Toravaig House Hotel, Isle of Skye, Scotland

It's four miles from the Armadale ferry (a blessing after a long drive) with the Torabhaig Distillery a short walk away, so you can have a dram or two without worrying. It's a 40-minute drive to Sligachan at the foot of the Cuillin mountains and almost an hour to Portree. Ragamuffin, selling glorious hand knits, is near the pier (grab a snack with a view from The Shed) and Armadale Castle is just up the road.

By car: under 5 hours from both Glasgow and Edinburgh, and 8 hours from Manchester. Free parking on-site.

By train: trains run from Glasgow to Mallaig for the ferry to Skye, and from Inverness to Kyle, where you can take a bus to the island. Book trains.

The look would once have been cutting-edge hotel contemporary, but it still has its own charm and is neater than a house-proud pin. There's a splendid sense of ease: those deep claret velvet sofas in the lounge just beg to be…well…lounged upon, with a nice cup of tea.

There isn't a list, it isn't that kind of place. But whether you need a button sewn on, a picnic 'piece' as they call a sandwich lunch in these parts, directions, recommendations, a table booked, a plaster for the blister from your new walking boots, a hot cup of tea or your jacket dried, there's someone on hand to take of it for you.

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Terrace
• Garden
• Bike hire
• Family-friendly
• Free parking
• Free Wi-Fi

Guest rooms boast lots of intense colours - expect navy, shades of brown and even burnt orange - and everything is impeccably kept, scrupulously clean and comfortable. You'll get a tea/coffee tray, big beds and lights you can actually read by. You may need sunglasses in the gleaming bathrooms complete with rainfall showers.

Room types: Cosy, Standard, Standard with Sea View

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom with toiletries, bathrobes and slippers, tea and coffee facilities, bottled water, TV, free Wi-Fi

Breakfast is a winner: all manner of smoothies, porridge with Drambuie, local sausages and tattie scones with a fry-up, or kippers with a poached egg. For dinner, there's a minibus to take you two minutes along the road to the Duisdale Hotel for some serious cooking, properly attentive to local produce.

Day dining: served in the dining room or lounge. Daily breakfast, 7:30-10am. Cream teas, cheese and charcuterie boards.

Dinner: served at sister hotel, Duisdale. 2 AA Rosette-awarded restaurant, British cuisine, locally-sourced produce. Open daily, 6-9pm.