Claymore Hotel

1 reader found this review helpful

Room 208 - twin tidy and clean. Food good choice of 3 main courses. Entertainment fair bit too much Scottish music on Friday/Saturday.
Overall good cheap weekend holiday. All the staff first class. Stunning panoramic views over Loch Long plus daytrips to Loch Lomond, the tussocks and Inverany - all very good.

Our holiday was a bit of a family do with 5 couples coming along in all, Mum & Dad,
My 2 sisters with their partners, my eldest brother his wife and my husband and myself.
Although the journey from Bradford was quite a long one, we still managed to keep ourselves busy to break the boredom.
We had 2 stops on the way down to stretch our legs and arrived at the hotel just after 4.
We were told to stay on-board whilst the staff at the Claymore boarded to give us a list of breakfast and dinner timetables.
The check-in was very organised with keys out ready waiting for us and, as we had booked in a group, all our rooms were near each other!
After depositing our gear, we organised a plan of action and headed off to the pub up the road which had a fantastic view over the loch, where we received a very quiet but warm welcome!
The evening meal was okay, the only fault I found was the veg were a bit overcooked and the portions a little on the small side.
The free bar was very well organised and the staff worked very hard ensuring everyone got what they wanted without too much of a wait.
Breakfast was very good with lots of choice and a buffet style for fruit and cereals. Cooked English breakfast followed with extra tea, coffee and toast if required, lovely.
Our waiter Norbert was very attentive.
Our party split up with some coming along on the coach trip and others braving the weather and going on a hike up the hills. Although weather wasn't brilliant, we enjoyed our trip out to the local wool & craft shops.
Entertainment was good, quiz, disco etc. and plenty of people ended up getting up and having a dance.
Saturday night the snow came and it looked like we were going to be stranded for a couple of extra days (we said it wouldn't be a bad thing as we were having such a good time) but alas Sunday morning all was clear and we were okay to head off back home.
All in all I think this was very good value for money, beds very comfortable, staff nice and friendly and we would definitely come back, maybe in summer though.

1 reader found this review helpful

We had a great weekend at the Claymore Hotel arranged by National Holidays. Overlooking Loch Long the views are fabulous, a great base for a touring holiday.
We may have been lucky in being allocated a room at the front so we were able to enjoy the awesome views, but anyone wanting to see the loch and mountains towering over only have to step outside onto the forecourt and take it all in, surely not a problem?
Our room was a generous size with a very, very comfortable king size bed, lots of drawer/cupboard space for clothing, etc. and the en-suite bathroom, whilst basic and somewhat dated, had WC, wash hand basin and shower cubicle.
Whilst functional and perfectly adequate, the bathroom would certainly benefit from a "makeover" to brighten it up and a fitted shelf under the mirror for all your bits and pieces.
If you prefer a bath to a shower you should indicate your preference when booking the hotel/holiday.
Concerning the food on offer, overall we were more than satisfied, there is a good choice available and it will fill you (if you want more you just have to ask).
I wouldn't take that much notice of previous negative comments about the food, it is wholesome and filling; and remember the price you are paying if you book a coach tour, you certainly get very good value for money.
Of course if you want to have the very best haute cuisine you will have to pay through the nose for it at a fancy restaurant.
Back to my comments - for breakfast you choose from a variety of fruit juices, prunes, grapefruit or porridge (generous portions, very filling), cooked breakfast consisting of kippers or bacon, sausage, tomato and egg (fried, scrambled, etc), followed by toast/choices of jam and marmalade.
You can have as much or as little as you wish for, just ask! That's right, just ask. The waiters, whilst ever so busy are very attentive and pleasant - our thanks go to Cartoon and Benjamin for their good service.
The evening entertainment, what can I say? We had such a good time, the first night we had a Glaswegian singer called Whiskey Mac who was so funny, a very good singer and his banter gave everyone a huge laugh.
On the second evening the entertainer was also very good, singing more country and western style. Beforehand, we didn't expect the entertainment was going to be this much fun and I'm pleased we didn't opt out of it, we thought we would go into the function room for maybe half an hour but we stayed all night - both nights!
Arrochar is a small village with a village store and a pub down the road ten minutes gentle walk alongside the loch. The store has a good selection to choose from, a bit of a mini market really.
I can't remember the name of the pub but you can't miss it, it's just after the store - if you like real ale, I can recommend you try a pint or two of Highlander, pure nectar! The pub has a separate and very attractive looking restaurant and the menu and prices very reasonable, the bar has a real log fire and lots of interesting paraphernalia; well used by locals you should enjoy a bit of good craic here!
Our weekend was arranged through National Holidays and we had a marvellous time, the hotel and sightseeing tours well worth doing. If you are looking at this type of short break holiday I would recommend you go ahead and book it.

