Fonab Castle Hotel

We’ve been to Fonab Castle twice now, and it was exceptional again. The concierge were outstanding, especially an older guy from Kirkcaldy who goes out of his way for guests and even chats with them at breakfast. He was just as helpful on our last visit. Our five-star room had a nice selection of treats set out for us. Dinner at the 1892 was excellent, possibly one of the best meals I’ve ever had.

The hotel and its surroundings are lovely, and I enjoyed my visit. I also loved the spa and pool, a big plus, and the woman working there was very pleasant. The staff tried hard to give the impression of a higher-class hotel. Our woodland lodge was nice, though it smelled odd when we walked in and was really cold at first. It warmed up once we turned on the radiators. There’s no air conditioning, so when the room gets hot, the only way to cool it is with a small £5 fan, which was disappointing. It was a nice enough room, but based on how much I travel, I don’t think it was worth what we paid for the night. The bar was another disappointment. I ordered a Joker IPA that I buy at Tescos for £1.70 and was charged £9, plus 15% service charge, so £10.50 for a small amount. I understand prices are higher at a nice hotel, but I’d expect better quality products. The 15% service charge didn’t feel great either. The price wasn’t listed on the menu, and to be fair, I should have asked, but I never thought it would cost that much. I was also annoyed to find a charity charge on my bill for saving trees. I would have been fine with it if someone had asked first, and I would have paid it. I’d recommend visiting if you get a deal, and I might consider returning with a discount, but I’d have to think hard about paying full price compared with other hotels. Keep up the good work, and revisit the prices. You might get more volume instead of pushing high margins. If you charge premium prices, the products and food need to be top notch, not just because you class yourself as a high-class hotel.

The location worked really well for us, close to hiking, not far from downtown, and conveniently near the train. Our room was spacious and comfortable, with an amazing view. The amenities were fantastic, especially the pool, and the food was delicious. Staff were attentive and incredibly friendly. We had a great stay.

Great walks around the loch and into Pitlochry made this a lovely Christmas break. Breakfast and dinner in the restaurant were fantastic, and the staff were superb and attentive. It was perfect from start to finish. I’d highly recommend booking a castle room for the authentic castle feel. Can’t wait to go back.