BRACKEN HIDE HOTEL, Portree

Bracken Hide Hotel offers 36 private cabins set into the hillside, each with a terrace overlooking Loch Portree. The cabins use sustainable architecture and include heated floors, a design that keeps the space cozy in Skye's changeable weather. Guests stay in their own 'hide' with a private bathroom, underfloor heating, and a view that opens onto the bay.

The hotel's restaurant, Am Braigh, serves dinner with a menu that changes daily, using local seafood such as scallops and pollock with clams and mussels. Breakfast is included and offers cooked-to-order options, fresh fruit, and French press coffee; guests book a time slot for their meal. The cocktail bar features a creative drink list with a selection of gin and whisky, and the lounge has large windows that look out over the hillside.

The property includes a private sauna cabin and a cold plunge pool that guests can book for one-hour exclusive use. The sauna is wood-fired (though it takes about an hour to reach temperature) and guests receive access to a locker with towels. After a day of hiking, the sauna and plunge offer a way to soothe muscles while looking out over the harbour.

Bracken Hide Hotel sits on a hillside a 25-minute walk from Portree town center, with direct access to hiking trails such as the Old Man of Storr and Quiraing. Dunvegan Castle is 33 km away, and Portree Golf Club is 10 km from the property. Guests can view local wildlife from their cabin porch, including birds and deer, and the hotel provides complimentary valet service for luggage transport up the steep gravel paths.

The hotel offers a 24-hour front desk, free private parking, and a porter with a golf cart to carry luggage to and from cabins. Guests can request meal customization for dietary needs, and the staff can arrange specialized activities such as whisky tastings or guided walk recommendations. The reception sells Isle of Skye candles and local products, and the bar hosts evening events like backgammon and live conversation.

Accommodations: 36 private cabins with heated floors and sea views

Dining: Am Braigh restaurant with local seafood and creative cocktail bar

Wellness: Private sauna cabin and cold plunge pool bookable by guests

Location: 25-minute walk to Portree, access to Old Man of Storr and Quiraing

Services: Complimentary valet luggage transport by golf cart

Package: Breakfast included with cooked-to-order options