base from which to explore the island. Public rooms are decorated in warm colours, which give a cosy feel to the hotel, and the en-suite guest bedrooms are well appointed and comfortable.
Perhaps even more important than the fabric of the hotel, the hospitality you can expect from the staff is warm and welcoming – service is friendly and attentive, so you’ll feel very much at home.
Accommodation at Castlebay Hotel
Offering a choice of room grades at the Castlebay Hotel – standard (with sea view subject to availability) in price group 4, superior with sea view in price group 5 and MacNeil room in the select collection. All have ensuite bath or shower rooms, tea and coffee making trays, plus TV.
Single rooms and some standard double/twins are at the rear of the hotel (price group 3), facing the hillside – for single accommodation with sea view, it’s necessary to book a double or twin sea view at a supplement. A spacious, modern disabled suite is available with its own entrance from the car park alongside the hotel (please note that due to the elevation of the property, it was not possible to construct this room with a sea view).
Dining and bars
The Castlebay’s excellent restaurant is popular with local residents, as well as guests, serving fresh local produce and seafood as available in season. Recommendations include a tasty beef and ale pie, served with mash – or try beer-battered locally landed cod with chips. Food may also be ordered to be served in the lounge bar.
Next door to the Castlebay Hotel, the Pub offers an opportunity to sample nightlife, local style. Barra people know how to enjoy themselves and the bar is one of the centres of the community. While you’ll often find impromptu musical entertainment here, it should not disturb your sleep, as the Pub is detached from the hotel.