Ards House

Looking for a home from home within spitting distance of Oban? Well we’ve found somewhere for you that can go one better than that.

Ards House, Connel

Ards House in Connel is more than a home from home. It’s a luxury retreat where you start even the shortest visit as a friend and leave as one of the family.

When we visited we were met by our host Margaret who took no time at all to show us to our room and find out about our plans for our stay in the area. Offering expert local knowledge she clearly had her finger on the pulse of the local area and attractions and even provided traffic & travel advice that allowed us to make a morning ferry free from hassle. Whether you want to know which restaurants have the best seafood, or the cheapest long term parking in town just ask.

The key phrase that describes a stay at Ards House, “free from hassle”. Everything you could want is there, or arranged quickly. From the moment we parked in the exclusive Ards House car park, to reaching our room, everything “felt” right and that is important. Our host was clearly very experienced and delivered an effortless “meet and greet” that imparted knowledge ranging from accessing the free in-house wifi broadband, the extensive library of books (both fiction and non-fiction), recommended tourist information and ensured we were relaxed in the guest only drawing room. All of this over a complimentary glass of wine which ensured proprietor and guests were chatting like old friends within minutes.

View from Ards House at sunset

The standard of decoration throughout the house was excellent with works of art adorning the walls in all the rooms. The large flat screen TV in the room was outdone by the even larger TV in the drawing room. This ensured if guests could not agree which programme to watch communally, a very acceptable alternative awaited their exclusive viewing.

We took no interior photographs. This is a matter of policy as to photograph inside private property, we would need the proprietor’s permission which could skew our experience. To see some internal views, visit the Ards House website.

Also, being gadget freaks here at Off The Beaten Track, it was heartening to see an iPhone dock on one of the bedroom side tables. Allowing guests to play the familiar music of their choice also adds to that sense of comfort and familiarity. A subtle, but effective attention to detail.

The bathroom was of a modern, contemporary design and was so clean it sparkled, almost convincing you that you were the first person to enter the room, allowing for a long relaxing soak or a quick invigorating shower.

When morning arrives, the breakfast you ordered the night before is delivered quickly and to your satisfaction. Satisfaction our host clearly worked hard to ensure was achieved.

Whether you are writing a book, want a quiet read, or are using Connel as a base to tour from like we were, Ards House provides a luxury home away from home with amazing views and a fantastic host whose eye for detail brings the whole experience together. The best evaluation we can give is to say we will definitely be going back. If you are staying in the area, make this place number one on your places to stay.