Macbeth Arms

We had a great night’s sleep, and our two dogs settled in really well. The room was clean and fairly priced, with a huge, comfortable bed and pillows. The pub was quiet enough on Saturday night, and the landlord and the customers I spoke with were friendly. The small village bar had a reasonable selection, and the IPA was a treat. There’s no food or breakfast at the pub, but that was fine: the landlord suggested a few nearby places to eat in or get takeaway, all a few minutes’ drive away. The village also has a tea room and convenience store, plus brilliant dog walks and a playing field. We were travelling in Scotland at short notice when a local man in another village recommended the pub. I called and got a friendly answer and a room for the night. I’d definitely stay again if I’m in the area, and recommend the pub and accommodation to family, friends or anyone needing somewhere to stay.

My colleague and I were lucky to find this lovely, cosy place for two nights. We felt warmly welcomed into the local community and enjoyed the interesting balance of Scottish and British culture. The village reminded us of our own Saxon village of 300 people, and it just felt right. No wonder we clicked so well.

The beds were so comfortable that we slept like logs, and in the morning breakfast was already laid out for us. We were told we could come down at any time, which was brilliant. We’d come to visit Craigivar Castle and arrived at 16.15pm, only to find the hotel opened at 5pm. We worried it might not open at all, then returned around 6pm after finding a great little bistro in Alford, about 7 miles away. The hotel looked freshly refurbished, with everything new and fresh. We were the only guests that night and were given a key to the front door. Room access used a security keycode, so there was no key card to carry around.

Loved my stay at this little hotel in rural Aberdeenshire, and I’ll definitely return. The countryside around it is spectacular, the room was squeaky clean, the Wi-Fi was good, and the service was straightforward and fuss-free. A real gem. John C.