Business Details
Luxury Hotel & Restaurant in the Scottish Highlands
Nestled in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park near Aviemore, Boat Hotel has been welcoming guests with Scottish hospitality for decades. Our 34 guest rooms, including garden suites with private terraces, combine rustic charm with modern comforts, ensuring a memorable stay. The restaurant showcases Scottish favourites with a contemporary twist, complemented by an extensive selection of local whiskies and craft beers. As a family-friendly and pet-friendly establishment, we offer flexible accommodation options and dedicated spaces for weddings, conferences, and special events.Our teams deep knowledge of the Highlands ensures guests experience the regions natural beauty, from mountain trails to wildlife excursions. With accolades for our themed packages like the Murder Mystery Weekend and Dark Skies stargazing events, we blend tradition with innovation. Sustainability is central to our operations, from sourcing local ingredients to preserving our historic Victorian building. Whether you seek adventure or relaxation, our commitment to quality and authenticity makes us a trusted choice for visitors to the Scottish Highlands.
Services
Accommodation
Restaurant
Event Hosting
Whisky Tasting
Gift Vouchers
Pet-Friendly Stays
Seasonal Packages
Conference Facilities
Wedding Services
Local Excursions
Highlights and features
- We offer 34 uniquely designed rooms with mountain, garden, or village views in a historic Victorian building.
- Our restaurant serves contemporary Scottish dishes paired with over 100 whiskies and local craft beers.
- We host weddings, conferences, and themed events with accommodation and catering packages for up to 100 guests.
- We provide pet-friendly deluxe garden rooms with private terraces for guests traveling with dogs.
- Our Dark Skies Weekend and Murder Mystery packages offer exclusive Highland experiences unavailable elsewhere.
What people say
Great service
Brilliant food
Massive portions
Pet-friendly rooms
Stunning location
Services
Luxury Accommodation
Our 34 guest rooms combine Highland charm with modern comforts. Choose from cosily appointed doubles, spacious family suites, or garden rooms with private terraces overlooking the Cairngorm Mountains. All rooms feature premium bedding, complimentary Highland Soap toiletries, and high-speed WiFi. Pet-friendly options available with dedicated outdoor spaces.
Scottish Restaurant
Savor contemporary takes on traditional Scottish cuisine using locally sourced ingredients. Our menu features hearty pub classics, seasonal specials, and a dedicated 'Wee Rascals' menu for children. Enjoy meals beside log fires or in our dog-friendly garden area. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with extended hours during special events.
Event Hosting
Host weddings, conferences, or celebrations in our versatile function spaces. We accommodate groups up to 100 guests with customizable packages including accommodation, catering, and entertainment. Our team arranges decorations, live music, and themed activities while providing 44 parking spaces and accessibility features for all attendees.
Whisky Tasting
Discover Scotland's national drink through guided tastings of four premium malts paired with artisan chocolates. Led by knowledgeable staff, these sessions explore regional whisky variations from Speyside to Islay. Available as private bookings or scheduled experiences, with access to our full bar collection of over 100 expressions for further exploration.
Seasonal Packages
Enhance your visit with curated experiences like our Dark Skies stargazing weekend, Murder Mystery events, or golfing getaways. Packages include accommodation, meals, and activity access while showcasing seasonal highlights from Highland winter wonderlands to summer hiking adventures. Special offers available for mid-week stays and extended bookings.
Questions
Can I bring my dog to The Boat Country Inn?
Yes! We offer dedicated Deluxe Garden Rooms with private terraces for guests traveling with dogs. A £20 per night pet fee applies for one dog, £30 for two.
What dining options are available?
Our restaurant serves Scottish-inspired dishes daily from 11am-11pm, including a 'Wee Rascals' menu for children and afternoon tea service with Prosecco options.
Do you offer event planning services?
Yes, we host weddings, conferences, and private parties with customizable packages including accommodation, catering, entertainment, and themed decorations arranged by our events team.
Are whisky tastings available for non-residents?
Whisky tastings are open to all guests. Our 70-minute sessions for two people include four malt whiskies paired with artisan chocolates, with optional private bookings available.
What seasonal packages do you recommend?
Popular packages include our Dark Skies stargazing weekend, Murder Mystery events, golfing getaways, and winter holiday stays with flexible booking options for mid-week discounts.
Is parking available at the hotel?
We provide 44 on-site parking spaces for guests, with additional street parking available nearby. No reservation required for hotel guests.
Reviews (7)
Claire Wiltshire
Jul 13, 2021
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We stopped in here today for lunch whilst out cycling. We sat outside as they had lots of tables available and there was a safe space to leave our bikes. The staff were very friendly and efficient, especially the young girl serving, food was very tasty and fresh. Thanks 😊
Jean-Marc Flambert
Jun 02, 2021
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Parmesan crusted chicken schnitzel was tasteless. Service was slow. Had to ask 5 members of staff about our dessert. None bothered to come back so had to ask the next passing one. Our waitress replied we are busy.. she was hushed away by another. My boys 10th birthday was minus his dessert. We left with out our £7.25 apple crumble ordered with the main meal.
Kenny Lyall
Oct 26, 2020
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Fantastic hidden gem, booked last minute DB&B weekend break. Fantastic staff, so welcoming, room comfortable, food choice excellent! Fabulous location worth a visit you will certainly not be disappointed. (Great value DB&B) 👌👍
Lauren Barr
Oct 16, 2020
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Great cosy hotel. Family friendly with super friendly staff. Service was excellent. Thoroughly enjoyed our food and alcoholic drinks by the patio heaters outside. We had a garden room with lovely scenery. Was a great location for exploring Aviemore and surrounding areas. Will definitely be back.
Christopher Nelson
Oct 14, 2020
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Oct 2020 was my first visit to the hotel which was recommended by friends. We were two adults and one 5 year old. I have to say that I am extremely impressed with the hotel and staff. All the staff are all… very friendly and attentive without being invasive and nothing is too much trouble.
Rooms were fresh and very clean with all modern amenities but remaining in the style of the hotel which was nice. Beds were firm but comfortable. Food was very good and I tried both from the set menu and a la carte menu. Breakfast offered a good selection and table service was swift.
Drinks selection was
Rooms were fresh and very clean with all modern amenities but remaining in the style of the hotel which was nice. Beds were firm but comfortable. Food was very good and I tried both from the set menu and a la carte menu. Breakfast offered a good selection and table service was swift.
Drinks selection was
Amanda Gourlay
Aug 27, 2020
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My partner and I stayed here for 3 nights this week with breakfast included. We got upgraded to a deluxe room which was a good size and had a lovely view of the railway. Bed was really comfortable and the bath… was enormous. Staff were all happy to help at all times with table service for breakfast and all drinks. We found Alex went above and beyond to always ensure we were taken care off - he is really friendly and great at his job! Antonia was also very attentive. We ate dinner in the hotel last night and food was lovely - especially the chilli nachos!! Would definitely recommend and would
Molly Wright
Oct 10, 2019
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I recently booked at stay for 2 nights, a prepaid, non-refundable rate, and was emailed a few hours later by the management telling me that the rate that I had booked was no longer available, and that I had to book a special package that was more than 2x the cost of my original booking for the same room! My original booking already wasn't cheap,… around 240 GBP - but they wanted me to rebook for something like 480 GBP for the SAME ROOM on the SAME DATES. The cancellation policy was very clear, and had I tried to cancel, I would have lost 100% of my money. But apparently the management does