1 reader found this review helpful

Twelve of us 50 something’s have just returned from a Friday-Sunday break at the Claymore Hotel with National Holidays.
I didn't know what to expect because we had only paid £89 each for 2 nights dinner, bed and breakfast with 3 hour free bar each night and entertainment, all excursions and coaching. We all agreed that it has been excellent value for money.
Our driver, Gary was very good with interesting commentary and good tapes of information on Scottish history and music playing on the journey to relieve the boredom but to be honest was not bored at all.
You get a couple of stops each way to stretch your legs and get a coffee etc.
The entertainment in the hotel was excellent, the staff (although all foreign in the dining room) were very efficient and quick.
The Saturday night meal was very good. The Friday night meal's veggies were a bit overcooked but when they are trying to feed/serve 200 people all at once it is difficult.
The rooms were clean and well stocked with coffee/milk/tea etc. I had taken extra coffee and milk because from experience, you are never given enough but they were ample.
The views of the loch and mountains from the hotel were lovely, with snow on the tops still.
On Saturday afternoon we went on a boat trip on Loch Lomond for £6.50 each but because it was raining at the time the windows were steamed up on the boat and so visibility wasn't very good.
That was something that would have been better in the summer but even so it was OK. It only lasted an hour.
I would recommend this weekend break to anyone and would definitely go on another one with National Holidays and to this hotel.

1 reader found this review helpful

My husband and I stayed at the Claymore Hotel the week before Christmas.
Our room on arrival had no shower and was very dingy, as I have problems with my knee a bath was useless. I never thought to ask beforehand if it was a shower or bath, anyway my husband went and asked if we could change rooms to one with a shower and the staff were brilliant.
There was no problem at all and all dealt with very sympathetically. The new room was much improved the view was of the back of the hotel, but clean and comfortable.
The staff are first class and rushed off their feet. Nothing is too much trouble for them. A credit to this hotel.
The food was very poor, very little choice and I honestly think they don't know what a potato is. Unless its deep fried or messed around with, the food was always cold and very small portions. But the dining room staff again, were fantastic.
The entertainment was very good and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. the views from the hotel are fantastic.
I wouldn't go back unless they improve their food it was very poor.

1 reader found this review helpful

Thank you for a great night, the entertainment was brilliant and the staff were brilliant.
Only downfall was that I should have come for more than two days. Will do next time. The hotel is very clean with excellent staff.
Picturesque view looking over the loch and a view of the cobbler on top of the hill when it’s not misty. Thanks for a great night, as a famous actor said ill be back.

2 readers found this review helpful

Just arrived back from weekend trip including Tatto. As this was booked as a special surprise for my husbands 70th birthday and turned out to be disappointing to say the least. The hotel appears quite grand on arrival but we were allocated a room in the heather suite, the rooms on entry are dismal, dingy and shabby.
With small window in one corner looking down onto rooftops. The carpet has certainly seen better days and the dark miserable bedding was enough to depress any visitor. The bathroom with bath, no shower and antique wood cladding was something else. As the lampshade had a hole burnt into it due to too large a bulb I believed this to be a fire hazard, maintenance thought otherwise. and this was still not replaced before we left 2 days later.
Dining room was excellent as goes for the staff particularly Karolina who could not do enough to make our stay enjoyable. In fact all the dining room staff were rushed off their feet and so pleasant. Pity the food was so poor what can I say other than almost inedible. Obviously prepared well in advance and as was previously commented either packet or frozen, certainly not appetising.
Would we go again, certainly not, which is such a shame for such a beautiful village. PS I will say the only luxury was the scalding hot water on tap and the soft white towels.

2 readers found this review helpful

I could not fault my weekend break at this hotel, food excellent (I'm a vegetarian) service excellent. Accommodation, modern, clean with everything in good working order.
Bar, we were on an all-inclusive weekend so you can imagine that the bar was packed so sometime it took 5 minutes or so to get served (for some reason cider was not included in the "All inclusive" deal.)
The entertainment was very good and had a general appeal. (I'm an entertainer and know how difficult it is to please everyone).

2 readers found this review helpful

My Girlfriend and I booked the Claymore Hotel on the recommendation of a friend - As there was no website and no pictures of the hotel on the internet, we did not know what to expect. We arrived very late but we were greeted by a really friendly receptionist/porter who made us feel right at home! - We had been allocated "The Heather Suite" - An excellent room with a 4 poster bed, nice bathroom and a panoramic window view of Loch Long and the surrounding hills and mountains.
During our stay, we enjoyed a variety of live entertainment in the function room downstairs (Some of which was authentic Scottish music and dancing) - The bar was well stocked and the bar staff very friendly.
Breakfast was well planned and the service excellent (The hotel employs some Russian staff who all spoke perfect English). The food was quite basic and the quality was 'ok' but there was more than enough to go around and it kept me going for the rest of the day!
We had some fantastic walks around the area, as the hotel is excellently located - The panoramic Vistas in this area are amazing - Especially with a mist over Loch Long. (P.S - Take Insect Repellant in case you get attacked my midgies! Don’t say I didn’t warn you!)
In conclusion, we would heartily recommend this Hotel - The fantastic service, friendly staff and excellent location all go towards making your trip a special one - This is truly a Scottish gem!