Fàilte gu Tigh-òsda Eilean Iarmain
Welcome to Hotel Eilean Iarmain
Fiosrachadh airson ar n-Aoighean
Information for our Guests
Welcome to Hotel Eilean Iarmain, we are delighted that you have chosen to stay with us here in this most special place, renowned for its idyllic location and its magical allure. We wish you a very comfortable and happy visit. If there is any aspect we can improve upon please let us know and we will do our best to help.
WiFi INFORMATION
Wifi is available throughout all the rooms in the Hotel, Garden House and Seaview Suites and throughout the public areas in the hotel.
It is an open network – no password required!
Hotel Eilean Iarmain (For use in the Hotel, Garden House and Seaview Suites)
Am Pràban (for use in the bar)
“Nuair nochd mi ri Eilean Dhiarmaid dh’fhalbh na strìochan às mo mhala.”
“When I reached Eilean Iarmain the furrows left my brow”
Màiri Mhòr nan Òran 1821-1898
Isle of Skye bardess and poet.
Ro Ràdh | Introduction
We hope that you have a wonderful visit to Eilean Iarmain. Enjoy the space, peace and tranquility of the stunning landscapes of this beautiful island. Now is the time to relax, unwind and let the magical allure of this enchanted Hebridean hideaway soothe away your worries, leaving you refreshed and inspired.
Cuiribh Fios Gu | Contact Details
After-Hours Emergency Contact Numbers
In the event of an after-hours emergency, please call:
01471 833 310, 01471 245 007 or 01471 833 421
Ionaid Fàilte | Reception
Reception can be contacted by dialling 100 on your room telephone.
If you are calling from an external line you may reach us on 01471 833 332
Finding your way around at Hotel Eilean Iarmain
Biadh‘s Deoch | Food and Drink
Bracaist | Breakfast
Breakfast is served in our restauarant between 8am and 9.45am and will require a table reservation which can be made in advance or the evening before.
Should an earlier breakfast be required outside of our normal hours, we offer a packed lunch as an alternative which can be collected from 7am onwards. Please order from Reception Íthe evening prior, together with any special requests you may have.
Am Bìrlinn Restaurant
Candlelit dinners can be enjoyed by the log fire in the Birlinn Restaurant. The restaurant is open for dinner between 5.30pm and 8.45pm. Booking is essential, please contact Reception to arrange a time. The menu is accompanied by an excellent wine list and staff will be happy to provide recommendations.
Bar Am Pràban
The wood panelled bar with its log fire has a relaxed and cosy atmosphere. It is well stocked with local beers and ales, a good selection of wines and our own award-winning range of “The Gaelic Whiskies and Gaelic Gins”. There are regular evenings of traditional music and song in a friendly cèilidh atmosphere. Bring your own instrument and join in!
Step outside and enjoy the stunning views; our bar offers outside seating looking out to the Isleornsay lighthouse and hills of Knoydart.
The bar menu serves from 12pm – 2.30pm and 5.30pm – 8.45pm.
Seòmar Suidhe | Sitting Room
Tea, Coffee and Highland Teas are available throughout the day and may be ordered from either the bar or reception.
Ceapairean | Packed Lunches
Packed lunches and drinks are available for your days outing. Please order from Reception, ideally the evening prior, together with any special requests you may have.
Goiresan | Facilities
Fòn | Telephone
Telephone calls within the UK may be made directly from your room.
Call 100 for Reception.
Wifi
Wifi is available throughout all the rooms in the Hotel, Garden House and Seaview Suites. Also throughout the pulic areas in the hotel. It is an open network – no password required!
Hotel Eilean Iarmain (For use in the Hotel, Garden House and Seaview Suites)
Am Pràban (for use in the bar)
Maoinean | Valuables
Any valuables and cash can be deposited at Reception for safe keeping. Please contact Reception for details.
Seirbhisean | Services
Hairdryers are provided in each bedroom in the top drawer of the dressing table.
An iron and ironing board are available from Reception.
Please note that there will be no room changeover throughout your stay unless you are staying for 3 nights or more. However, if you would like your room serviced, please hang the Service Room sign on the outside of your door and we will gladly do so.
Should you require any additional towels, bedding, toiletries or refreshments these can be obtained from our reception team.
Pàipearan Naidheachd / Am Post | Newspapers / Post
Papers are available to buy from An Crùbh – the nearby community shop for Camuscross and Duisdale; The Trading Post (Sleat Community shop) located in Armadale, or in Broadford at the Co-op or Spar.
The nearest Post Office is also located at An Crùbh.
