Welcome
to Distant Hills Guest House
Spean Bridge, near Fort William, Scotland
A haven of tranquillity, Distant Hills Guest House is set in beautiful grounds and located at the edge of the quiet Highland village of Spean Bridge just 9 miles north of the bustling town of Fort William. Whether you want to tour and explore, walk, climb, cycle, open water swim, fish, kayak, watch the birds and wildlife or simply relax and unwind, Distant Hills provides the perfect accommodation for your Scottish Highlands adventure.
Distant Hills Guest House
Spean Bridge, near Fort William, Scotland
At Distant Hills we excel at providing comfortable and tasteful accommodation with delicious breakfasts but the real magic is in our hosting. Whether you want our insider hints and tips on exploring the area, or simply to be left alone to enjoy your peaceful surroundings, we’ll naturally tailor our hosting to meet your individual requirements. We live in separate accommodation at the end of the property, which means that all guest areas are yours to enjoy in your own space and comfort, knowing that we are only a few seconds away if you need us.
Far from any ordinary guest house, you have three fabulous choices: superb bed and breakfast accommodation ideal for shorter stays; whole house exclusive use for larger groups and family celebrations and our all-inclusive guided hillwalking holidays (April and October only).
At Distant Hills, we offer more than just bed & breakfast
- Free use of our brand new hot-tub
- A fully-licensed honesty bar stocked with locally brewed beers, gins, whiskies, wines, spirits and soft drinks
- A beautiful secluded and south-facing garden with lots of seating
- A purpose-built drying room
- Onsite e-bike rental at just £25 per bike, per day
- Lockable bike storage, bike wash, stand and servicing tools
- Offer of packed lunches
- Walking holiday packages in April and October
- Sorry, no pets
- Children aged 12 and over welcome
Our promise to you
- To give you the warmest of welcomes
- To respect your privacy and individual needs and tailor our hosting accordingly
- To offer you as much local knowledge as you need to get the best out of the area
- To keep all guest house information and images up-to-date, so what you see is what you can expect
Walking Holidays in the Scottish Highlands
In April and October
Surrounded by miles and miles of beautiful mountains, lochs and glens, Distant Hills is the perfect location for a wonderful walking holiday. Dates now live for 2024 & 2025.
A superb base to explore many of the top Highland attractions
There’s so much to see and do just a short drive from Distant Hills, make sure you book long enough. You won’t regret it!
Location, location, location!
Spean Bridge is the perfect base for exploring the Highlands
Also known as the ‘Crossroads of the Highlands, Spean Bridge is well located for visiting many of the top attractions. Whether you wish to hike Ben Nevis, take a trip on the Jacobite steam train, visit the Glenfinnan viaduct, search for the Loch Ness Monster or spend a day on the Isle of Skye, all this and more is possible from Distant Hills! Tell us what you’d like to see and do and we’ll point you in the right direction!
minutes to Ben Nevis trailhead
minutes to Glenfinnan
minutes to Loch Ness
minutes to Glen Coe
Sign up to our Newsletter
We thought we’d bring you closer to the Highlands and our beautiful Guest house by launching a fabulous new Distant Hills Newsletter. To subscribe, simply fill in the form below.
The Guest House Blog
Our News and Top Tips for visiting the Scottish Highlands
Hosting Professional Athletes – The Giant Factory Off-Road Team
by Dani Mackinnon | Jul 19, 2024
A Behind-The-Scenes Insight Almost every year since 2002, the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Series has been held here at the Nevis Range in Fort William. The event is a huge spectacle attracting competitors and visitors from all over the world and is a significant...
Can you see the Northern Lights in Scotland?
by Dani Mackinnon | Jun 24, 2024
The Aurora Borealis - a sight to behold Our Personal Encounters with the Aurora Can you see the Northern Lights in Scotland? The answer is YES! We have lived in Spean Bridge, just 10 miles north of Fort William for 5 years now and we have seen the Aurora a couple of...
Guided Walking Holidays in Scotland
by Dani Mackinnon | May 6, 2024
A Summary of Distant Hills Spring Walking Holidays Embark on a journey of discovery with Distant Hills Walking Holidays, where every step is an invitation to explore the untamed beauty of the Scottish Highlands. Join us as we delve into the highlights of our Spring...
