West Highland Hotel and Hot Tub Studios

You reach the West Highland Hotel from Fort William on one of Scotland's most scenic drives or train rides – and the views from the rooms there will rival anything you’ve seen on the way. Situated in the fishing village of Mallaig, the hotel looks out across the water towards Skye and the Small Isles. The best rooms in the hotel are orientated to make the most of this stunning scene, and for us, there’s no better spot to enjoy it than a private hot tub. Happily, these can be found on the balconies and terraces of the hotel’s brand-new studio apartments.

Book one and you’ll have a spacious place to stay with a kitchenette and sitting space as well as your terrace and hot tub. They are the hotel’s option for independent travellers, perfect for those who like the freedom of self-catering with a few luxuries thrown in. You can cook simple meals for yourself and keep to your own schedule – but if you’re feeling lazy, there’s always the restaurant and bar downstairs, not to mention Mallaig’s seafood hotspots.

The studios are the latest addition to this 36-bedroom hotel and the stylish contemporary decor shows it. There are darker colours around the kingsize bed and lighter ones in the kitchenette, which helps demark the different areas within this cleverly-designed studio space. All are muted, sophisticated and inviting to match the Chesterfield sofa and warm lighting. The bathroom is lighter still and equally stylish. As for the rooms, their Superior doubles especially are spacious, comfortable, and very well-equipped, with newly refurbished bathrooms, robes and toiletries, Freeview TVs and tea- and coffee-making facilities.

What you can see out of the floor-to-ceiling patio doors of the studios (and many of the guest rooms) is a good indication of what you can do while you’re here. The ferry port is at the end of the road, a very short walk away, from where you can catch one of the regular crossings to Skye (45 minutes) or island hop to the Small Isles: Eigg, Mull, Rum or Canna. There’s also the crossing to Knoydart, a remote peninsula across Loch Nevis, where a visit to The Old Forge, dubbed Britain’s most remote pub, is almost obligatory. There are beautiful sandy beaches at Morar and Camusdarach, both less than five miles from here, and there’s great walking too. And after a day bagging munros, what could be better than soothing aching muscles in a hot tub looking over the sea?