The Boat Hotel

3.5 star property
Family-friendly 3.5-star hotel with free WiFi

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for The Boat Hotel

Exterior
Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding, individually decorated
Aerial view
Double or Twin Room, Garden View | Terrace/patio
Interior

Reviews

8.2 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Room service
  • Bar
  • Housekeeping
  • Pet friendly
  • Parking included

Explore the area

View in a map
Deshar Road, Boat of Garten, Scotland, PH24 3BH
  • Boat of Garten Golf Club
    ‪4 min walk‬
  • Loch Morlich
  • Loch Garten Osprey Centre
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Inverness (INV)
    ‪47 min drive‬

Room options

Suite

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed

Double or Twin Room, Garden View

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(14 reviews)
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed OR 2 Twin Beds

Deluxe Double or Twin Room

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
(11 reviews)
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed OR 2 Twin Beds

Classic Double or Twin Room

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(10 reviews)
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed OR 2 Twin Beds

Classic Single Room

7.0 out of 10
Good
(2 reviews)
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bed

Comfort Double Room

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(3 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Suite Double or Twin Room

  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed OR 2 Twin Beds

About the neighborhood

Boat of Garten

In Boat of Garten .A stay at this hotel places you within half a mile (1 km) of Boat of Garten Golf Club and 3 miles (5 km) of Loch Vaa. Lochan Dhu and Loch Garten Osprey Centre are also within 3 miles (5 km).

What's nearby

  • Boat of Garten Golf Club - 4 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Loch Garten Osprey Centre - 7 min drive - 3.6 miles
  • Strathspey Steam Railway - 10 min drive - 7.9 miles
  • Rothiemurchus Estate Visitor Centre - 12 min drive - 9.3 miles
  • Cairngorm Reindeer Centre - 20 min drive - 14.0 miles

Getting around

  • Carrbridge Station - 8 min drive
  • Inverness (INV) - 47 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Cairngorm Hotel - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Old Bridge Inn - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪The Inverdruie Restaurant - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪The Balavoulin - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Pizzariach - ‬8 min drive

About this property

The Boat Hotel

Family-friendly 3.5-star hotel with free WiFi
There's a restaurant on site. You can enjoy a drink at the bar/lounge. Business amenities include a business center and 2 meeting rooms.

Public spaces have free WiFi. A terrace, an arcade/game room, and multilingual staff are also featured at the family-friendly The Boat Hotel. Free self parking is available.

This Victorian Boat of Garten hotel is smoke free.

  • 34 guestrooms or units
  • 2 levels
  • Built in 1899
  • Ski equipment storage
  • Conference center
  • Business facilities
  • Breakfast available (surcharge)
  • Front desk (limited hours)
  • Express check-in
  • Express check-out
  • Staff is multilingual
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Tour and ticket information
  • Wedding services available
  • Game room or arcade
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Outdoor picnic space
  • Gift shop
  • Fireplace in lobby
  • Television in lobby
  • No smoking on site
  • Bar or lounge
  • Dining venue
The Boat Hotel offers 34 accommodations with coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. These individually decorated and furnished accommodations include desks. Beds feature Egyptian cotton sheets and premium bedding. 40-inch flat-screen televisions come with digital channels.

Bathrooms include showers and complimentary toiletries. Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Hypo-allergenic bedding and irons/ironing boards can be requested. Housekeeping is provided daily.

Similar properties

Property amenities

Family friendly

  • Arcade/game room
  • Changing table
  • Children's games
  • High chair
  • Playground

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free self parking on site
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking and van parking available

Food and drink

  • Daily full breakfast available 7:30 AM to 10:00 AM for a fee: GBP 12.95 for adults and GBP 6.50 for children
  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant

Things to do

  • 18-hole adjacent golf course
  • Arcade/game room
  • Bicycle rentals
  • Books
  • Ecotours
  • Evening entertainment
  • Games
  • Golf clubs/equipment
  • Playground
  • Ski storage
  • TV in common areas

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Wheelchair accessibility
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible business center
  • Wheelchair-accessible lounge
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
  • Wheelchair-accessible restaurant
  • Wheelchair-accessible van parking

Room amenities

Entertainment

  • 40-inch flat-screen TV with digital channels

Bedroom

  • Egyptian cotton sheets
  • Hypo-allergenic bedding

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste (on request)
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Champagne service
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Electric kettle
  • Limited room service

More

  • Desk
  • Heating
  • Individual decor
  • Individual furnishings
  • Iron/ironing board on request
  • Laptop workspace
  • Mobile key entry
  • Recycling

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Early check-in subject to availability
Early check-in fee: GBP 10
Express check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out available
A late check-out fee will be charged
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 7:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions; front desk staffed during limited hours
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 24 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

  • Pets: GBP 20 per pet, per night
  • Only dogs are allowed
  • Maximum 2 pets
  • Food and water bowls are available
  • Certain rooms only, restrictions apply
  • You can request a pet-friendly room by reaching out to the property at the number on the booking confirmation
  • Service animals are exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Kids stay free! Up to 3 children 12 years old and younger stay free when using existing bedding.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are available for GBP 10.0 per night.

