A Family and Fairy Friendly Stay at the Isle of Skye’s Uig Hotel and Lodge
We had been on a fairy hunt. And we were gearing up for another one the next morning. The hunt itself was intense. There were twisted ankles and muddy feet. We battled steep stoney hikes and hopping from slick stone to slick stone on rain-soaked rocks. We navigated tiny roads and the occasional cliff. We got lost. We got found. And then, just as dusk was rolling in, we spotted our hotel, Uig Hotel and Lodge, white and welcoming in the distance.
Location
Uig Hotel and Lodge is located in the northern portion of Scotland’s Isle of Skye on a hill overlooking Uig Bay, and this is the first reason it was the perfect stop for a group of little travelers who were in search of a few fairies. After spending the most of the afternoon hiking along and exploring the island’s famous Fairy Pools, we continued our trip farther north into the island to search the famed Fairy Glen (located just minutes behind Uig Hotel and Lodge), but not before night fell.
As we arrived into the hotel’s gravel lot, with the sun setting, the littles stepped out of the car and breathed it all in, feeling the magic of the location of the Uig Hotel and Lodge. They could look out over the bay, glistening under the scattered lights of the town below. The building, unimposing in it’s quaintness was filled with lights, windows glowing from within.
The building, which dates back to 1831, was welcoming under the dusk sky. The main hotel has 11 rooms within its walls and there are another eight rooms in the lodge located behind the main building, higher up on the hill. Our rooms, a family suite, were located in the lodge, which thrilled us as the views a bit higher up were even more unreal (and the little people were sure to spot an extra fairy or two).
Accommodations
Tired from the day’s work of spinning tales of magic and tired from the day’s work of trying to take in the sheer beauty of the island, we all fell into our rooms in the Uig Hotel and Lodge and were delighted, to say the least, at what the rooms had to offer.
As a family suite, we were situated in two separate rooms on the first floor of the Uig Lodge, both of which were accessed through the doors directly from the front garden. Once inside the rooms, there was a back door of each room that opened up to a corridor that connected the rooms to one another, a layout we have not yet seen before but immediately fell in love with. Unlike hotel rooms that are merely connected with a door (that we inevitably must leave open), here we were able to leave the back doors to the hallway open but able to maintain a sense of privacy as the entire length of the hallway separated us.
The room for the littles was set up with two twin beds and an additional twin bed that was already set up for us (which the littles, of course, thought was amazing because they never get to have three twin beds in a single room). When the hotel staff learned that our tiniest little was still under two years, they quickly brought a pack and play into the room as well (which he refused to sleep in at first because, well, three twin beds). While this room had it’s own en suite, it didn’t have a bath tub.
That’s where the other bedroom came into play with it’s large tub, so we were able to soak some of that mud off of those grungy little people. Our room also had a comfortable and cozy king size bed. All the furnishings were updated and the window sills, looking out over the bay, were deep enough to sit in. Even the hallway had a big window that the little people kept peering out of in the hopes of seeing some flit of fairy magic.
The room itself also came with all the amenities this travel tribe needs to keep them super happy. We had USB plugs to charge up all our gadgets and gizmos. There was a coffee maker and a few little cookies perfect for hungry little hands. The beds were soft, the pillows fluffy, and the covers crisp: the perfect ingredients for a good night’s sleep (although yes, it did take us 100 years to get the littles to sleep because the tiny one was sooooooo excited about (maybe but not really) sleeping in that third big kid bed).
On Site Amenities
Let me begin here by saying that the hotel welcomes well-behaved dogs (and actually has two of its own!!!). So, when you’ve got little people who are madly in love with animals, this situation is a blessing. It also sets an ambiance of welcomeness and warmth and puppies, the trifecta a little people bliss.
After cleaning three kids covered in fairy pool mud, we headed down the hill to the main hotel under the light of the moon. We were all a bit travel-weary and hungry, so the gentle glow from the small (but not too small) dining room was just what we needed. After being shown to a table at the far end of the room, we looked over the menu and Three Kids dad and I made eye contact. Because. It. Looked. Delicious.
The Uig Hotel prides itself on offering local dishes and homecooked meals. So, even with offering nightly specials chosen by the chefs, the menu remains fairly small, which we didn’t find to be an issue. While we may have an adventurous eater, we certainly don’t have three of them. Even with the a middle little who happens to eat only four different things, on a good day, we were able to find food he was happy to eat (or at least eat until he tried to put himself to sleep on the chairs).
Beyond the food, though, the staff of the hotel were what really made the stay unforgettable. Each member of the staff were kind and receptive towards us. They made our little people feel comfortable and made us parents feel comfortable having them there. When we checked out the next day, the host who checked us out shared tips and directions for our day.
I think this situation, the kindness of the people who worked at the hotel, is important to note. The Isle of Skye is experiencing an overwhelming rush of tourists that it doesn’t yet have the infrastructure to support, which means some desecration of the beautiful landscapes people are flocking there to see. It also means that there is some backlash, understandably, from some of the island’s locals. We, unfortunately, experienced some of that there, while we were dining at the hotel. But, it was the kindness of the staff that made me feel like this anger my son and I were on the receiving end of had less to do with us and more to do with the changes that the Isle of Skye is facing.
At the end of our meal, content, relaxed, and ready to fall asleep, we made our way back up the hill to our rooms. After a few moments spent checking all the windows for fairies, we put the little people to bed (again, just sortof because the tiny one was a bit giddy, so even if he was in bed he wasn’t asleep). The next day we awoke to trails of glitter, quiet views of the bay and a delicious breakfast.