Cunntais| Account
If you require any special arrangements, ie separate accounts for drinks etc. please advise us at your earliest convenience. Accounts are payable prior to departure. All major credit cards are accepted.
Dòigh-obrach Èiginne | Fire Procedures
Please read the card on the back of the door in your room for the procedures to follow in the event of a fire or other emergency. In such an event please leave your room and assemble at the flagpole outside the hotel.
We conduct a fire alarm test between 10.45 and 11.30am every Monday morning. The alarm will sound for no longer than 30 seconds. There is no need to evacuate the building unless the alarm continues to sound.
Seirbhisean Ionadail | Local Services
Ionaid Shlàinte | Medical Centre
Sleat Medical Practice is situated 5 miles away on the main road to Armadale at Kilbeg, between the primary school and Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Gaelic University College. Tel: 01471 844 283
Ospadal | Hospital
The nearest hospital with A&E is the Broadford Hospital, 8 miles away in Broadford.
Tel: 01471 822 491
Fiaclair | Dentist
The nearest dental practice is located in Portree.
Portree Dental Care Ltd IV51 9TU
Tel: 01478 614 218
Còmhdhail | Transport
There are various local taxi firms within the Sleat area. Please enquire at Reception.
The nearest petrol stations are at:
Armadale: Monday – Friday 8.30am – 5.30pm. Saturday 8.30am – 3pm
Broadford (open 24 hours).
Lèigh-Bheathaichen | Veterinary Practice Surgeon
The local veterinary practice is located 8 miles away at The Old School House in Broadford.
Tel: 01471 822 922
Àiteachan Rim Faicinn ann an Slèite | Places of Interest at Eilean Iarmain
Bùth Eilean Iarmain
Call in at Bùth Eilean Iarmain – our well stocked gift shop where you’ll find a wonderful selection of highland inspired gifts and mementos to remind you of your stay at Eilean Iarmain.
Tel: 01471 833 496
Pràban na Linne – The Gaelic Whiskies and Gaelic Gins
Enjoy a tasting of our award winning range of premium unchilfiltered Gaelic Whiskies or our hand crafted, small batch Isle of Skye Gaelic Gin. And why not purchase a bottle to take home!
www.gaelicwhisky.com Tel: 01471 833 496
Fearran Eilean Iarmain Outdoor Activities
Guided wildlife walks, landscape and wildlife photography tours, Agrocat hill and
moorland safaris can be enjoyed throughout the year. Discover wildlife in its natural
habitat, take memorable photographs and learn about this stunning landscape and its
Gaelic heritage. New for 2024 – simulated stalking and clay pigeon shooting.
www.scottmackenzie-skyegamekeeper.co.uk Tel: 07776 186 898
Gallery An Talla Dearg
Situated by our historic stone pier, the Gallery showcases artists whose work celebrate Scottish landscapes and wildlife. The Gallery is unusual in that it provides a space for artists to work creatively whilst exhibiting giving visitors the opportunity to speak with them and see them working. Open March to November.
www.eileaniarmain.co.uk/an-talla-dearg-gallery Tel: 01471 833 439 / 266
Bùth Floraidh
A small boutique located in a historic building adjacent to the hotel, selling a range of fashionable tweed clothing, as well as contemporary silk scarves, luxurious cashmeres and a colourful selection of attractive accessories.
www.floraidhskye.co.uk Tel: 01471 833 347
Àiteachan Rim Faicinn anns an t-Eilean Sgitheanach | Places to see in Skye
The Isle of Skye landscape is full of variety and offers fantastic views all round. Some of ourscenic highlights are Portee, The Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock, Staffin Bay, The Quaraing, The Cullins, Fairy Pools, Talisker Bay and Fairy Glen.
If local history interests you there is much to see, we have nearby Armadale Castle and Gardens, once the seat of the MacDonalds of Sleat. Further north you will find Dunvegan Castle and Gardens, seat of Clan MacLeod.
Fancy a dram whilst visiting the Island? We have two distilleries on the Island. Torabhaig Distillery is located just under 4 miles from Hotel Eilean Iarmain. Or take a scenic drive up to Talisker Distillery in the Carbost area. Our neighbouring island, Raasay, also has a distillery.
Local walks in Sleat include: The Point of Sleat, Letir Fura, Armadale Gardens and Dalavil Bay.
For other activities in the area our Reception team will be happy to offer advice.
Useful Websites
For more information about things to see and do around Sleat, please visit the Sleat Perfectly Skye website: sleatperfectlyskye.com
For more information about the whole of the island, please visit either visitscotland.com or isleofskye.com
A brief history of Eilean Iarmain
Around 1900 Edward VII landed at Eilean Iarmain from Lord Burton’s yacht, and as the tide was out, he was carried onto the beach by a sturdy seaman. He spent £80 in the Old Shop, which was a large sum in those times. People came from all over, including Ardnamurchan and the Outer Isles for an annual shopping spree. There was a wooden upright container by the door full of ships biscuits to which good customers were allowed to help themselves to a handful as a lucky penny.