Hiking the Great Glen Way – what you need to know!
by Dani Mackinnon | Feb 26, 2024
Walking and Hiking in the Scottish Highlands Most people have heard of Scotland’s oldest and most popular long-distance route, the West Highland Way stretching 96 miles from Milngavie, just north of Glasgow to Fort William here in the West Highlands, but far fewer...
Our New Walking Holidays Video
by Dani Mackinnon | Jan 25, 2024
Walking Holidays in the Scottish Highlands Fancy walking in Scotland, but don't know where to start? Or perhaps you lack the confidence or skills to tackle the Scottish hills alone. Join us on one of our Distant Hills Walking Holidays and let us guide you through some...
Walking Holidays in the Scottish Highlands
by Dani Mackinnon | Jan 10, 2024
Discover Your Next Adventure: Distant Hills Walking Holidays Are you seeking a truly unforgettable adventure in one of the most stunning landscapes on Earth? Look no further than Distant Hills Guest House's walking holidays. Nestled in the heart of the enchanting...
Autumn in the Scottish Highlands
by Dani Mackinnon | Sep 21, 2023
As the vibrant greens of summer slowly yield to the warm hues of autumn, there's no better time to experience the enchanting Scottish Highlands. At Distant Hills Guest House, we're thrilled to present our Autumn Special Offer, inviting you to immerse yourself in the...
5 Places to Visit in Glen Nevis
by Dani Mackinnon | Jul 31, 2023
If you visit Fort William, then taking a trip into Glen Nevis is a must. The rugged scenery is magnificent with majestic mountains towering around you in a 360-degree panorama, not to mention the tranquil running waters of River Nevis and the gushing waterfalls and...
Hiking up the awe-inspiring Ben Nevis – What you Need to Know
by Dani Mackinnon | Apr 17, 2023
Ben Nevis is the UK’s highest mountain at 1345m (4413 feet) and attracts thousands of hikers, trekkers and mountaineers each year hoping to summit this iconic peak. Many of our guests at Distant Hills Guest House book to stay with us because we are just a short drive...
How to experience the beautiful Isle of Skye in one Day
by Dani Mackinnon | Apr 17, 2023
Some would say that the Isle of Skye is the jewel in the crown of the Scottish Highlands, and with the opening of the bridge from Kyle of Lochalsh over to Skye in 1995, it has become a popular tourist hotspot. To explore the island fully, you need 3 days at least;...
2 Places to Spot a Highland Cow Near Spean Bridge
by Dani Mackinnon | Mar 5, 2023
When you think of Scotland, there are certain things that come to mind: thistles, whisky, castles, haggis and the Highland cow. These majestic, auburn-coloured beasts with their long, uniquely shaped horns are a magnificent sight to behold and lots of visitors seek...
Sea Kayaking with Seals
by Dani Mackinnon | Feb 13, 2023
Prior to moving to Distant Hills Guest House in Spean Bridge, when we thought of the Scottish Highlands, our minds conjured up images of moody mountains, shaded pine forests and the odd dark loch dotted here and there. Never did we consider the miles and miles of...
Walking Breaks in the Scottish Highlands
by Dani Mackinnon | Feb 5, 2023
Escape to Scotland for a stress-free walking holiday with our all-inclusive package. Stay at the charming Distant Hills Guest House in Spean Bridge near Fort William and experience the best of Scottish landscapes on our 4 guided day walks. Enjoy 6 nights of bed,...
Haggis Explained
by Dani Mackinnon | Jan 26, 2023
We have recently celebrated Burn’s Night in Scotland and this got us thinking about haggis. If you’re visiting Scotland for the first time, it might be the first time you have heard of haggis. What is haggis? Many of our bed and breakfast guests have heard of haggis...
Distant Hills January Newsletter
by Dani Mackinnon | Jan 26, 2023
The latest scoop from Distant Hills The New Year is always a time for reflection and 2022 presented lots of positive change for both Distant Hills, Spean Bridge and the surrounding area. Above all, it felt fantastic to return to a greater degree of normality as we saw...
A View of Distant Hills… Walking Holidays
by Dave Hanson | Dec 30, 2022
‘A guest perspective’ Rain of biblical intensity fell from the sky. I sat in a lay-by in Glencoe and stared out of the window. It was a dismal sight. I turned the engine back on for the fifty minute drive left to reach the Distant Hills Bed and Breakfast in Spean...
