In a country brimming with rugged coastlines, storybook castles, and remote glens, the title of best place to stay in Scotland is no small accolade. But in 2025, it’s not Skye or Edinburgh that’s stolen the spotlight — it’s Port Appin, a coastal village so modest it doesn’t even boast a high street.
Now named by The Times as the year’s top destination for serenity-seekers and scenic escapes, Port Appin is having a moment. A tiny west coast hamlet nestled between Loch Linnhe and the peaks of Argyll, it has quietly become the blueprint for a modern Highland retreat: unplugged, unspoiled, and utterly unforgettable.
Where Still Waters and Highland Peaks Meet
There’s no train station in Port Appin. No chain cafés. And barely a handful of roads. But what it lacks in urban offerings, it makes up for in drama: steep forested hills tumble into mirror-still lochs, and skies stretch wide above castle-dotted coastlines.
The view across Loch Linnhe at dusk — a soft, golden light catching the surface of the water, shadows falling over nearby Lismore Island — is the kind of scene that has artists and amateur photographers returning home with hundreds of frames.
Travelers can take the Lismore ferry from the village pier, a short hop that feels like a passage to another era. On calm days, the ferry glides past seals basking on rocks and oyster catchers darting through the shallows.
Local, Laid-Back, and Luxurious
Despite its size, Port Appin offers high-end hospitality without pretension. Chief among its draws is the Pierhouse Hotel, perched right on the water’s edge. Once the home of the pier master, the hotel has become one of the Highlands’ most talked-about destinations for food and rest.
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Fresh langoustines, mussels, and crab are brought in daily
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Guests dine with sweeping views across the loch
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The wine list is curated to pair perfectly with shellfish caught within sight of the dining room
There’s no need for formality. Fishermen’s boots sit next to smart walking shoes in the hallway. The real luxury here is atmosphere.
A Living Landscape
For those who venture beyond the hotel veranda, Port Appin offers more than just scenery — it offers immersion.
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Walking trails loop through ancient woodland and peat-scented glens
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Cycling routes edge cliff-tops and duck through thick pine
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Wildlife spotting is a daily affair: otters in the water, red squirrels in the trees, and sea eagles overhead
One of the best-known routes leads to Castle Stalker, a photogenic 14th-century fortress that juts from the loch like a cinematic relic. Accessible only by boat (or viewed from the shore), it’s been featured in films and remains privately owned, adding to its mystery.
Remote But Rooted
What makes Port Appin stand out is not just its natural beauty, but its sense of rootedness. This isn’t a manufactured escape; it’s a real place, shaped by centuries of coastal life.
Fishing remains at the heart of the village identity. And while the influx of tourism has grown in recent years, it’s been carefully stewarded by locals, many of whom have resisted overdevelopment in favor of keeping things small-scale and sustainable.
Boat tours are run by local operators, not large firms. The general store still doubles as a post office. Even the seafood served at Pierhouse comes from vessels docked just steps from the kitchen.
The Rise of Slow Travel
Port Appin’s newfound recognition by The Times comes at a time when Scotland — and much of the UK — is seeing a shift toward “slow travel”. In the wake of the pandemic and amid the ongoing climate conversation, more travelers are turning away from packed itineraries in favor of immersive, restorative getaways.
And Port Appin, with its absence of digital distraction and over-commercialisation, fits the bill perfectly.
“We’re not trying to be the next big thing,” one local boat captain told The Times. “We’re just letting people discover what’s been here all along.”
Changing the Map
Traditionally, names like Skye, Loch Lomond, and Inverness dominate the travel narrative. But the rise of Port Appin could signal a subtle reshaping of Scotland’s tourism map — from the well-trodden to the quietly spectacular.
Travel writers have taken note. The Sunday Telegraph recently highlighted Port Appin in a round-up of “places you won’t believe aren’t already famous.” Instagram accounts dedicated to undiscovered Scotland are showcasing more of its views, sparking wanderlust far beyond the UK.
And for the village itself, the newfound fame seems unlikely to change the pace of life.
“Visitors come for the peace,” said one resident. “They leave with it still in their bones.”
