please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Had a pleasant and comfortable two-night stay here. Acommodation clean and cosy.The bars were all quite busy, but the service was prompt and the food was fine.Great choice of ales and a relaxing atmosphere.When I told my outdoors-loving brother we were staying there, he described it as "legendary" - with good reason.
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A retro rate, I visited The Clachaig on Aug 30th 2014 after climbing Bidean nam Bian, and heading back along The Lost Valley, a long hot day! We nipped in here for a well earned pint on the way back to Glen Nevis. It was quite quiet, just a few folk in the large bar, a good atmosphere tho! I enjoyed the pint of Trade Winds, one of the many handpumps available that day. The staff were friendly and asked where we'd been and recommended other local walks. I'd definitely return!
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The veggie haggis with tatties and neeps here was fantastic. Sadly a couple of the pints marred this with a couple of them being a bit past it. Loved the pub though. First time back in a number of years. A classic walkers and mountaineers pub.
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I've visited the Clachaig Inn on a number of occasions over the years, the last being a fortnight ago. It's a magnet for any person taking part in outdoor activities, and the only place really worth visiting in the Glencoe area. The Clachaig has three bars in total, each with its own character. Real ales, malt whisky and good food are served in each of the bars, with the Boots Bar serving the larger variety of ales, and this is where you'll find the majority of walkers and climbers.
The venison burgers are extremely filling and they are not mean with their portions either. Although the Clachaig may be a winner of the CAMRA "Best Pub in Scotland" award, I have found that the ales can be a little "hit and miss" on each occasion I have visited, and certainly the first pint of the Isle Of Skye Brewing Company's "Red Cuillin" ( 4.2% ) had a distinct touch of the "Sarsons" about it. It was changed without any hassle, and I have found the bar staff are more than happy to give you a "taster" if you ask.
The Atlas Brewery "Three Sisters Scottish Ale" ( 4.2% ) was a dark refreshing pint in good condition. The Caledonian Brewery's "Dunkelweiss" was a particularly dark and delicious wheat beer. Also amongst the various ( exclusively ) Scottish ales available over the weekend was "Latitude" ( 3.6% ) from The Atlas Brewery described as a "Cask Pilsner" and a couple from The Cairngorm Brewery. There are fifteen engines on the bar and eight to ten were in use at any one time.
Sunday afternoon was a very jolly affair in the Boots Bar, quaffing industrial quantities of ale and gargantuan amounts of food, whilst listening to classics on the juke box such as "Who killed Bambi?" ( Tenpole Tudor ) which was very apt considering where we were, Jilted John, Carlos Malcolm & His Afro Jamacian Rhythms, The New Vaudeville Band and John Otway.
A great place let down somewhat by the beer, so regrettably only a 7/10 instead of an 8/10.
Whilst in the area, The Kingshouse inn and hotel is also worth a visit and can be found at the eastern end of Glen Coe at the junction with Glen Etive.
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Good atmosphere in the back bar, generally a good selection of ales and whisky. You might feel a bit conspicuous if you're not an outdoor type - but why would you be here in the first place? The Clachaig effectively has a captive market and doesn't have to try too hard (it must be an absolute goldmine for the owners), but actually the staff and general ambience are pretty good. Food is fair value, simple stuff. The Clachaig effectively has a captive market and doesn't have to try too hard (it must be an absolute goldmine for the owners), but actually the staff and general ambience are pretty good. One weird thing - if staying there, be aware they don't do breakfast before 08:00 which is very strange for a place aimed at climbers and walkers.
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I found this to be a warm welcoming pub in a stunning location.There was a extensive selection of real ales to choose from and good wholesome food. The bar staff were friendly and helpful. On both nights we were here the place was packed and had a real buzz about it. Highly recommended
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Rude cocky staff who prosper only because the patrons are "passing through." I dare say if this establishment had to rely on return trade it would have become an abandoned ruin some time ago.
ixion - 15 Mar 2010 14:20 |
Well kept beer despite being off season - we were the only ones in. Kitchen produced lovely food - boar sausage casserole was very filling - just what you want after a day's walking.
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For the first time in my life I have returned a bar meal. After waiting 30 minutes, our food was a great disappointment from visits to the Clachaig Inn in past years. While my wife's steak and ale pie and my daughter's vegetarian haggis were average (apart from the price), my Cajun Salmon (one of the dearer items on the menu) was dry, shrivelled and when turned over was black with carbonised something underneath. I had to return it and get my money back. Big change from past when we remember good cooked food. On the other hand beer was tasty (I had the Roosters) but I got a real sense the Clachaig Inn is now complacent and needs a visit from Gordon Ramsay to shape the kitchen up.
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Exactly what you'd expect from a pub in this location catering for walkers, climbers and the like. Quite a few good beers on, but a poor selection on the food front, and not particularly well cooked. A few signs that it is trading on a captive market from the nearby campsite plus the lack of competition from any pubs in Glencoe.
Could be much better with a bit of effort
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Visited this pub with great expectation after reading reviews and personal recommendations. Perhaps we visited on a bad day , monday, but six real ales on which all started to go , with nothing new added. Beers were lacking in condition genarally, no Heather ale.
I ate the steak and ale pie lovely but my wife's haddock and chips was cremated and sent back.
Unfortunately on this visit, after coming from the Boot beer festival held at three pubs in Boot Cumbria the day before, where we had a warm welcome and met by bar staff and publicans with a passion for their real ales and good food,
this was a downer.
