Kings House Hotel facts for kids
The Kings House Hotel is an old inn located in the beautiful Scottish Highlands. You can find it at the eastern end of Glen Coe, where it meets Glen Etive. This hotel is quite isolated, about 2 km east of the glen, facing the impressive mountain Buachaille Etive Mòr. It's a very popular spot for rock climbers. The inn is called the King's House because the British Army used it a long time ago. This was after the Jacobite Rising of 1745, when they were trying to control the Highlands.
In 2019, the hotel reopened after a big renovation. A large part added in the 1960s was taken down. Only the original building from the 1700s was kept and made part of the new hotel.
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History of the Kings House Hotel
The Inn's Early Years
The original Kings House is one of Scotland's oldest inns with a license. It was built in the 1700s. Its location at the head of Glen Coe was perfect for people traveling across Rannoch Moor. A very important military road crossed the River Etive right by the inn. This military road was built by the British army after the 1745 Jacobite rising. It went through Glen Coe and then up the Devil's Staircase to Kinlochleven. Today, parts of this old military road are used as the famous West Highland Way walking path.
By the late 1700s, travelers often came from Ballachulish to Loch Lomond through Tyndrum. In 1803, Dorothy Wordsworth, the sister of the famous poet William Wordsworth, visited the inn. She wrote about her visit, saying it was a very "miserable" and "wretched place." She described long rooms with beds, almost no furniture, and very dirty floors. She also said the food, like a shoulder of mutton, was so hard it was impossible to chew.
However, 100 years later, things had changed a lot! In 1903, Dundee MP Alexander Wilkie stayed there. He wrote about a very pleasant experience. He said he had a "hearty welcome" and his clothes and shoes were dried. For breakfast, he was surprised to be offered grapefruit, porridge with cream, and fish. He felt it was "just like a west end city hotel" and that he was "well looked after."
In 1910, the first people with cars started visiting Glen Coe. This happened after the stone road was improved with tarmac.
The Hotel in Modern Times
In 1959, the Kings House Hotel had its first big update in the 1900s. The work was done so carefully that the architect, John Thompson, and even the builders, Thos. Findlay and Sons Ltd, received special Civic Trust Awards for their efforts.
The inn still serves food and drinks today. Before its recent big renovation, it had 22 bedrooms. It was a great place for fishermen, walkers, and climbers. In winter, the hotel also welcomes skiers who visit the "White Corries" ski resort. This resort is just across the road on the mountain of Meall a' Bhùiridh.
In Scotland, people are generally allowed to camp on uncultivated land. This is part of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. Because of this, many people, especially hikers on the West Highland Way, often camp near Kings House. The area is open moorland, which is perfect for camping. However, campers must set up their tents on the opposite side of the river from the inn.
Big Renovation and Reopening
The Kings House Hotel was put up for sale in 2014. It was bought by the nearby Black Corries Estate. A team, including people from Crieff Hydro hotels, started planning changes. In 2015, they announced a major renovation project. This included removing a large part of the building that was added in the 1960s. They also planned to open a hostel.
Another plan was submitted in 2017. On November 1st, the hotel closed for the big renovation. The demolition of the old extension started that same month. In January 2018, the new plans were approved, even though the John Muir Trust had some objections. The new King's House Hotel, with 57 bedrooms, reopened in February 2019.
