Lochinvar House B&B

Marina was the highlight of our stay. She was busy with a house full of guests, yet always made time for a chat and a laugh, and kept us comfortable. Her breakfasts were fantastic too. The house has plenty of old world charm, from its high ornate ceilings and roaring wood fires to the old furniture and pictures. We spent two nights here and loved wandering the halls and grounds, or just sitting by the fire with a book. It does need some TLC. There’s peeling paint, holes and cracks in places, and the gardens need investment to bring them back to their former glory. It feels like a lot for one caretaker to manage. Still, the place suited us perfectly, and we’re already planning to return with friends and book the whole house. Thanks, Marina!

Marina made us feel so welcome. We stayed in the gorgeous detached two-bedroom cottage and got a sneak peek at the main house, which dates back to 1830 something and is full of history. It needs some TLC, but the location is fantastic for a large group. The pub is five minutes away, though we brought our own food for a feast. Highly recommended.

Our only regret is that we couldn’t stay longer. Even one night at Lochnivar House made our Hunter trip so much better. My two friends and I stayed in the cottage, which used to be the servants’ quarters. I was concerned it might be cold, but every room had an oil heater and I stayed warm. The rooms felt authentic and original, and the setting was secluded and peaceful. Georgie, one of our wonderful hosts, went above and beyond and offered to drive us to and from the wedding we were attending ten minutes down the road. We stayed late and had breakfast at 10am, after the other guests had left, and that was no trouble at all. The main house is stunning, a proper old colonial home. We had a fabulous time.

The house has a lovely historic feel, and you can really see its history. Our room was clean, as was most of the house, though the kitchen could have been much cleaner. The owners weren’t there to look after us; two young uni students were running things instead. Fair play to them, they seemed to be doing a decent job while putting themselves through uni. Still, it was the first B&B I’ve stayed at where the owners didn’t run the property. B&Bs feel more homely when they’re presented as homes, rather than just somewhere to sleep for a night. It wasn’t bad, but could have been much better.