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Scotland’s “quirkiest” hotel has been named(Image: Jane Barlow / PA)
The “quirkiest hotels” in Scotland were recently named in a new list and placing first was a one-of-a-kind ‘floating hotel’.
On October 25, The Times published a roundup of “21 of the quirkiest hotels in the UK”. A total of three Scottish hotels are featured, with Fingal in Edinburgh topping the overall list.
Fingal is a luxury floating hotel situated in the Scottish capital’s Leith district, featuring 22 cabins and decks. A former Northern Lighthouse Board ship, it also includes a multi award-winning restaurant.
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All of the Fingal’s cabins are inspired by its nautical history, and feature king size beds and porthole windows. There are also larger suites, some of which are set out over two levels, that include freestanding baths, dining and living spaces, and more.
Meanwhile, the Lighthouse Restaurant and Bar on the top deck has been previously awarded two AA Rosettes. The restaurant serves dinner—with dishes available including salmon and red deer—as well as breakfast, afternoon tea, and cream tea.
The Times praised Fingal for its “art deco style” and “oceangoing grandeur”. The newspaper also applauded the Lighthouse Restaurant and Bar, as well as the private tours that are on offer at an additional cost.
Fingal(Image: Handout)
The Times wrote: “You may not be able to sail on the Royal Yacht Britannia, but you can sleep on a restored ship moored along the Leith waterfront in Edinburgh. It’s been kitted out in art deco style, with gleaming wood, curvy lines, warm colours and portholes peeping out over the water.
“The nicest rooms are the split-level duplexes, which really capture a sense of oceangoing grandeur. The restaurant is really romantic, too—and if you want to push the boat out, you can book special packages that include a private tour and dinner on the Royal Yacht.”
Elsewhere, following behind in second place on The Times’ list of the quirkiest hotels in the UK is The Witchery by the Castle. Also situated in Edinburgh, it is a five-star hotel housed in a collection of historic buildings dating back to 1595 at the gates of Edinburgh Castle.
The Witchery by the Castle(Image: Booking.com)
The Witchery by the Castle features nine suites that each have unique features, such as walk-in dressing rooms, love seats, and tapestries. Meanwhile, its restaurant showcases Scottish fine dining in a 16th century oak-panelled and candlelit dining room.
The Times highlighted The Witchery by the Castle for its gothic interiors and “peculiarity”. It singled out features such as candelabras and stone staircases.
The newspaper stated: “Go for gothic extravagance on the Royal Mile. Run by the restaurateur James Thomson, this place offers nine wildly over-the-top suites straight out of a Bram Stoker story—with tapestries, candelabras, stone staircases, wooden panels and gilded paintings galore.
“Each suite has its own peculiarity: the Inner Sanctum is stuffed with antiques, the Vestry has a headboard crafted from organ pipes, and the Library has a bathroom hidden behind a secret bookcase. Some also offer fine views of Edinburgh, especially the Turret Room.”
The third and final Scottish hotel to be named among the “quirkiest” in the UK was the Corsewall Lighthouse Hotel in Dumfries and Galloway.
Corsewall Lighthouse Hotel(Image: Booking.com)
The hotel, set within former lighthouse keepers’ accommodation, features rooms with private bathrooms and flatscreen TVs and a restaurant that serves up a five-course fine dining menu.
The Corsewall Lighthouse Hotel was praised by The Times for its “stirring views” out over the Irish Sea to Ailsa Craig. The hotel’s friendly and knowledgeable staff were also applauded.
More information about Fingal can be found on Booking.com. Meanwhile, the full list of the quirkiest hotels in the UK can be found on The Times website.