rgf101 wrote:I think we should have a whipround and send Caberfeidh to check it out for us.
Well, I went in for a look yesterday. I set off to explore Rannoch Moor in search of the lost doss but quailed at the horizontal high-velocity rain and dreich curtains of driving mist. I carried on to Glen Coe where the weather was if anything even worse, funnelled and concentrated between the Three Sisters and the Aonach Eagach. So I used the time to explore the new improved Kingshouse. There is improved parking, with room for many cars. There are landscaped areas with ponds which will look very nice indeed when they have naturalised. One enters through an outer door into a large lobby/reception area. Another door takes you through to the bar; a large open-plan area with barrels and seats, tables and chairs. There were a lot of people in, not many looked like hillwalking types, most seemed like city folk out for the day in the car. I wandered about the bar looking for the toilets and had to go back through to reception where the receptionist was obviously tiring of telling people where the toilets are. The toilets are to the right and across the lobby when you enter the outer door. The toilets are too small, just not enough provision for the large size of the bar area. In the bar I asked for a coffee and paid for it - only £2.95 or thereabouts, scones were £1.50. Or would have been if I had got there earlier; they were sold out. The bonnie wee lass behind the bar told me to take a seat and my coffee would be brought over. About twenty minutes later a bloke brought my coffee. The windows give great views of the surrounding scenery, which is an improvement on the old place. I perused the menu and the prices were surprisingly ok with a decent choice of meals but the time it took to get my coffee put me off. I would likely be an hour waiting for a meal so I finished my coffee and skulked off to the Drovers' at Inverarnan. Which was stowed out and I drove home hungry and grumpy. I got the impression the Kingshouse owners had not figured how busy it will get. Toilets too small, not enough staff, taking too long with even just a coffee. Maybe they are doing what so many do, being too stingy and scrimping on staff numbers. They had better up their game before the season really kicks off. And get a sign pointing out where the toilets are to save that poor receptionist. The building itself is not such an eyesore as I had feared, it seems to fit in to the moorland quite well. I suspect they may regret lowering the river bank, that's going to flood in a spate.
- Nice views of the weather out there. This will have tourists agog when the weather improves.
- Menu- good choice at fair prices
- The building fits in quite well. They may want to whitewash the old inn...
- That river bank wants building up...