And then we packed up our bags and our car and headed off to see the Fairy Glen and the Quiraing (which we got to by going the “short” way, which is totally not how we would’ve gone, but thanks to the gentleman who checked us out, it’s the way we went).
Uig Hotel and Lodge was more than just a place we rested our over-hiked bones. It was a night of peace, spent in a lodge that had the space we needed and the kindness we appreciated.
(If you’re planning on spending time in Edinburgh, check out our family-friendly recommendations and some tips to get you started planing for your trip.)
For some more great activities for kids on the Isle of Skye, check this out.
32 Comments
Kristie
What a beautiful setting! I would love to get to Scotland someday, and this lodging looks absolutely charming.
Three Kids and A Car
It was spectacular. I’d recommend Scotland to everyone. I would go back again and again and again if I had unlimited time and money!
Amanda Thurman
I wished I could have made to Skye when I was in Scotland. I travel with kids too and this hotel looks like it is spacious enough for families, which is hared to find.
Three Kids and A Car
Finding a place to fit all five of us (that doesn’t cost a small fortune) was (and is) one of our biggest issues. This hotel was a perfect fit for us.
Brandy
My family was just looking to go to Scotland for Spring Break in March and this is exactly the kind of itinerary we were looking for! Thanks for sharing your information and your imagination—my kids will enjoy this! Do you happen to remember if the dining option references allergies at all? We travel with a child with a wheat allergy so we were wondering if this would be a good option for our family. Thanks!
Three Kids and A Car
I’m SOOOOO excited to hear you’re going to Scotland (and, I admit, a little jealous too)! I don’t remember anything regarding allergies and the restaurant, but they were really quite responsive when we contacted them before arriving, so I’d definitely reach out to them.
Dianne Sivulka
Scotland has been on my mind and I keep seeing the Isle of Skye pop up here and there on social media. I’m saving this for later!
Three Kids and A Car
It was beautiful. I completely understand why it’s getting so much hype these days. It deserves it. (But some preservation as well—hopefully that will come soon).
Cath - BattleMum
This hotel sounds like a wonderful place to stay as a family. I love the unique way in which the rooms are connected and would be a big plus for us. I’ve only visited Edinburgh once but as a family we are hoping to start discovering Scotland in the next few years, outside of the cities that is!
Three Kids and A Car
We loved Edinburgh too. It was magical. But driving around Scotland I think we spent 54 out of every 60 minutes in complete awe of the landscape. Hope you get there!
Kirsten @ ObtainingBliss.com
Scotland is on my bucket list big time!! Thanks for this share so I know where I can go! 🙂
Three Kids and A Car
It definitely deserves a spot on the list. And I’ll have our itinerary up soon if you want to check it out.
Pam
What a lovely place to stay. It looks like it was perfect for your family!
Three Kids and A Car
It was lovely. And one of my favorite family-friendly hotels we’ve stayed at.
Missy
I liked how there were many “Fairy” locations. I loved the Fairy mud clean up. 😉
Three Kids and A Car
It’s so magical, it’s impossible not to believe in fairies when you’re there. (We left little sparkly items by the kids beds, so now they 200% believe in fairies!)
alison netzer
I am dreaming of going back to Scotland with my family. I went once solo, but only to Edinburgh. That little hotel sounds so charming and like you we have 3 kids to accommodate, so would need a family room. I think I stalk airfare everyday to see if prices have dropped.
Three Kids and A Car
I want you and your kids to go back too! It’s just such an amazing place. I don’t know where you’re flying from, but we found incredibly cheap fairs on Norwegian out of airports in NE USA. (It’s actually how we ended up in Scotland!)
Arianny Rodriguez
That looks like quite the adventure! Glad the amenities we awesome. Bed looks soo big!
Three Kids and A Car
It was a great adventure. And the beds were perfectly fluffy, which was perfect because it was a wee bit chilly out!
Evelyn Hernandez
Scotland is on our bucketlist and we can’t wait to visit, we loved your post!
Three Kids and A Car
I’m so glad it’s on your bucketlist. It totally deserves a place. We found that no matter where we went, it was stunning.
Laura G
What a beautiful surrounding! I love how you put all the beds next to each other – what fun memories for the kids!!
Three Kids and A Car
That’s actually one of their favorite memories. It didn’t work out, but they still thought it was fun. And, I guess if you’re going to let the littles do something out of the norm, it may as well be when they’re all hyped up on ideas of fairy magic!
Janine
This looks so lovely. I was in Scotland last year and wanted to make it up to Isle of Sky, but we just didn’t have the time.
Three Kids and A Car
Time! I know. We had to literally squeeze it in. It seems like it’s a fairly easy drive from Edinburgh, but everyone fails to tell you there are a million beautiful spots along the way that you’re going to want to stop and explore. So, we had to rush way more than we’d have liked.
Kristi @ Way Beyond The Norm
Beautiful! I’d love to get to Scotland someday. And my girls would love the fairy pools.
Three Kids and A Car
Between the castles and the fairies, Scotland is like a little kid’s dream come true. It is absolutely magical.
Erin
I’ve never been to Scotland but want to go at some point. This looks absolutely amazing!
Ruth Iaela-Pukahi
Simply beautiful! I love the joining room set up, it’s so different than the norm and more like home. I have never thought to take my kids on a fairy hunt. That sounds like a fun family activity. I think even my big kids would get into it for my youngest. 🙂
Alicia
It’s such a small world! We stayed in the Uig Hotel in March of last year and were so happy with it. We had beds for all three of our kids! Also the restaurant was the best meal of our trip!!
Three Kids and A Car
It was such a sweet little place. (It’s so refreshing to find a place that understands life with families that have more than two kids!) They were so accommodating and I do remember that meal. Even the glow of the dining room was inviting.