Barcelo Stirling Highland

I’d asked for extras for a special occasion and they’d confirmed them, but only one of the two was in the room when we arrived. Parking itself was fine, just register your car at reception as usual. The reception team were great and sorted out the extras quickly, but the room showed little care. The bathroom was disgraceful, with mould round the bath, peeling paint from the damp, and a broken fan with mould around it. The bedroom was missing the top of the bedside table. The bed was clean, but the pillows were extremely firm. The view was "urban": you could see straight into the pool or watch people taking bins out. Curtains ran along the whole wall, which made the tiny window a surprise when opened. There were only lamps, no proper lighting, so doing my make-up in the mirror was out of the question. We didn’t eat at the restaurant, but had drinks in the library. It had a strange, sad feel, with no music, just the TV. At breakfast the scrambled eggs were like plaster, and I saw staff blow crumbs off tables where food was left out for guests to take. The staff were reasonably okay, and reception resolved the issue I raised quickly, but I wouldn’t recommend staying here to anyone. I wish I’d gone back home.

The room was very good, the staff were friendly and the location was great. My only small complaint is that the inside door lock didn’t work. I told them and they said they’d contact maintenance, but it wasn’t fixed during our stay.

The restaurant service was excellent, with a lovely menu and very good food. Breakfast was a good buffet, freshly cooked and set out, with plenty of choice. Staff were friendly and attentive, and parking was good value at £10. It’s a picturesque old-style building in a central spot. The rooms are a bit dated, but clean and tidy, and just right for an overnight stay. Very good value for money. I’d stay again and recommend it.

We stayed on 13th January 2026. Beforehand, we called to say we’d have a toddler with us and needed a cot. It wasn’t in the room when we arrived, but housekeeping brought one over quickly. My main concern was that another guest was given a key to our room and got inside while we were there. I contacted reception, but they couldn’t explain it and only apologised. The beds weren’t very comfortable either. The location is ideal in the centre, close to the castle, pubs, restaurants and shops. Breakfast was a standard buffet and was good enough. Even so, I wouldn’t stay here again.