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Fee for full breakfast: approximately GBP 12.95 for adults and GBP 6.50 for children
  • Pet fee: GBP 20 per pet, per night
  • Service animals are exempt from fees
  • Early check-in fee: GBP 10 (subject to availability)
  • A late check-out fee will be charged
  • Rollaway bed fee: GBP 10.0 per night

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards, and cash
Cashless transactions are available
This property uses geothermal energy
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, and a first aid kit
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, Barclaycard, debit cards, and cash. This property uses geothermal energy. For guests' safety, the property includes a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, and a first aid kit in each accommodation. Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions and guests can access their rooms with a mobile device.

We should mention

  • Reservations are needed for golf tee times. For reservations, contact the hotel before arrival using the contact information on the booking confirmation.
  • For stays on 25 December, the total price shown includes a charge for a mandatory Christmas Day gala dinner.
  • For stays on 24 December, the total price shown includes a charge for a mandatory Christmas Eve gala dinner.
  • For stays on December 31, the total price shown includes a charge for a mandatory New Year's Eve gala dinner.
  • For stays on 14 February, the total price shown includes a charge for a mandatory Valentine's Day gala dinner.
  • Up to 3 children 12 years old and younger stay free in the same room as the parent or guardian when using existing bedding.
  • Pets are welcome in certain rooms only; other restrictions apply (please see the Fees section for related charges). To make arrangements for your pet, contact the property directly at the number on your booking confirmation.

National rating

This establishment has received its official star rating from VisitScotland, the National Tourist Board for Scotland.

Property is also known as

Boat Boat of Garten
Boat Hotel
Boat Hotel Boat of Garten
Hotel Boat
Boat Hotel Of Garten
The Boat Hotel Boat Of Garten, Scotland
The Boat Hotel Of Garten Scotland
The Boat Hotel Hotel
The Boat Hotel Boat of Garten
The Boat Hotel Hotel Boat of Garten

Frequently asked questions

How close is The Boat Hotel to the airport?

The Boat Hotel is 34.4 mi (47-min drive) away from the Inverness (INV) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

Does The Boat Hotel have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at The Boat Hotel.

Does The Boat Hotel offer free breakfast?

Free breakfast isn’t provided at The Boat Hotel, but full breakfast is offered for a fee of GBP 12.95 for adults and GBP 6.50 for children. It's available every day from 7:30 AM to 10:00 AM.

Is there a casino at The Boat Hotel?

No, there is no casino at this hotel.

What time is check-in at The Boat Hotel?

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime. Early check-in costs GBP 10 (subject to availability).

Is there free parking at The Boat Hotel?

This hotel offers free self parking.

Does The Boat Hotel have a pool?

The Boat Hotel does not have a pool.

Does The Boat Hotel have a restaurant?

Yes, there is a restaurant on site.

Does The Boat Hotel have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this hotel.

How close is The Boat Hotel to downtown Boat of Garten?

The Boat Hotel is 0.1 mi away from Boat of Garten.

The Boat Hotel Reviews

Reviews

8.2

Very Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 271 out of 703 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 247 out of 703 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 126 out of 703 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 42 out of 703 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 17 out of 703 reviews

8.4/10

Cleanliness

8.4/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

7.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.2/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Mustaq

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Really great experience with hotel and the place Definitely recommend and would like to visit again
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Robert

Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Good, but needs some attention

We stayed for two nights in one of the garden rooms. It had a decking area onto the grass. We ate in the restaurant on both nights and had breakfast there too. The room was good, and mostly clean. Putting our case in the shelving area disturbed a layer of dust that you could write your name in. However, the bathroom and linen was clean. The decor was fine, but a bit worn. The bathroom tiles were cracked and the paintwork in it badly chipped. The bed was large, but overly firm, I woke with a numb arm on both nights. The grass area we looked onto was badly in need of a cut and looked unkept. The food was good in the restaurant on both evenings. The cullen skink was superb. Breakfast was not so good. On the Monday morning coming down at 8am I was told that a large group had just left and so many items were no longer available. The person relaying this to me did so in a manner that seemed to accept this as okay, and even if unavoidable, was not something that was out of the ordinary or needed an apology. This reflects a wider uneasy atmosphere in the place. Staff it seemed were busy but it felt a bit unmanaged and chaotic. Booking a table didn't result in clarity on our booking, but the server would confirm our booking and then wander around to find a free table or offer one in the bar to us. Would I stay again? Maybe, but I would certainly look elsewhere and not expect to pay anything above an average price.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

