Hotel Press Reviews

"As we drove up the gravel driveway, we knew we were in for a blissful weekend. We were shown to our sumptuous room which had a great view over the mature, landscaped gardens. Dinner is served in the conservatory overlooking those gardens, and as the sun set over the Cuillins we chose from the extensive menu which features local produce in abundance. After a fabulous feed we retired to the sitting room – which is decorated in the same bold style as the rest of the house – for a couple of drinks before heading upstairs and sinking into the glorious four-poster bed”

"Duisdale House – unusually for Skye, three storeys high – is pristine and handsome in natural stone with white painted window frames and, in season, window boxes and hanging baskets.

Step inside and the Victorian house has been utterly transformed into a dramatically modern and chic boutique hotel. The hall and adjacent lounge with flickering real, open fire set the tone with a sassy, stylish mix of black and mushroom colours truly designer furnishings in gold stripes, opulent lighting and drapes. Someone said it’s a bit like a sleek city boutique hotel transported to the wilds of Skye and décor wise they are quite correct but the magnificent setting is a different story. And the bedrooms: marvellous”

"The Victorian heritage of the hotel is also apparent beyond it’s sturdy slate and stone exterior set in sleepy grounds. The original fireplaces and curving stairways are perfectly juxtaposed with modern touches. Our room in Duisdale – one of 18 all of which are uniquely appointed – featured an enormous four poster bed laden with enough heavy cushions to facilitate a very energetic pillow fight, should you wish to have one.

Duisdale also offers excellent food and each dish we tried was exceptional. Particular delights at our table included seared local hand dived Scallops and Langoustines, sauté onions and lentils with smoked bacon and shellfish cream and cured ten-year old Talisker Malt Salmon, pickled cucumber, avocado mouse, white crab meat/ lemon oil dressing and chervil – and those were just to start.

Perhaps the unique selling point of this venture - not that they need one – are the daily sailings on the luxury yacht, Solus nan Mara crewed by owners Anne Gracie and Kenneth Gunn – I shall ensure I get onboard next time I pay a visit to Gracie and Gunn on one of their island getaways.

"The perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, The Duisdale is an ideal destination to enjoy sailing, scenery and sipping champagne. Upon arrival at the Duisdale, a former Victorian Hunting Lodge, I was shown to my room complete with four poster bed and the most stunning views over the sea and hillsides. Each unique bedroom is decorated to be chic but complementary to the hotel and the island’s history.

The sumptuous food on the menu at Duisdale also matches this contemporary meet traditional ethos which is evident throughout…a starter of seared west coast sea Scallops served with sauté lentils, broad beans and a sherry vinaigarette were the best Scallops I’ve ever tasted…to round off this feast on the taste-buds (and the eyes), there was vanilla Creme Brulee, served with Whisky and Oatmeal Ice Cream and a Compote of Summer Berries. Sheer flair and indulgence, Scottish Style.

"Picture the scene: The backdrop is the haunting and scenic Isle of Skye, the bride alights from the wedding car, but instead of walking towards the church, she heads out on to the pier, slips off her shoes and embarks on a majestic yacht, her dress billowing in the breeze. For an unforgettable wedding day, step aboard the Suolus na Mara, a pure white 42 foot yacht moored beside Duisdale House Hotel, the UK’s only yacht with a wedding licence.

She’s owned by Skye Hoteliers Anne Gracie and Kenneth Gunn and the couple own two of Skye’s most luxurious upmarket hotels – the boutique Toravaig and the newly opened Duisdale House, which is the last word in contemporary interior design and style.

Toravaig is a beautiful upmarket boutique hotel with nine individually styled rooms while Duisdale has 17 rooms and a garden suite and boast four-posters, cutting edge design and a bold colour palette. Amid the Victorian splendor of the two buildings you will find some seriously stylish, contemporary interiors boasting luxurious fabrics, rich wallcoverings and fabulous furniture from all over the world.

"Inside the place is swish – in a more traditional London cool style, rather than a country house. The hotel has a beautiful dining room and a lovely lounge with roaring log fire but we dined in the lovely conservatory. The menu featured the best local and Scottish produce and it’s worth coming all the way north for that alone.

There is a big bonus with staying the night at Duisdale. The hotel has it’s very own yacht which can take guests out for the day sailing around Skye , dolphin and whale watching or island hopping. They have recently acquired a licence to perform weddings onboard and a looking forward to making many couples special days go swimmingly.

Dinner was a fantastic experience. My husband had the grain fed Scottish Fillet and I had moist and tender pan-fried lemon sole after a lovely starter of local lobster.

It’s been a while since we managed to get away for a few days and keeping it local made it a magical experience. All too often it’s easy to be tempted by a weekend break abroad, but a stay in Scotland can be so much better especially if the sun is shining and you are lucky enough to stay somewhere as lovely as Duisdale House Hotel.”