Blog

Hear a bit about what we’ve been up to and get some ideas for your trip to the area.

Wow – what a week!

The past week has been an absolute blast and we are smiling from ear to ear! The hotel has been busy with lots of guests enjoying their first post lockdown breaks and meals out. Our bookings diary has been chockablock with guests, visitors and locals and we couldn’t be happier. The kitchen team have pulled out all the stops and really have made us proud.

We launched our restaurant menu on Thursday – it will be running Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays each week. Its a 3 course set menu which changes weekly; this week featured some lovely dishes including seabass, fillet of beef and goat’s cheese cannelloni.

Sunday lunch was super popular this week with customers enjoying the bar, the restaurant and some brave souls even braced the weather and sat outdoors on our porch!

All we need now is some sunshine!

Prize winners

It was an absolute pleasure to host Mr and Mrs Low this week who won a 4 night stay with us via the Probus magazine. They were originally planning to come in 2020 but the pandemic stopped them in their tracks. They thoroughly enjoyed their stay and managed to explore lots of local attractions including a visit to Dunrobin Castle and Cawdor Castle. They also enjoyed going for some local walks around the hotel.

We were thrilled to get some super feedback from them after their stay and they told us that they plan to return in the future. Mr Low said that they had a relaxing break and that they would ‘thoroughly recommend a stay in this beautiful hotel’ and that the ‘staff were very friendly’ and the ‘food was great and well presented’.

Thanks to Mr and Mrs Low for being such lovely guests and well done to Team Whitebridge for another happy customer!

It’s good to be back…..

We were thrilled last week to be able to open our doors and welcome guests and visitors back into our lovely wee hotel. We took some time today to reflect on the week that just passed.

Being closed gave us a chance to enjoy the immediately surrounding area and discover new walks and appreciate the slower pace of life. But it also left us feeling like we were in an echo chamber. We realised that working in hospitality we are used to receiving instant and constant feedback. Having time to work on developing and improving the business is fun and exciting but it means nothing without people.

We got off to a slow and steady start when we opened on Monday 26th April but it gave us time to get to grips with our new fancy till system and to get our new team members up to date. By the time the weekend came, everyone seemed to have the same idea: first pint, first meal out, first overnight stay away in a different 4 walls. We were blown away by how busy we were.

Thank you to each and every one of you who came out and stayed with us, drank with us and dined with us. And thank you for your feedback – which we are delighted to say was awesome!

Check in Scotland – supporting effective contact tracing – Whitebridge Hotel

All venues are required to record visitor contact details to assist with NHS contact tracing for Covid 19 cases. At Whitebridge Hotel, we will be using the Scottish Government App called Check In Scotland which was launched in December 2020. This will be the easiest way for you to give your contact details whilst visiting so please download the app onto your mobile phone before you come so you can concentrate on relaxing and enjoying yourself whilst you’re here. Last year we were only required to take the details of one person from a household; this year all adults visiting will be asked to check in. You can download the App in the App Store on your mobile ‘phone. Just search for ‘Check In Scotland’. Don’t worry, if you have any problems using the app or checking in, then we will be happy to take your details from you.

Gents toilet urinals

Gents toilet makeover

The gents bar toilets have had a revamp! We worked with local craftsman Michael on a makeover. In line with our green credentials, we always try to re-use or recycle waste. We inherited some old beer kegs when we took on the hotel back in 2018 and decided to put them to good use as urinals and a sink. Michael used a traditional burnt wood technique to create a new cubicle and urinal unit and sink stand. A new tiled floor was installed and Bella used some of her quirky styling to accessorise with the Broons and Oor Wullie and we are absolutely delighted with the result. We think that we’ve got the best loos in South Loch Ness. What do you think?

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Walking/Hiking

Based on the South Loch Ness Trail, Whitebridge Hotel has a wide range of walks directly from the hotel.  Whether you prefer a signposted route, forest trails or hill-hiking.  We have taken advantage of the lockdown periods and enjoyed exploring all of the local walks.  During much of this time, the ground was covered in ice and snow transforming our surroundings into a Winter Wonderland!

Fishing Boat Inverness Whitebridge Hotel

Activities

Why not hire our rowing boat for the day?  Whether you fancy a spot of brown trout fishing or just a fun day out on the Loch, our fishing boat is a great way to get up close and personal with the local wildlife and birdlife.  Its just £35 for the day or £20 for a half day.  We will be happy to prepare a delicious picnic for you take with you.  Ask us about our backpack picnic hampers.

Stoat Loch Ness near Whitebridge Hotel

Wildlife Spotting

One of the best parts of visiting South Loch Ness is the wildlife spotting.  Admire the stags at dusk as they come down to the roadside, spot the red squirrels on the squirrel trail, the pheasants and partridges when out walking on the local estates, hares, rabbits, stoats, eagles, red kites…..the list goes on.

Day trips

We are ideally placed for day trips heading either East or West! Head East and visit some lovely beaches on the east coast including Rosemarkie, Dornoch and Nairn.  Head West and visit the Isle of Skye, Applecross and Lochcarron.  Wherever you are heading remember to ask about our packed lunches and picnics.