Glenesk

The staff were lovely and couldn't do enough for us. We had a one-night dinner, bed and breakfast stay. The food was nice, the breakfast was great, and the lamb I had was amazing. They also have a great whisky selection. Be aware that practically every main course has a surcharge, so we paid an extra £30 for food. It wasn't the end of the world, but it felt a bit like a budget airline. The spa is limited, and you need to let them know if you want to use the sauna. The pool has very shallow ends and sides, making it much smaller for swimming, so you could really only swim backstroke. Our room was cold because of a small gap in the window, which also let road traffic noise through. The bed was lovely, though.

The staff were very friendly, and the bar had a great whisky selection, but we wouldn't stay again. The hotel feels like it's trying to recreate a bygone era, and there's a musty carpet smell as soon as you walk in. Our room had the same smell, the bed was uncomfortable, and the shower took ages to heat up. It only had a half door, so water got everywhere. Breakfast wasn't anything special. Hot food had to be ordered the night before, though cold cereal and toast were available.

The fireworks were excellent, and the food was too. The piper was good, though he played for too long. I went to the Hogmanay night on my own and was seated at a table alone for dinner, which I wasn't happy about. I spoke to some other couples, and they invited me to join them. There were large tables set up for the disco next door, and I think the meal should have been in there.

We ate at Fairways Brasserie & Grill twice during a recent stay in Edzell. Both meals were wonderful, with exceptional food and service, and they were great value too. Thank you for two lovely dining experiences.