The Old Meal (oatmeal) Store, now Gallery An Talla Dearg, was overseen for many years by Lachlan “na mine”. The large north east facing windows in the front wall of the Talla Dearg with their fine stone surrounds and lintels incised and gilded with Gaelic proverbs, were designed and commissioned by Sir Iain Noble of Eilean Iarmain. Above the left hand window; “Beul a labhras ach gniomha dhearbhadh” – “It is the mouth that speaks but the deed that proves”. The right hand window has “’S math an sgathan suil caraid” – “The eye of a friend is a good mirror”.
The present day boutique of Floraidh is housed in the small building by the Hotel which was the home of “Lachlan na mine”, who looked after the meal store (the present day Talla Dearg). He lived there on the two floors with his wife and six children. The first floor fireplace is still visible halfway up the wall.
The Old Inn, the first building on the right, on arriving at Eilean Iarmain, seems to have been built somewhat later than the shop, possibly circa 1825 and the stables attached (now converted into bedroom suites for the hotel) were provided as a staging point for those arriving by sea to travel further on the island.
In 1991 the stables were restored by Sir Iain Noble and converted into bedroom suites in order to preserve the historic building from collapse and to provide additional hotel accommodation. The lofts upstairs where the hay for horses had been stored are now the upstairs bedrooms for the suites. The views from the windows of the suites look over the water of the bay to the lighthouse of Isle Ornsay and beyond to the majestic hills of Knoydart. Built in 1869 by the uncle of the famous author Robert Louis Stevenson, the lighthouse continues to be a familiar beacon to all those sailing at the Sound of Sleat. At this time the conservatory restaurant was also added to the hotel, and the old kitchen converted into a panelled extension of the sitting room.
Sometime during the 1800s a stagecoach service was started, and there was a daily run to Broadford where it presumably connected up with other routes. The open entrance way, still visible in the wall by the roadside was where the coach was kept. There was another large entrance at the gable end to which Sir Iain added in 1999 an ornamental window and stone surround with the Gaelic proverb of “An am na h-eiginn dhearbhar na caridean” – “In times of trouble you will know your friend”
Hotel Eilean Iarmain was built in 1888 (presumably on a lease from MacDonald Estates) by Eirtidh Mor MacNeacail. He ran it with his two sisters Floraidh and Peggy, until he moved to Mallaig and built the Marine Hotel, leaving his two sisters in charge at Eilean Iarmain. Later the lease went to Iain MacLeod, brother of Duncan MacLeod, who purchased the estate and mansion of Skeabost. Duncan had been born on a croft in Breacais and made his fortune as a whisky bottler in Glasgow. His brother Iain later created Kingsmills hotel in Inverness. His daughter is Fiona Campell of Sligeachan. The glass fronted port along the front of the Hotel had been added in 1930 by Norman MacLeod of Breacais, who was the tenant at that time.
In the late 1890s a plan arose to build a railway from Eilean Iarmain to Portree with a branch line to Dunvegan, and legislation was drafted for this purpose. The scheme failed because of the campaign mounted against it, on the grounds that the railway would not be viable and that before it failed it would adversely affect the shipping services on which the community was so dependent. The herring fisheries gradually declined and the Old Shop began to lose trade when the railway came to Mallaig in 1901. The shop was then run by the Woodwards (Mrs Woodward was from Camus Croise), it was closed in 1969, and only briefly re-opened between 1973 and 1975. It became the office and centre of operations when Sir Iain Noble established Fearann Eilean Iarmain in 1972.
The Old Stone pier, then derelict, was restored in 1972 by Sir Iain, and marked the beginning of a programme of restoration of the architectural heritage of Eilean Iarmain and of the area. This included the restoration of the old hump-back bridge over the Allt Dùisdeil (Duisdale burn), the walls of which had tumbled over the years into the river. At the Hotel the circular tower, designed by Sir Iain, along with the bar and the bedrooms above, were added in 1976. Prior to this there had been the old wooden Bothan Bar, which had witnessed many a ceilidh till dawn. Unfortunately this characterful bar leaked badly. It was said that if a customer needed a drop of water in his dram of Uisge Beatha (whisky) he needed only to hold his glass momentarily under the raindrops leaking through the roof!
