Bettyhill Hotel TongueBettyhill Hotel, Bettyhill, Tongue, Highlands, KW14 7SP
"The 'Bettyhill Hotel' was built in 1819 by the House of Sutherland as a Coaching Inn and became popular with fishermen in Victorian times. It overlooks one of Scotland's greatest salmon rivers; the Naver and offers stunning, panoramic views over the long, wide sweep of clean white sand, which fringes Torrisdale Bay."
Comfortable bedrooms in a traditional fashion (some en-suite and some with superb sea views) Budget priced rooms also available Cosy well stocked bar popular with locals and visitors Wide range of malt whisky usually available Breakfast, morning coffee, bar lunches, teas and evening meals available every day Restaurant serving locally produced food, including game and fish Residents lounge available for use all day Hikers, bikers, ramblers, anglers and birdwatchers all welcome Ample parking and within walking distance of village and beach A warm Highland welcome guaranteed, all year.
The Hotel
The 'Bettyhill Hotel' was built in 1819 by the House of Sutherland as a Coaching Inn and became popular with fishermen in Victorian times. It overlooks one of Scotland's greatest salmon rivers; the Naver and offers stunning, panoramic views over the long, wide sweep of clean white sand, which fringes Torrisdale Bay. In summer there are glorious West Highland sunsets and in winter, occasional displays of the Northern Lights.
Our family-run hotel has 20 guest rooms, a restaurant which offers fine Scottish cuisine, a lounge, tea room and bar where you can absorb the full flavour of the Highland craic. The three public rooms, along with several bedrooms afford wonderful views over the bay. We offer meals and snacks all day and are happy to accommodate particular dietary requirements. Menus are locally sourced as far as possible, featuring fresh wild salmon and game throughout the season. There is also a comprehensive wine list with wines selected from European and New World vineyards.The Bettyhill Hotel was acquired by Bettyhill Hotel Limited in October 2004, since when there have been numerous improvements including increasing the number of bedrooms available with en-suite facilities and making available more sea view bedrooms for our guests; the exterior also received a much needed coat of paint! Further improvements are intended but we do not, however, plan to change the basic traditional character of the hotel and will continue to cater for both visitors and the local community.
Accommodation
We are able to offer single, double, twin and family rooms, some with en-suite facilities and some with superb sea views. All non en-suite rooms have hand basins are near shared facilities and by next summer more rooms should be en-suite as part of our programme of continuing steady improvement and upgrading.
Tea and coffee making facilities are available in all bedrooms.
As a guide, our current rates for bed and breakfast start at £25 per person per night, with a little extra being charged for en-suite rooms and for rooms with a direct sea view.
Unlike many hotels in the area, we remain open all year.
Well behaved dogs are welcome by prior arrangement. Smoking is no longer possible in hotels, restaurants and bars in Scotland.
The Restaurant
The restaurant is open every day, providing a range of meals to suit most tastes; we specialise in local produce, including local game and fish when available, but appreciate that many of our guests are on a limited budget.
We offer a range of wines, extended during the summer months, and of course can provide drinks from the bar for our diners.
Given warning, we are pleased to cater for specific dietary requirements.
The restaurant is normally open for breakfast 8am to 10am then from 12:30 to 8pm, often later in the peak season.
Tea, coffee and bar snacks can usually be provided out with these times.
Non-residents are very welcome but please note that dogs are not allowed in the restaurant; you may, however, eat in the bar if you prefer. We are open all year, although choice may be more restricted during the winter months.
The Bar
The Bar is the hub of both the hotel and Bettyhill itself; it is a friendly unpretentious local but one where the visitor is always welcome. We stock a wide range of malt whisky, especially in the busy summer months. Bar snacks are available lunchtime and evening. Smoking is no longer possible but you are welcome to take your snacks outside if the weather is being kind.
The bar is normally open 11am to 11pm, but on Fridays stays open to 1am and on Saturdays to midnight; Sunday opening is at 12.30, but there is some flexibility for hotel residents.
The Bettyhill Area
The region is the remotest and sparsely populated on the British mainland and is still completely unspoiled. To the west the scenery has a rugged, desolate grandeur and to the Southeast lies the unique Flow Country.
Nearby are some delightful Straths, the Invernaver Nature Reserve, Borgie Forest and the Kyle of Tongue. There are several mountains including two Munro's, Ben's Hope and Ben Clebrig. Ben Loyal is noted for its five peaks and is known as "The Queen" of Scottish Mountains. Sutherland is a notable region for fishing enthusiasts with salmon, sea trout and brown trout all affording excellent sport and seasonally available locally.
There are some unusual and outstanding areas for bird walks, deer watching, mountain climbing and hill walking to local peaks offering panoramic views of the coastline further west. Ospreys have been seen taking fish on the Naver and there have been sightings of the Great Northern Diver from time to time. Otters may be seen if the observer is quiet and seals are now increasingly common along the shore.
The area is also a growing attraction for those who like to ride the surf on the superb waves of Torrisdale bay. Photography enthusiasts and amateurs alike will have no difficulty finding some wonderful opportunities to capture the unique beauty of the coastline and surroundings.
Activities situated within Bettyhill include Strathnaver museum, North Coast leisure facility which comprises of a gym, sauna and swimming pool. Alternatively visit and admire the beautiful sands of Farr Bay and Torrisdale Bay which cradle the village. To the south of Bettyhill are the pre-clearance sites of Rossal and Achanlochy. There are many sites of archaeological and geographical interest.
Pony trekking packages can be arranged with our local Torrisdale Trekking. There are nearby golf courses at Reay and Durness, each within an hour's drive. A boat operating from Skerray pier makes visits to some of the offshore islands. Bettyhill is well sited for outings and day trips to places such as John O Groats and Orkney. Picnics can be ordered from the hotel in advance.
