I will begin by laying my cards on the table - for the last 20 years I have avoided B+Bs and guest houses like the plague. This was after an absolutely awful experience in Brighton by a rather irritable B+B owner who seemed to think his guests were a terrible burden for him. When I booked Thistle House, I was full of misgivings - how wrong I was! After staying at Thistle House, I realise that I have definitely been missing out on something!

Thistle House is a rather impressive looking guest house, right on the banks of Loch Fyne. It looks directly across to Inveraray. The gardens are immaculately tended to and the parking is to the side of the house so that no views are spoiled. I was met as soon as I arrived by the owners who gave me a very warm and friendly welcome but without being too over-the-top. I was offered a tea/coffee which I thought was a really nice touch. I thought they got it just right. My room was the MacLachlan Room which looked out over Loch Fyne. This was a very impressive room with a stunning view. It had a very warm and understated luxury feel to it. There was a large bed which was very comfortable. (Seemed to be a normal mattress with a foam mattress topper). All the bedding was impeccably clean and had that lovely 'just-washed' feel to it. There was a shower-room ensuite which was a tad on the small size. However, this is a guest house using a traditional building. So, I feel that for the price I paid (£80 for one night), the small ensuite was a more than acceptable compromise. The ensuite was decorated to a very high standard and was spotless! The shower was also roasting hot which was a welcome relief after a long drive and freezing weather!

The guest house is of a very high standard throughout with nice decoration. The guest lounge is particularly impressive. The breakfast room is bright and airy and the tables are nicely spaced out. Breakfast was a very pleasant experience indeed. The food was a very high standard and delicious. There was a nice selection of cereals etc in addition to the cooked full Scottish breakfast - there were other options for a cooked breakfast if a full Scottish was not to your liking. My partner had smoked salmon and scrambled eggs which he said was delicious! The owners try to source all food locally if possible and aim for fair trade products.

The owners live in a different house which is in the grounds of Thistle House. I personally liked this because I felt that I wasn't going to be disturbing the owners in their own home. It put me more at my ease so that I could relax a bit more. (One aspect of guest houses I had been afraid of was that I was intruding into someone's home - but with Thistle House I certainly didn't feel this).

To sum up, I'd say that you can't go wrong with Thistle House. For the high standard of accommodation, the price is very good value for money. I paid almost the same for a Premier Inn which is nowhere near the quality of Thistle House. On top of this you also get a very personal, warm and friendly experience from the owners which you just cant get in a larger hotel. Add to this again the stunning views and this is an excellent choice!