Lochalsh

A lovely stop on a Highland tour, with the train station and bus stop right beside it. There are food options only a two minute walk away, too. Our room had lovely views and plenty of charm. The new management are making real progress, and they were friendly and welcoming.

The bed was almost brand new, which was a plus, and the place was reasonably clean. The rest of the hotel is in pretty poor shape and really needs a complete overhaul. It's fairly expensive, though still cheaper than the other places nearby, and that price difference makes sense. Service was OK, but breakfast was disappointing and didn't seem fresh. I'd only stay here on a budget if there were no other options.

After one night we left, even though there weren't other places nearby, and had to scramble to another city to find somewhere safe. We had booked three nights, but the Lochalsh Hotel turned out to be the worst travel experience of my life. It looked abandoned and crumbling, nothing like the online photos. Outside, the walls were rotting and covered in mold. Inside, ceilings were collapsing, the air smelled of mold and animal urine, and there was blood on the pillow in our room. The place felt uninhabitable, filthy and unsafe, and I felt our health was at risk. The people running it seemed to have no hospitality experience and didn't seem to care about guests or basic safety. When I asked for a refund, they refused despite the conditions. It felt like fraud. I never got a refund from the hotel or Booking.com. The Lochalsh Hotel is a scam, a danger, and an insult to anyone unlucky enough to book it. I'll report it to the health authorities because I believe it's an obvious breach of basic health and safety standards. If your health, money, or peace of mind matter to you, don't book this hotel. It shouldn't be allowed to operate. Avoid it at all costs.

I went outside for some air shortly after 11pm and found myself locked in. The main entrance had been locked from inside, so if there were a fire, nobody could get out. I reported it to the council and the Health and Safety Executive and hope they take action before there's a serious tragedy. The room smelled stale, damp and moldy. The shower was in a bathtub with a disgusting curtain, and something was growing on the bathroom floor where water had leaked down the side of the bath. In the hallways, there were tiles that looked broken and like they might be falling asbestos tiles. Outside was a mess, with rubbish everywhere and cigarette butts all around the front door because there was no ashtray. This place is a health and safety hazard and needs to be closed down. Do not stay here. It's very dangerous.