Two days on Arran in January

As it was January when we went to Arran, there weren't as many options for accommodation as there might have been, so we ended up at the Belvedere guesthouse. When I say ended up, it makes it sound like it was an awful place, but I guarantee it wasn't. I use that term because we don't normally go for Bed and Breakfast or Guest Houses, particularly for stays of more than one night. I always feel as though I am in someone else house, and we have had some not-so-good experiences of B&Bs.

Anyway, the Belvedere was open and the owner, Chris Attkins, was very helpful on the phone and soon we had booked our room for three nights. We chose the double room without en suite and, this being the quiet season, we paid only £50 a night for two.

The guesthouse is in a big semi-terraced house with a small garden and off-street parking for one or two cars. On arrival, Chris was there to welcome us and, having inquired about our trip, he helped us with our bags to the room.

The room was a decent size and spotlessly clean, there was a nice tea and coffee tray with herbal teas and biscuits and, if the décor of the room wasn’t exactly my taste, it wasn’t offensive in any way. There was a washbasin in the room with the bathroom just across the landing, and there was a separate toilet which means during our whole stay we didn't have to wait for the bathroom once. The bed was firm and comfortable. There were two bins so that recyclable materials could be collected, an easy thing to implement, but it was the first time I had seen it done.

On our bed was a breakfast menu, and we were able to make our choice that evening for the next morning. The choice was great as, on top of the traditional Scottish Breakfast, one could pick from an array of other goodies. I picked pancakes and fruit and my husband went for the full Scottish. The dining room has a great view over the bay and it’s a good place to see the weather coming and try to guess what it’s going to be like that day. One nice touch was that whoever was serving breakfast that day would introduce newcomers to the other guests, and it was all done very naturally and soon people would be exchanging tips on the best places to visit or eat at. My husband's cooked breakfast was the best one he had ever had in any hotel and my pancakes were lovely. All the while, our hosts were very attentive but not in-your-face, which I think sums up the way they look after guests. They are always at hand with information and advice of where to eat and what to see, but also very discreet.

All in all we were delighted with our stay in the Belvedere.