The Falls - Value Rooms at Aultnagar Estate

The owner was friendly and helped us find our key. This isn’t a modern place, but it’s beautiful and well kept. Our room in the old estate house was spacious and comfortable, with lots of windows and a fantastic view over the Highlands. The bed was cosy and we slept really well. There’s a nearby kitchen with cooking facilities and a fridge. We didn’t need to cook, but it looked like it had everything you’d need. We only stayed one night, though we’d have been happy to stay longer.

Our room was huge and very clean, with a comfortable four-poster bed and two cosy sofas where we could sit with a book and enjoy the view. The hotel is historical and beautiful, with stunning scenery. It’s dated, but full of character, and I loved it. We got into the room with a locked keybox and didn’t see any staff during our two-night stay, so I can’t comment on the service. There’s no TV, but with that view we didn’t need one. Bottled water is supplied because the water is full of peat and unsafe to drink, though it’s OK for bathing and the toilet; toiletries are provided. There’s a bath with an overhead shower and plenty of hot water. I would’ve given it 4.5 stars, but there wasn’t a kettle in the room for hot drinks, which was a shame. Pastries and juice were provided on our first night. We slept well and enjoyed the stay, though the missing kettle let it down. Keep an eye out for peacocks, one came to our window!

The view from one of our rooms was great, and there’s a small kitchen for making something to eat. But this place could be grand and is now old, with the bathrooms especially needing a refurb. We booked two rooms, and for no obvious reason one had no running hot water. We were told the water supply may have harmful bacteria and shouldn’t be used for drinking or brushing teeth. We stayed in six places on our NC500 trip, and this was the most disappointing, as well as the most expensive.

The bedroom was magnificent, the view beautiful, and the peace and quiet unreal. There were no staff anywhere that we could see, and the water had peat mixed in. No kettle or TV in the bedroom either. We drove up the very long driveway to The Falls rooms and were surprised by the grand old facade. The building is old and grand, and there were two freshly cut stag’s heads left in carrier bags by the wall in the car park. I’m giving it a neutral three stars because it’s the sort of place you either love or loathe, and I’m right in the middle. I’d probably return as a treat. It’s a very unique place with its own acquired charm.