The Hopetoun Arms – Leadhills, Scotland - Atlas Obscura

The Hopetoun Arms

Leadhills, Scotland

This former private hunting lodge is now the highest residential hotel in Scotland  

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The Hopetoun Arms Hotel is in an 18th century  building  which was originally  built as a hunting  lodge for the Hope family  who owned most of the mines in the area. By 1804 it had been converted to a hotel and was mentioned  by Dorothy  Wordsworth (sister of William Wordsworth) in her book ” The Grand Tour of Scotland “.

It may seem strange that the  highest hotel in Scotland  should be sited on what  is considered  to be the Scottish  Lowlands rather than the Highlands. In fact even in the Highlands settlements tend to be at the valley bottom rather than at or near the summit but both Leadhills  and nearby  Wanlockhead ( the highest village in Scotland) are former mining communities which developed close to the mines which supported them. Thus at an altitude of  1297 ft AOD the Hopetoun Arms Hotel is the  highest residential  hotel in Scotland.  The pub in the nearby village of Wanlockhead  is slightly  higher and is the highest pub in Scotland but it does not offer accommodation. 

Walking into the lounge bar of the Hopetoun Arms is like walking back into the 1960s (or earlier). Even in August  there was a solid fuel fire burning in the grate and the, very comfortable,  furniture could have come from a nostalgic film set.

The menu can best be described as typical British pub grub with pies, burgers and fried fish in evidence but there is a nod or two to the location too. The deep fried haggis balls starter came with either cranberry  or peppercorn sauce and for main course you could  get a “Burns Burger” where the beef pattie is topped with local haggis. 

A great place to warm up on an unseasonably cold day and a great welcome in August 2024. With lots going on it seems to play an important  role in the local community.

 

Know Before You Go

The menu presented on the official  website is quite out of date. 

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