Remote Glen Clova is the Perfect Scottish Retreat and Wedding Venue

In the heart of the Cairngorms National Park is a remote valley called Glen Clova, where the Glen Clova Hotel & Lodges is located. Considering only one road leads into the miles-long valley, the hotel could easily be considered one of the most remote in Scotland. If you’re looking for some tranquility or the perfect venue not too far from Edinburgh, Glen Clova is the ideal choice.

Glen Clova Valley

Glen Clova is a valley in the southeastern corner of the Cairngorms National Park, one of the two National Parks in Scotland. You can reach Glen Clova by traveling north on the B955 from a village called Kirriemuir. The entire valley is owned by one Scottish laird, Hugh Niven, who maintains his family’s farms and lands that go back generations.

At the end of the B955 (or rather, where it loops back to Kirriemuir), you’ll find the Glen Clova Hotel & Luxury Lodges. The hotel has 10 rooms, plus 13 lodges, as well as a restaurant and bar. Considering the B955 is not a through road to anywhere, the hotel is very remote.

To put it into perspective, the hotel is only 15 miles south by southwest of Balmoral Castle, the beautiful estate in the heart of the Cairngorms that Queen Victoria purchased in the mid-19th century. Well, it’s 15 miles as the crow flies. That’s a two-hour drive, as you’d have to drive south out of Glen Clova, and then around the mountains to the castle.

Hiking in Glen Clova

The main attraction in Glen Clova is the fantastic scenery. If you go to the end of B955, where the Glen Clova Hotel is, you’ll find a single-track road leading about three more miles to a car park (parking lot). This is where some of the best hiking trails start. Unfortunately, Vanesa isn’t a fan of hiking, so I only got the drone up for some shots of the beginning of the trail.

The main hike is to the Corrie Fee National Nature Reserve, about two miles away from the car park. If you want even more stunning scenery, you can hike north over the mountains to Loch Muick. The landscape is comparable to Glencoe, just even more beautiful and without a single tourist.

Staying at the Glen Clova Hotel & Lodges

The Glen Clova Hotel opened its doors in 1850 as the Ogilvy Arms Hotel. Over nearly two centuries, the hotel has expanded several times, and as of May 2025, it has added a large wedding and events venue. A small team of friendly staff manages the hotel, all of whom stay nearby on the family estate, so they’re always on hand to help with things.

Vanesa and I stayed in one of the hotel’s ten rooms for two nights. I would describe the room as simple and rustic. The bed was comfortable with some really nice linens, we had basic amenities such as a coffee maker and kettle for tea, a small table to work at (although the spaces downstairs were far more comfortable for working), and a rather modern bathroom with a large, walk-in shower.

Sadly, we didn’t get a chance to stay in one of the lodges, which come with a hot tub. Then again, we visited on what was the hottest day of the year so far in Scotland, so wild swimming was a better idea than a hot tub. Of course, if you’re visiting in the colder months (most of the year), definitely try to secure one of the lodges and enjoy the beautiful, serene nighttime in the hot tub.

Meals at Glen Clova

I was particularly impressed by the quality of the food at the Glen Clova Hotel. As mentioned earlier, they source most of their products locally from their farm or other nearby farms.

You can choose to eat in the bothy, the bar, or the restaurant, which is where the breakfast service is available. The hotel’s breakfast is fairly standard, but the new lunch and dinner menus have some fantastic options.

For lunch, I had venison-loaded chips while Vanesa had a Scotch egg. The Scotch egg was good (even if it was invented in England, not Scotland), but the loaded fries were on another level. Every year, the government requires crofters (farmers) to cull the deer herds, as they are now overpopulated. As such, venison, along with pheasant, is a highlight on the Glen Clova menu.

Dinner was even better. I went with the beer-battered chicken goujons (chicken strips) with sweet chili sauce. They just might have been the best chicken strips ever. After all, battered fish is usually better than breaded. Vanesa chose the signature 12-hour slow-cooked, locally sourced blade of beef, and wouldn’t stop raving about how it was one of the best steaks she’s had in ages.

As much as I wanted to try the sticky toffee pudding for dessert, we were completely stuffed from dinner. In the end, we simply shared an Eton Mess—Scottish style—with local berries, Scottish whipped cream (called squirty cream locally), and shortbread. We’ll just have to get the sticky toffee pudding next time.

The Perfect Wedding Venue

This month, Glen Clova Hotel completed its new event venue for weddings, parties, and more. The space holds nearly 200 guests and can be configured for a variety of settings, including a dance hall, a banquet, etc. The hotel also has a church across the street that you can rent (at a very low cost) to have your wedding. I met a couple at the hotel who were there trying the wines in preparation for their wedding later this year.

If Vanesa and I didn’t already have plans to get down to Argentina in the near future to have our wedding at a winery in Mendoza, I could easily see us having our wedding at Glen Clova. It’s just a bit far for us to get our families from Argentina and the U.S.

Further Reading

For more information about Edinburgh and Scotland, make sure to check out the rest of my Scotland articles.