Eilean Iarmain was originally “Eilean Dhiarmaid” (Diarmad’s Isle), named after the great Ossianic hero. The isle is now joined to the mainland of Skye. Sleat is famous in old poetry, known as “Sleite riabhach nam ban boidheach” (“brindled Sleat of the beautiful women”). It is where the great warrior Cuchulain learned the martial arts and where Ossian and the Fenians arrived from Ireland.
The little harbour has always been important, and it was here that Flora Macdonald came as a captive in 1746 after rescuing Prince Charles Stuart. She was taken onto a frigate lying in the harbour and interrogated before being carried to the Tower of London as a prisoner.
The second bounty emigration ship to Australia, the “William Nicol” left here with 337 emigrants in 1837.
The hotel forms part of a group of buildings that includes an art and sculpture gallery, (open March to November), converted stables, the Old Inn and the Old Shop, now the headquarters of Pràban na Linne – The Gaelic Whiskies and Gaelic Gins and also the Estate office.
In 1972 the ancient Macdonald Estates were sold, and the principle portion was bought by Sir Iain Noble, who set about a policy of creating local employment, reversing the brain drain and working for Gaelic renaissance. This is now a thriving community with a growing population and virtually no unemployment.
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Gallery An Talla Dearg
Gallery An Talla Dearg is situated on the shore by the old stone pier at Eilean Iarmain, was established by the late Sir Iain Noble and hosts a range of exhibitions throughout the season, from March to November. Sir Iain aimed to promote artists whose work celebrated Scottish landscapes and wildlife. The legacy continues with the support of Lucilla, Lady Noble. This unique and intimate location allows the artist to be present and often creatively working in the gallery. Exhibitions run from March to November.
Pràban – The Gaelic Whiskies
Pràban na Linne, producers of The Gaelic Whiskies, is a small boutique whisky company on the Isle of Skye. Founded by Sir Iain Noble in 1976, to provide authentic whisky of quality for connoisseurs. Today the company continues to focus on quality, and remains one of the few independent businesses in the Scotch Whisky industry and one of the very few with its headquarters in the Hebridean Islands of Scotland.
Poit Dhubh – Gaelic Blended Malt Whisky
Poit Dhubh, pronounced “potch ghoo” and literally meaning ‘black pot’, is Galic for an ‘illicit still’. Poit Dhubh is a fine unchilfiltered blended malt, bottled at 8, 12 and 21 years old. It has matured in sherry casks and has a soft graceful flavour with a varying balance of sweetness and peatiness depending on age.
Tè Bheag – Connoisseurs’ Blend
Pronounced “chey vek”, Tè Bheag means ‘the little lady’ and also ‘ a wee dram’ in colloquial Gaelic. Smooth and slightly peated, Tè Bheag has a delicate toffee-like richness. It is a connoseurs’ blended whisky with a high malt content.
MacNaMara – Gaelic Blended Whisky
MacNaMara, literally ‘Son of the Sea’, is a lighter blend. We produce several versions – the original blend and different cask finishes including Rum, Port and Madeira casks.
tel: +44 (0)1471 833 496 | email: sales@gaelicwhisky.com | facebook: GaelicWhiskyGin | instagram: gaelicwhiskygin
Uisge Lusach -The Gaelic Gins
Distilled on the Isle of Skye, The Gaelic Gins are handcrafted with our passion for a fine spirit. Our small copper pot still, which was traditionally employed distilling illicit whisky, now vapour infuses the Gaelic Gins – inspiring their well-rounded aromatics and refined rich texture – these are hugely characterful gins, distilled from the heart.
Dry ~ Sùg
The juniper of this Highland dry gin is beautifully balanced by a lemon citrus brightness and delicate notes of warming spice – smooth and classic.
Spiced ~ Sgealp
A beguiling and complex combination of vibrant spice with a subtle depth of juniper. Orange peel, almonds and liquorice make for a summer delight and a winter warmer!
Sweet ~ Steall
Using hazelnuts, thyme and honey this gin is fresh and floral, redolent of wild hayfields with citrus notes and a lingering buttery richness.
Pràban na Linne is the Gaelic term to describe a small smugglers enterprise on the Sound of Sleat, and the company’s head office, Gaelic Gin Still House and Bùth (shop) are located at the water’s edge overlooking the old stone pier at Eilean Iarmain.
Visit us to enjoy a free taste of our award winning Gaelic Spirits, and browse our range of gifts and treats with a local flavour – a traditional Isle of Skye welcome awaits you!
tel: +44 (0)1471 833 496 | email: sales@gaelicwhisky.com | facebook: GaelicWhiskyGin | instagram: gaelicwhiskygin
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Each month we hold a draw and one lucky winner will win either a bottle of our award winning whisky or gin
