With delightful sea views and magnificent sunsets, the Castle Hotel is a dream destination for guests wanting to experience village life in one of Scotland’s most beautiful areas.  As the only pub in Portmahomack, the Castle Hotel is the hub of the village; with some amiable locals, you will be sure to enjoy your stay here.  Why not start your day looking out over the sea at the dolphins playing around in the Dornoch Firth?

The pub section of the hotel is a hotspot in the village, with a great selection of alcoholic beverages; the days are wholesome and the nights lively. The pub will occasionally host live music acts meaning you can have all the entertainment you need without leaving the hotel.

Portmahomack is home to a harbour that Thomas Telford designed; there are also some outstanding gourmet seafood restaurants and some delightfully quaint shops.

Surrounding area

The small town of Tain is just eight miles from the Castle Hotel. Located on the south shore of Dornoch Firth, Tain is noted as being Scotland’s oldest royal burgh. Due to its vast history, the town is home to some magnificent buildings. It is a great place to explore with family or friends.

Where the River Ness meets the Moray Firth is where you will find Inverness. Home to all the features you would expect from a city with the added beauty of its spectacular location, this should be on your places to visit list.

Karen’s Insider’s Guide to Castle Hotel

Royal Dornoch Golf Club: In operation since 1877, this historic club combines an excellent course with unbelievable scenery. Why not test yourself amid archetypal Scottish landscape. The club has an excellent reputation for welcoming guests and providing an experience that will be remembered for a lifetime.

Portmahomack beach: Based on the east coast but west facing, this beach is excellent for wildlife and even better for sunsets.  Popular among water sports aficionados in the summer months but great to visit all year!

Tarbat Ness circuit:  Featuring incredible views of the surrounding landscape and wildlife, this walk is a great way to spend a few hours getting to know where you are staying. With a sublime lighthouse and some great fishing villages all along the walk, tourists highly recommend this.                             

Tarbat Discovery Centre: The historic Picts are a myth to some and unknown by many, but the Tarbat Discovery centre gives guests an extremely informative look into how they lived. This includes information about the carvings they left behind.

Ballone Castle: Erected in the 16th century and then left unattended for hundreds of years, it was then purchased by an architect in the 1990s.  With a recent restoration, this castle is a lovely place to visit, with the great building standing out against the backdrop of nature