Highland

Benleva Hotel

It's hard to work out exactly what the best thing about the Benleva Hotel is. Is it the beer? Or the warmth of the welcome, for you and your dog? How about the lovingly made food? Then again there's also the 50 malt whiskies. And if none of those do it, then there's the enviable location on the shores of Loch Ness.

Eat: It's a toss-up whether the kitchen or the cellar is the real star at the Benleva, both excel and both can also surprise. It's probably not that expected that there would be a specialist pizza oven, for example, so that amid the more traditional local fare, you can always opt for the always comforting option of a pizza and a pint. With most ingredients locally sourced (depending on what's available at the local market), the menu changes daily and there is often a local twist to even classic dishes. The beers and whiskies are also a nice mix of the very local and some of the best things from further away.     

Sleep: It's fair to say that the quality of the accommodation probably isn't the best thing about the Benleva. The  nine rooms are all dog friendly and all are comfortable, if a little basic. No prizes for conceptual design, but then no extra charges for the dog either.

Walk: This is prime walking territory and there really is no shortage of excellent Highland walks in this area. You can opt for a simple walk from the hotel, through the woods to the shores of Loch Ness, or be bolder and take on one of the more impressive challenges, such as Glen Affric, Glen Urquhart and indeed the Great Glen Way.