I love staying in bed and breakfast establishments whenever I can, both because they are cozy and more personal than staying in a hotel and because I love the convenience of being able to eat a homemade breakfast without having to go out. In many parts of Europe, including Scotland, B&Bs are plentiful. In some places, they might even be your only lodging option.
Many B&Bs in Scotland let you stay for just one night while others have a two-night minimum. Most rental houses I looked at in the Highlands, by contrast, required a minimum rental of one week.
Challenges of Booking a B&B in Scotland
Booking a B&B in parts of Scotland can be challenging, for many reasons. For one, there isn’t one single, centralized website on which to find them. Instead, you have to go to multiple sites, found via exhaustive Google searches, to be sure you’re locating all the B&Bs in a given region.
Second, although the B&Bs each have a basic website, the majority don’t allow you to search for availability or book rooms online. Instead, you have to email the owner with your dates and room requirements and wait until they get back to you. Some websites have an online form for you to fill out which achieves the same function as if you’d emailed the owner directly. Once you have a reservation, you then have to secure it with a deposit or full payment via PayPal, or just exchange written promises with the owner and pay cash when you get there. This is inconvenient.
The more rural the location, the harder the B&B will be to find online and the more likely that it will not list availability or allow you to book online. Since these are small-scale establishments not run by web developers, it is understandable that their websites would be, essentially, basic online brochures without calendar and e-commerce functionality. But it’s still not ideal and can make travel planning tricky, or at least drawn out.
What to Look for in a B&B in Scotland
Location is obviously the most important thing when looking for any lodging and, tied with it, price. Note that Scottish B&B prices are listed per person, per night, NOT just the nightly charge per room, like you have with hotels. There is sometimes an extra charge for a single person traveling solo. Some establishments also have family rooms that offer a slight discount per person.
Obviously breakfast is included in your nightly charge—and it’s usually a huge, amazingly delicious breakfast too!
Beyond location and price, check to see whether it has WiFi (most do), an en suite or shared bathroom, and what amenities are offered, such as toiletries, coffee/tea maker in room, TV in room, etc. Some B&Bs are even dog-friendly, which is great if you are bringing your dog but could be an issue if you have allergies, since residual dander may be left in the room from previous occupants. Decide which options are must-haves at your price point and what you can live without.
How to Book a B&B in Scotland
Step 1: Do a Google search for “bed and breakfast” and the area of Scotland you plan to visit. For instance, “bed and breakfast Glencoe.” Don’t worry about the long list of search results, just focus on the top two or three. You can narrow down your search with additional search terms if needed.
Step 2: Click on the first two or three search results and browse the B&Bs listed on each website. Some may be duplicates, as savvy owners want to advertise in as many locations as possible. I recommend having a map of the area open in another browser window so you can find exactly where each one is. Location is always key.
Step 3: As you go through the options, make a list of the B&Bs that meet your criteria (price, comfort, location). You can even keep their individual web sites open on your screen to make it easier to compare them or so you don’t have to look them up again. If desired, you can check Trip Advisor to see if anyone has reviewed the B&Bs you’re considering. Repeat steps 1-3 until you have a list of 10 or so options for each area in which you plan to stay.
Step 4: Make inquires (via email or filling out the form) and wait for responses. Be patient. Most B&B owners will get back to you within a day. Alternatively, if you find a B&B that lists its availability online and lets you book right then, and you’re happy with it, skip this step.
Step 5: Make your choice and book it! As noted above, this could involve sending a payment via PayPal or just agreeing on your reservation with the owner. Or the website could let you pay fully online right then.
Step 6: Check this item off your vacation planning To Do list!
Helpful Websites for B&Bs in Scotland
I found all of these to be useful, semi-comprehensive websites when booking my Scotland lodgings in 2015. Since the Internet is constantly changing, you may discover other websites that you like better. Please leave updates and suggestions in the comments section.
Scotland’s Best B&Bs—lists four- and five-star bed and breakfast accommodations
Trip Advisor—has a large list by region and you get to see reviews right there too
Isle of Skye website—great list of B&Bs on the island, arranged by area
Walk Highlands—quite a good list of B&Bs around Scotland by region, including the Isle of Skye, the Outer Hebrides, and the Orkney Islands
Bed and Breakfast Directory—the website is primitive-looking but it does have a decent selection by region
2 Responses
Kelly Vincent
Great tips! Planning a trip to England/Ireland next year and I’m sure same tips apply there too.Thanks!
Engaging Adventure
Thanks, Kelly! I found Scotland B&Bs to be harder to find than those in England and Ireland, for some reason, maybe b/c we were staying in remote areas. Regardless, your first stop is still Google for England/Ireland B&Bs. I can give you recommendations for Ireland, depending on where you’re going. Love that country–it does not disappoint!