Celebrating 3 Years at Distant Hills Guest House
by Dani Mackinnon | Jul 19, 2022
On Saturday 16th July we celebrated our 3rd anniversary of taking over Distant Hills Guest House, and what a ride it’s been! Always looking on the sunnier side of life, we’ll gloss over the ‘P’ word and focus on the positives. Above all, we’d like to say a huge thank...
How to Do a Day Trip Around Loch Ness
by Dani Mackinnon | Jul 2, 2022
There are so many options for things to see and do, here are some of our favourites. Firstly, we suggest driving around Loch Ness in an anti-clockwise direction. As you drive into the pretty and popular village of Fort Augustus, turn right onto the B862 road. The road...
Our Spring Newsletter from the Scottish Highlands
by Dani Mackinnon | Mar 20, 2022
Spring is in the air and we’re looking forward to welcoming you back to Distant Hills Guest House in the stunning Scottish Highlands. To celebrate Easter week, we are opening a week earlier than anticipated and are introducing a limited Special Offer – stay for 3...
Jacobite Steam Train
by Dani Mackinnon | Mar 18, 2022
Many of our guests book to stay at Distant Hills Guest House to take a trip of a lifetime on the nearby Jacobite Steam Train. The train journey starts in Fort William and travels on an 84-mile round trip through breathtaking scenery past the UK’s most westerly train...
Distant Hills Guest House – Winners of Four in a Bed
by Dani Mackinnon | Mar 4, 2022
Thank you for all you messages, emails, calls and support! We Won!!! What a competition and what a finale!! We could not be happier and more proud of the result. The competition was so close in every way – in our eyes we are all winners! We had so much fun doing the...
Distant Hills Guest House on Four in a Bed
by Dani Mackinnon | Feb 1, 2022
We always said we’d never do it… Go on Four in a Bed that is! We’d watched the Channel 4 TV show once or twice before, but if we’re honest, we didn’t like how catty some of the competitors could be and neither of us enjoy conflict. Then late one Friday afternoon in...
Walking Holidays at Distant Hills
by Dani Mackinnon | Jan 11, 2022
Walking Holidays & Adventure in the West Scottish Highlands If want to know a little more about our Distant Hills Walking Holidays and what’s involved, this blog article will give you a useful overview. It tells the story of our moderate level walking holiday...
Five Places You Must Visit When You Stay in Spean Bridge
by Dani Mackinnon | Jun 14, 2021
So much to see and do in the Central Highlands If you do a simple Google search on places to visit in Spean Bridge, you get a great choice of different activities that you can do such as take a ride on the Jacobite Steam Train or the Nevis Mountain gondola, kayak,...
Buachaille Etive Beag
by Dani Mackinnon | Jun 1, 2021
A fabulous ridge walk in Glen Coe with superlative views With fewer guests to look after towards the end of the season, Cameron and I will head out into the hills at any given opportunity. With Glencoe being less than a 40-minute drive away from Distant...
Why you should visit Spean Bridge in 2021!
by Dani Mackinnon | Apr 26, 2021
A Picture Paints a Thousand Words When you fall in love with a place, it can be difficult to describe to others what makes it so special. It is the same for us when we try to convey to potential visitors the sheer beauty and magic of the Scottish Highlands. We...
The Commando Memorial & High Bridge Trail
by Dani Mackinnon | Mar 11, 2021
Discover Spean Bridge's fascinating history and visit its most popular attraction! Whether you are staying in Spean Bridge, or simply passing through, a visit to the iconic Commando Memorial is an absolute must. You don’t have to have any military connections to feel...
The Mighty Stob Ban and Mullach nan Coirean
by Dani Mackinnon | Jul 15, 2020
Walking in the Highlands The Mighty Stob Ban and Mullach nan Coirean – a fantastic alternative to the ‘Ring of Steall’ walk With our re-opening date of 15th July looming ever closer, Cameron and I were eager to squeeze in another new hill walk amidst all...
A 6-night stay in our cosy 4-star accommodation in Spean Bridge, with 4 days of expertly guided walks and delicious breakfasts, lunches and evening meals are all part of the package.