Claremont House B B

The quiet location meant Anne and I slept well, and breakfast was excellent. Tom is a perfect host, and Christine is lovely too. We stayed at the claremont guest house for the second time and it didn’t disappoint. Looking forward to coming back. Mark

The location is very quiet, with easy transport connections. We’ve stayed in some of the best B&Bs here: the room was charming, with interesting furniture, a large comfortable bed, and it was clean. The shower was excellent, and the dehumidifier was a clever touch. Breakfast was a really good buffet.

We were woken at 6.00am by drilling in the hall right outside our room. It was deafening, around 90 decibels, and went on for half an hour without any explanation or apology. Later, we were ticked off for missing breakfast, though I’d never said we would come down. After being woken by industrial level noise at the crack of dawn, I didn’t appreciate being grumbled at. Getting into the place was a struggle too: we had to phone the owner and wait in the drizzle for someone to open the door, then were given the wrong room. Only when we arrived were we told there was no wifi. The owner asked if I wanted a whiskey, then poured it for me in a separate room where I couldn’t see them. I chose to think it was carelessness rather than ill intent, but it was still a bad look. My partner had mild food poisoning, and the owner suggested maybe he could “examine” her later. Then he handed me a loose handful of pills for her with his bare hands. I’m not suggesting bad intentions, but it was a very weird thing to say and do. My partner didn’t feel comfortable alone in the room, and honestly, I’m not sure I did either. This was late last year. We’d only wanted somewhere comfortable and low key. In retrospect we’ve chosen to find the experience funny, but at the time it was creepy and seriously unpleasant. If you’ve seen the League of Gentlemen TV show from the late 90s, you’ll understand the vibe. Dreadful on every level that counts.

Tom, the owner of Claremont House B&B, made us feel at home straight away. He was welcoming, helpful, and inviting, and had delicious hot tea ready when we arrived. The house had a cosy, romantic feel. Our room was spacious, clean, and comfortable, and breakfast was freshly prepared that morning with vegetarian and traditional Scottish options. I’d gladly stay again and recommend it to anyone.