Mr & Mrs Smith

Pool House

Wester Ross, United Kingdom

This boutique retreat in the West Scottish Highlands is full of passion – not because it's a typical honeymoon escape, but because the wine, the food and the decor at Pool House have become a vocation for a family who have scoured the earth to furnish their hotel. Bindi motifs, huge hand-carved doors and marble-inlay tables are almost enough to distract you from that vast vista over the waters, and the Harrisons make you feel as though you've been invited into their home.

Need to know

• Rooms Seven suites, all with views of the water.
• Rates Double rooms from $202.09 (£133), excluding tax at 20 per cent.
  The price shown represents the lowest nightly rate for a double room available at this hotel over the next 21 days. Any price conversions from the hotel's local currency (£133) have been conducted using today's exchange rates from xe.com.
• More details Rates include full Scottish breakfast, tea and sherry.
• Facilities Full-size billiards table, malt whisky room, library, in-room massages with prior notice, fishing rod for the jetty. In rooms, flatscreen TV, DVD player, WiFi free of charge; some have iPod docks and underfloor heating.
• Check-out 11am, although this is a little flexible; check-in, 3pm.
• Children Over-16s welcomed, but really this is a place for grown-up couples.
• Also Ask for a guided walk or a marine cruise from Gairloch to see Minke whales, dolphins, porpoise and seals. Visit a working perfume studio at Loch Ewe or haul creeds on a fishing boat and have a go at catching some lobster and langoustines.
• Hotel closed The hotel is closed every Monday, and annually from early January until early February.

Food and drink at Pool House

• Hotel restaurant

  A set four-course dinner is available Tuesday to Saturday, when the house is closed. Guests are seated at 7.30pm for John Moir’s Modern Scottish supper. Mains may include Loch Ewe lobster, or saddle of local venison with roast vegetables and buttery mash. Book dinner in advance and let the hotel know if you have any allergies so they can tailor the dishes accordingly.

• Dress code Smart in a special-occasion-visit-to-relatives way; rugged enough for rambling.
• Top table As close to the windows as you can get so you can watch the seals, sea birds and astonishing sunsets.
• Room service Order the night before and have a ‘picnic breakfast’ delivered between 8am and 10am.
• Hotel bar

  Sample from the vast array of single malts, including fine and rare examples, in the Billiard Whisky Room, or in front of an open fire in the cosy sitting room.

Pool House By Inverewe Garden, Wester Ross IV22 2LD