SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS HOTELIERS

Following on the theme of extortionate hotel prices in the Highlands,  known as the Scottish Highlands Hotelier Syndrome,  we checked the rates of the four hotels below,  selected at random,  and all for the same date.   One was in the City of Inverness,  two were on the outskirts,  and the fourth some twenty miles north.  In our view,  that provides a pretty accurate selection.

We could get the elegant Kingsmills Hotel at Inverness for £126 bed and breakfast but the sting was that the tariff was completely non-refundable  and non-changeable so that if the Isle of Lewis's pistons broke down again we would lose the lot.  Culloden House,  on the outskirts at Culloden,  was £270 and Bunchrew House,  on the shores of the Beauly Firth,  £230,   but neither  made any mention of cancellation charges.  Further north,  at Invergordon,  Kincraig Castle was £150.

Using the same calculator as we used for Lady Claire,  that is a total of £776 to average at £194 per night bed and breakfast.  Little wonder that on our increasingly infrequent forays to Marks and Spencer in Inverness we stay at a very select Bed and Breakfast where it costs a princely £31 per night!