Manor Views

The conservatory was my favourite spot: I settled into a comfy leather couch with a couple of books from the local St John op shop while rain tapped outside. I’d come down to Huntly by train for an overnight digital detox, carrying only a basic phone, and it turned out to be just what I needed. Seriously the best. I’d happily come back for another bit of time away, maybe every year, and I hope the train through Huntly keeps running. Manor Views is a country hotel in a converted maternity hospital. The conversion is well done, though it has the little imperfections you’d expect in a place with character. That’s part of what makes it feel so warm and cosy.

We had a lovely view, comfortable beds and great service. The building is beautiful and has good vibes, and it used to be a maternity hospital. The kids especially wanted to mention how much they loved the spa bath!

The hosts were courteous and gracious, and there’s a peaceful feeling through the place. Manor Views has loads of charm and character, with a bit of magic to it. If you want a clinically flawless stay, go to the Hilton; if you’re happy to step into something a little like Narnia, this is the place. It made a perfect quick retreat from Auckland. I’d recommend the nearby lake walk, too. Huntly doesn’t have many reasons to stop, but this is one.

We booked the honeymoon suite with the four-poster bed and spa for a romantic getaway. The place is beautiful to look at, but there are problems beneath that. The oil heater barely warmed the room, the old electric blankets had dodgy wiring, and the bed was hard enough that we woke with sore backs. It was advertised as soundproof, but it wasn’t. The spa leaked badly and flooded the bathroom. We spent an hour mopping up after using it, and the clothes we’d taken off got soaked. There was already damage near floor level, so it seemed this had happened before. With no dry towels left, we couldn’t shower in the morning. When we told the owner, he said it had happened previously. No refund, even partial, was offered; we were only told we might get a discount if we stayed again. We won’t be back. They also have an “ecofriendly” policy of not washing bedding for five days, and encourage longer stretches and towel reuse. The owner was difficult to communicate with, though calm, and later texted an apology for our terrible stay.