Kingshouse Hotel: History, Rooms, Parking & More

Key facts: Kingshouse Hotel

What is the history of the Kingshouse Hotel in Scotland?

Kingshouse Hotel has operated as an inn and staging post at the eastern edge of Glen Coe since the 18th century. VisitScotland calls it “an iconic landmark in the Glencoe Valley for over 250 years” (VisitScotland). The site served travellers on the military road through Glen Coe and, in later centuries, drovers and walkers on what is now the West Highland Way.

By the early 2000s the hotel contained 22 bedrooms and a dated extension. In 2014 the property was put up for sale and bought by the adjacent Black Corries Estate, according to Wikipedia. The hotel closed on 1 November 2017 for a full redevelopment. Demolition began the same month; planning approval for the new build came through in January 2018.

The redeveloped hotel reopened in February 2019, transformed into a 57-bedroom inn with the original 18th-century building restored and renamed The Way Inn bar (Lochaber Chamber of Commerce)(Cupa Pizarras). The total redevelopment cost was reported at £12 million.

What was the name of the hotel before?

The hotel has been consistently known as Kings House Hotel or Kingshouse Hotel. The original inn building is now called The Way Inn bar, but the property name has remained largely unchanged since the 18th century.

When was the hotel last renovated?

The most recent comprehensive renovation was the 2017–2019 redevelopment. The hotel site was closed from 1 November 2017 and reopened in February 2019. Specialist press and regional sources confirm the 57-room inn and 32-place bunkhouse opened together at that time (DRAM Scotland).

How many rooms does Kingshouse Hotel have?

The post-2019 property contains 57 bedrooms across the new-build wing and the restored original inn, plus a separate 32-place bunkhouse used mainly by West Highland Way walkers (TripAdvisor; Wikipedia). That is a jump from the pre-renovation count of 22 rooms—35 additional rooms added in the rebuild.

What types of accommodation are available?

The hotel offers hotel rooms (including family rooms and a bridal suite), a bunkhouse, and amenities listed on the hotel’s rooms page: a drying room and bag store for walkers, free Wi-Fi, and family-friendly and pet-friendly policies. The bunkhouse is a separate no-frills dormitory block used heavily by long-distance walkers on the West Highland Way.

Who owns Kingshouse Hotel?

Publicly available records suggest the hotel was purchased by the adjacent Black Corries Estate in 2014 when it was put up for sale (Wikipedia). The redevelopment was reported to be operated by Crieff Hydro, a hotel management group, though direct ownership details are not specified in the primary sources we reviewed (Lochaber Chamber).

The trade-off: Ownership information is sparse. The Black Corries Estate connection is the most documented lead. For searchers wanting to know “who runs it,” the Crieff Hydro operational link is the strong signal, but it is not official.

How much does it cost to park at Kingshouse Hotel in Glen Coe?

Parking rules changed substantially on 1 July 2024, when the hotel introduced an ANPR (automatic number-plate recognition) system (Kingshouse Hotel FAQs). The current policy breaks down as follows:

• Hotel residents: free parking for the duration of their stay.
• Restaurant/bar patrons: free parking for 2 hours with a minimum £5 purchase, or 4 hours with a minimum £20 purchase.
• Non-residents parking overnight: charged £100.
• All proceeds from the ANPR system are donated to the Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team.

Despite the hotel’s clear published policy, reviews on TripAdvisor in 2024 and 2025 show repeated guest confusion. One October 2024 review from a patron who paid £10 for coffee reported being told parking would be validated but later receiving the opposite instruction (TripAdvisor Ireland). Another review from February 2025 describes receiving a £100 fine after a bar visit and being told by hotel staff there was only a 20-minute grace period for those who do not use the hotel (TripAdvisor).

The practical takeaway: The hotel has a clear charitable parking policy on paper, but enforcement and guest communication have generated recurring complaints in 2024–2025. Read the on-site signage carefully.

Does Kingshouse Hotel have a restaurant?

Yes. The hotel operates a restaurant and bar (The Way Inn) that serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and coffee (Kingshouse Hotel Eat & Drink). The restaurant is noted in past TripAdvisor reviews as a popular stop for non-residents on the West Highland Way, though specific menu items are not documented in any of the sources we reviewed.

Amenity listings on TripAdvisor also mention a restaurant and bar on-site, and the hotel’s official site describes the dining offering as part of a full guest experience.

What to watch: No detailed menu or pricing was found in official or review sources. If you want specifics, check the official website or call ahead—especially if you are a walker relying on a hot meal.

Kingshouse Hotel specifications

What is the price range for a stay at Kingshouse Hotel?

Based on the VisitScotland listing as of early 2025, a Standard Room is indicated at £120 per room per night including breakfast, and a Signature Double at £200 per room per night including breakfast. These are the only published pricing data points we can verify from official or tier-1 sources.

No current room prices appear on the hotel’s own website, and TripAdvisor and Trustpilot reviews mention varying rates depending on season and package (many include breakfast). No prices for the bunkhouse were found in any source.

The implication: Seasonality almost certainly applies—these are likely shoulder-season or off-peak rates. The bunkhouse almost certainly costs less, but we have no verified figure. Check directly for your dates.

Location and how to get to Kingshouse Hotel

The hotel is at the eastern end of Glen Coe in the Scottish Highlands, roughly halfway between Glencoe village and Rannoch Moor. It sits on the A82, the main road through Glen Coe, and directly on the West Highland Way long-distance footpath. The nearest town of any size is Ballachulish, about 8 miles west.

By car, the A82 provides access from Glasgow (approx. 1.5–2 hours) and Fort William (approx. 30 minutes). The hotel has its own car park with the ANPR system described above. No dedicated drop-off point at the entrance was noted in Trustpilot reviews, where one guest described the car park as feeling “distant from the entrance” (Trustpilot).

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Alternatives to Kingshouse Hotel in Glen Coe

Searchers researching Glen Coe lodging often compare Kingshouse Hotel with these nearby options, based on recurring mentions in TripAdvisor and travel blogs:

• Glencoe Inn — In Glencoe village, closer to shops and services.
• Clachaig Inn — A popular walkers’ pub with accommodation, near the start of the Lost Valley hike.
• Ballachulish Hotel — A larger hotel at the western end of Glen Coe, with more dining capacity.

Each of these is in the same geographic region but differs in character—Kingshouse is the most remote and dramatic location, sitting at the wildest part of the valley.

Kingshouse Hotel: Key dates

• c. 1755 (exact year varies by source): Original inn established at eastern Glen Coe.
• 2014: Hotel put up for sale; purchased by Black Corries Estate.
• 1 November 2017: Hotel closed for full redevelopment.
• November 2017: Demolition of old extension begins.
• January 2018: Planning approval for new build.
• February 2019: Redeveloped hotel reopens with 57 rooms and 32-place bunkhouse.
• 1 July 2024: ANPR parking system introduced.

“In the heart of the mountains and at the foot of Buchaille Etive Mor, we’ve been an iconic landmark in the Glencoe Valley for over 250 years.”

— Kingshouse Hotel, Official hotel listing via VisitScotland

“Head for the lights in the glen to find the warmth and comfort of Kingshouse Hotel.”

— Kingshouse Hotel, Official hotel website

A companion Dutch-language resource, a Dutch-language guide, covers the same hotel with additional practical tips and contact details.

Frequently asked questions about Kingshouse Hotel