I don't think i would call this a real ale pub, more a pub that sells real ale trading on a reputation, location and hip chic tourist value of climbers and walkers. No i didn' buy a t shirt and i doubt if i would go back, what a pity.
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Typical Highland walkers pub. The bar is huge with long wooden benches, whilst the lounge is a little more comfortable. There are 15 handpumps dispensing real ale. During our Tuesday night visit, they only had 4 on - Cairngorm Black Gold & Sheepshagger's Gold and Atlas Latitide & 3 Sisters. No real ciders. I thought this was a really nice country pub in a great location. But I actually preferred the Kingshouse Hotel further east along the A82, where they had another Atlas beer (Blizzard) and the views are even more stunning.
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Great pub - 6 beers on when I was there, rising to 13 on a weekend and 15 at beer festivals.
Food also very good, try the beef and ale pie or boar burger.
Highly recommended!
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A real buzz in here the other Sunday evening. Busy, friendly and very good range of real ales. Had a great evening with good food and chatty neighbours - all of us just passing through.
Went round the back to the other bar to see the handpumps and beer choice and found an impromptu gig going on. All brilliant fun and memorable.
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are there two clachaigs in glencoe? cos i love the place, it has history, it has soul, it has the finest selection of malt whiskys. you just have to realise the barstaff here have seen everything, and are unlikely to be impressed by your new boots/cagoule and overloud post climb yammerings. this is a climbers pub and can be as welcoming as any eastend london boozer and just as unforgiving. brilliant
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Very possibly the best beer garden in the UK - What a view!!!!!! Always had great menu and great food when ive been. A very interesting bunch of tourists, mountaineers, hikers, walkers and the odd local. I note some comments about the staff - always been good to us though noticeably the staff are t look at those mountains :-)
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Visited the Glencoe area last week - was looking forward to sampling this pub - but VERY disappointed. Terrible service I'm afaid and an uninspiring menu led to us scarpering after just one drink. What a shame!
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Dispite the surly Bar Manager, this is still the best place to go in the Glencoe region and one of the best in the highlands of Scotland.
Live music once a week, up to 10 real ales on busy nights and has the sence to know that a traditional scottish pub is not all about tartan and Kilts.
This is the only place to be on a Saturday night in summer (especially if Box of Bananas are playing!)
Dont let anybody tell you that the kingshouse is better. Its a lie.
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It's a wonderful looking place and the pub is exactly what you want to sit in with your pint after a long walk. However as many of the previous posters have said it is very expensive and friendliness is definately not a premium here which is a pity as it really could be one of the finest pubs in the country.
When I was there I went in for a pint after a long walk and the pub was empty apart from a scattered few who looked at me like I had come in to crap in the corner, after I finished my pint I put it on the bar out of politeness which prompted the barman to say "Jesus there's always f*cking one isn't there?" to his mate next to him.
Did I break some unwritten rule? Is it offensive in some parts to put your pint on the bar when finished to save the barman the walk to your table? I don't know but there was no need for that and it was well out of order.
Anyway next time I walk Glencoe I'll be staying elsewhere, for 36 quid a night you should expect more than this.
Pity because it could be a legendary pub.
anonymous - 27 Apr 2006 14:41 |
Wins on atmosphere, location & number of ales for the Highlands. Bands normally good too, or at least entertaining! Loses on average food & the slight feeling that you're merely being "processed" for profit rather than welcomed. Still one of THE classic pubs in the country, on the right night.
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Fantastic location and history. Food expensive and uninspiring.
Bar staff can be hit and miss. Some are excellent - very professional and great fun, others seem to think customers think it flattering to be on the receiving end of barbed quips and put downs. Invariably the customers turn out to be wittier.
Still, it is more fun than the Kingshouse - I have enjoyed a rectal probe more than that place.
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This pub is trading on past reputation. The beer is good and it is quite nice inside. This is all ruined by the expensive food which is poor and the attitude of the staff.
The manager is very rude especially to students he quite happily swears at you and is generally horrible. The rest of the staff are not much better.
Go to the kings house along the road its much better.
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Unfriendly, not what you'd expect from a pub in an area such as this.
anonymous - 30 Jan 2006 16:06 |
Good accomodation but getting very lack lustre now. The place trades on it's walker friendly attitude but a recent incident has tarred my opinion of the place. A climber, who had obviously fallen was refused food at 9pm after just staggering in off the hill. Not very good!
The menu is very dated and is not of the best quality and the beer is very hit and miss - often they run all the beers down so there are only one or two real ales on.
Excellent selection of malts - one of the best I've seen and the prices are not to steep.
A warm but often very smokey place (soon to change with new legislation), there is not sufficient seating to accommodate diners on busy days.
The place seems to trade on it's reputation - prices are generally very high (36.00 per person per night) as are the food prices. Combine that with the current attitude of the staff and the lack of seating means that the pub soon won't have a reputation to trade on. Ally that to the fact that there are some other fine pubs and eating houses close by means that the standards of the place need to pick up.
Rich
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Brilliant pub and they serve 3 Sisters ale, but get there quick 'cus it's standing room only after 9pm. I think it's the best pub in Argyll. A+++++
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Awesome pub and well worth the walk. Has the most enormous pool table I have ever seen along with a huge range of single malts and a varied selection of scottish bitters.
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This is the perfect walkers/climbers/outdoor types pub. They don't really mind you coming in with wet stuff on and drying off by the fire whilst enjoying a nice pint and one of their excellent square meals. They also have a dizzying array of single malts if that's your thing! Wonderful atmosphere, perfect place to exchange your stories of the time you nearly died on the hill. Occasionally they have live music on, which is a good thing.
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