8/10 Good

Scott

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

6/10 Okay

Marion

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Good value stay in a pretty village

Clean comfortable room with modern spacious bathroom.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

4/10 Poor

Verified traveler

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Room comfort

ROOMS NOT AS ADVERTISED

I'd booked a Deluxe Double, which according to the website and pictures, has : -- A Rainfall Showerhead -- A Separate bath and shower -- A King bed -- As per the pics, there is also separate seating areas/couches What i got, fell short of the description : -- A very small shower with a hand shower head with very little water pressure -- No separate bath -- No King bed, but rather 2 well used (could feel the springs) bow shaped, small singles pushed together The tv remote was so worn that you couldnt see what the buttons were for, plus it didnt work properly and the battery cover was missing I emailed the GM and received a reply 6 days later, saying that the rooms will be re-checked to ensure they meet advertised specifications. Mattrasses to be replaced. Worn tv remotes to be replaced etc Check-out is a bit slow It is a very nice hotel, with good food etc, but just ensure you get what you paid for when it comes to the rooms
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Neil

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The Boat Hotel is
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Maria

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Rooms were nice and according to our needs. Good dinner and breakfast option in the hotel.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

6/10 Okay

lindsay

Disliked: Staff & service

Faulty Towers

Our check in at this hotel was good enough, if very slow. The guy on reception showed us to our room. We paid about £130 for bed and breakfast at this hotel, and it definitely wasn’t worth that price. We are regular travellers who managed to secure an awesome room in Glasgow two nights before at less than half that price! Firstly, the room was nice and spacious enough, but the en-suite bathroom was an absolute joke. An overweight person would not have felt comfortable using the toilet and might not even have fitted into the space allocated to the toilet (I’ll add a picture to prove my point) Secondly, one of the taps was fitted the wrong way round and almost fell off when you attempted to use it. This place is a bit of a faulty towers! It’s a nice old building, but obviously not that well-maintained. I am glad we chose to eat at Anderson’s, a few paces up the road, because when we attempted to pay by cash for our drinks at the hotel bar, we were told they didn’t take cash. My drinks were already poured before they made this shambolic revaluation, so they had no other option than to take my cash (and before anyone replies about a lack of banking facilities in the town, there’s a Post Office across the road). I feel places like this are an embarrassment to Scottish tourism. The breakfast was nice, freshly cooked. But 7.45 - 9 am is too early to serve breakfast at the weekend. Again, pretentious and out of touch.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Abigail

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

Wonderful place

The staff went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and well accommodated. They even carried out (incredibly heavy!!) suitcases upstairs for us. The food was incredible and there was so much variety. The only issue was the shower in our room which didn’t have temperature control and the screen was a bit broken. This wasn’t an issue for us as we were only there one night and the standalone bath was beautiful!! The rooms need a little updating but the space is incredible and the rooms were always clean.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kimberley

Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Sheila

Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brian

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had a lovely stay in the hotel for a couple of nights, staff were very friendly, food excellent both morning and evening. Room good and great shower in bathroom
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jim

Don’t have the coffee.

2 nd visit. Made very welcome. Nice staff. Only criticism was the coffee machine needs replaced. Worst coffee ever.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

8/10 Good

Mark James

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Good overall stay as always.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Staff & service, room comfort
We stayed for one night and although our room was fine it hadn’t been dusted properly and the water pressure in the shower was non existent. Had lunch when we arrived and it wasn’t great. We were told it was lentil soup when it was clearly more like a very thick pea soup.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

John

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Brian

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

4/10 Poor

Jamie

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

6/10 Okay

alan

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Isobel

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Garden room very quiet and great to have a patio and a bath!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

Howard

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Good value hotel in highlands that is ok

Friendly welcome and used nearby hotel parking. Managed to get an off duty waiter to carry my bags as no lift. One of the worst ever views from bedroom window of fire escape and the bathroom window faced a concrete wall a couple of feet away, so check with hotel about the situation of room before booking. Unable to get breakfast tea despite asking the waitress - this further spoilt my stay
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Anthony G A

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Barry

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Food at Dinner was outstanding,miby not the cheapest place to eat but worth every penny
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

David

Liked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Good hotel, a few minor issues with service but a good hotel in a great location
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024