Anna Smith enjoys the stylish and historic hospitality of the Knipoch House Hotel in Oban.
It’s a pleasant, sunny August day. The heatwave of summer 2026 has cooled and it’s the perfect time for walking and relaxing in a Scottish country house hotel. Knipoch House Hotel is a short drive south of Oban: conveniently located for that pretty seaside town, but remote enough to earn its country stripes. Driving up to the house, we’re met by relaxed grandeur, green gardens and fabulous views of the scenic Loch Feochan.
Knipoch House Hotel was bought and renovated in 2024 by The Sonas Collection, a small group of stylish family-run boutique hotels (the other three are on the Isle of Skye). The main reception area has a cosy yet classy and modern feel: think muted tartan sofas with leather touches, a grand piano and, on the wall, a mounted stag’s head; the motif of this hotel.
Upstairs, there are 26 bedrooms, ranging from standard to Junior Suite. We’re lucky enough to have room 18, a Superior Sea View: a large corner room with gorgeous views and handsome furnishings including a super-kingsize bed with plush red and purple velvet cushions. It’s tempting to sink into it right away, but we have a treat in store: a hot tub booking at the spa. The tub is available for private use, so having booked at reception, we head there for a spot of relaxation before heading off for a local walk.
A chirpy member of staff has suggested heading out of the back of the property into the grassy, wooded hills behind the hotel. Wandering up a gentle incline through trees and fields, we stray off the path and stumble upon a clearing with huge fallen knotted trees: they look dramatically prehistoric. You could hike around here for a few hours – but dinner is calling.
We’re eating in The Foreshore restaurant and enjoy an excellent modern Scottish meal with a well-chosen Chardonnay. The monkfish cheeks starter is, I’m told, “divine”, while my Coq A Leekie Chicken Terrine is a delight. As for the mains: a great Halibut with Rainbow Chard, Warm Tartar Sauce and Caviar, and a rich, creamy and crispy Corn Fed Chicken Balmoral with Haggis, Salt Baked Neep, Tatties and Oban Whisky Sauce. All finished with cheeses and an Oban whisky from the extensive menu. The Foreshore isn’t Knipoch’s only eatery: the fine dining restaurant, 1635, offers a seven-course tasting menu (£99 per person) from Thursdays to Saturdays, with a bespoke wine pairing for an extra £49pp.
While there’s plenty of relaxation to be had in the hotel, Oban is well located for visiting some of Scotland’s most beautiful destinations. I can recommend jumping on the ferry to the pretty Isle of Mull, which takes about 45 minutes and is home to colourful Tobermory, the setting for TV’s Balamory.
In Oban itself, you can wander up to McCaig’s Tower for great views, grab fresh fish and chips on the harbour, visit the Oban War & Peace museum, the Dunollie Museum (good for fine art and textiles) and browse artists’ studios. Or, enjoy two firm favourites on the Highland tourist trail: golf, and a distillery visit. The Oban Distillery is one of Scotland’s oldest and operates various different tours with tastings included.
Breakfast back at Knipoch House Hotel is a hearty affair, with a locally sourced menu and a friendly server who shares his recollections of visiting Edinburgh’s nightclubs in the 90s (only once, but apparently it was memorable). The Stone Room next door has a grislier history to remember: it is the site of the murder of John Campbell, the Thane of Cawdor, whose title Shakespeare borrowed for his tragedy, Macbeth. My husband has read about this legend and asks a member of staff to show us the site of the deadly deed.
Sure enough, there is a bullet hole right there in the wall, by the breakfast buffet.
So, if you’re a ghost hunter, Knipoch House Hotel might have an added attraction. But for the record, the only vibes we felt there were good ones… and the only spirits we saw, we drank.
Images by Ben Robards and Knipoch House Hotel.
Tell Me More About Staying At Knipoch House Hotel
Knipoch House Hotel, Oban PA34 4QT.
T: +44 (0) 1470 373737. E: reservations@sonascollection.com.
Accommodation starts at £109 a night in off season, £278 in peak season. Most have panoramic loch views. Each room has free wifi, flat screen TV, waffle robes and slippers, tea and coffee facilities, hairdryer, and luxury toiletries.
