Balinakill Country House Hotel

Clachan, Tarbert, Argyll and Bute, PA29 6XL
Telephone: 01880 740206
Fax: 01880 740298

Welcome to Balinakill, more country house than hotel; a place to relax, unwind and restore your spirit.
Experience the combination of natural beauty, outdoor activities and indoor therapies, fresh and delicious organic food, friendly sevice and comfortable accommodation and you will be happy to have found your 'home in the country'.

Balinakill Country House Hotel, Tarbert, Hallway

The present house at Balinakill was completed in 1893 ; it was built by Sir William MacKinnon , founder of the British India Steam Navigation Company, as an extension to the old MacAllister Balinakill for which we have records dating back to 1600.
Once the centre of a large estate , the house now has six acres of peaceful grounds and direct access to miles of tracks in the hills behind which are suitable for walking , cycling and riding. There are many lochs in these hills and Balinakill has fishing for two rods on one of the largest of these , Loch Ciaran . Stalking is also available, for Roe, Red and the elusive Sika deer. The upper floors of the house have lovely views south and west to Islay and the Sound of Jura and a pleasant one mile walk will take you to the beautiful, secluded beach of Dunskeig Bay.

Bedrooms

There are 11 en suite bedrooms ; all individually and comfortably furnished with antiques and most having open fires . As our rooms are all different please ask if you have particular preferences for a bath, a shower or an open fire. A ground floor bedroom is also available. All the rooms are either double or twin and some can accommodate an extrabed if required. The rooms are centrally heated and have colour television, clock radio, hairdryer and tea and coffee making facilities. On each floor you will find a small fridge with fresh milk for your tea andcoffee.

Balinakill Country House Hotel, Tarbert, Bedroom

Hotel Facilities

There are two lovely sitting rooms for guests' use. The panelled Oak Room on the ground floor has a wood burning stove and big sofas; it makes a comfortable spot to indulge yourself with a traditional afternoon tea or play a lazy game - draughts ? backgammon ? cards ? Jenga? - beside the fire...

On the first floor the serene, light filled, drawing room will soothe your spirit while you read, meditate or just watch the ever changing sky... The Hotel has a small bar in Queen Victoria's Safe ( the only smoking area in the house ) where a good range of malt whiskies can be sampled , along with bottled local real ales and a selection of liqueurs and spirits.There is also an excellent wine list to provide the perfect accompaniment to your meal.

The Restaurant has been awarded an AA Rosette and it features free range and organic food and local produce. Everything is home made: bread, cakes, puddings, pastry, sorbets, ice creams and all stocks and sauces are madefrom scratch with fresh ingredients. The results are delicious.

Balinakill Country House Hotel, Tarbert, Sitting Room

Activities

You can sample a range of relaxing therapies here at Balinakill - aromatherapy massage, colour puncture, reflexology, reiki, Indian head massage and others are available by arrangement.

We can arrange golf, horse riding, clay pigeon shooting, stalking, fishing and boat trips.
Surfing and windsurfing are popular at Westport beach and Tarbert is a magnet for sailors. Campbeltown has the famous Springbank distillery, one of the last still owned by the founding family; Campbeltown pottery and Grant Logan's goldsmithing workshop. At Machrihanish, Eddie McGuire has set up a first class bird observatory.

There are miles of lovely walking and cycling tracks; beautiful beaches; fascinating standing stones and other remains dating back to Neolithic times; seals at Ronachan point, otters and a great diversity of birds and wild flowers; golf at Machrihanish Championship course and at Dunaverty, Carradale, Tarbert and Gigha; ferries to Arran, Islay, Gigha and the Cowal Peninsula; and a warm and friendly welcome awaiting you on what we hope will be the first of many visits to come.