Dalhousie Castle

Our stay was booked through our travel agent, and given the appearance and presentation online, I had high expectations. I was wrong. We were contacted in advance regarding our expected arrival time (at least twice) to which we responded. When we arrived, we and all other guests who arrived either shortly before or after us were "invited to wait in the bar" and were left there for 2 hours, being told our rooms were not yet ready, despite being asked for our arrival time. If it were one room, it would be understandable, but at least 6 rooms of guests all "invited" to the bar to wait for an extended period? Either poor management or a deliberate effort to move people through the bar. We took one meal - and only one - at the Ramsey restaurant in the hotel, and with good reason. The restaurant was clean, and the food well prepared, but hardly worth the cost. I am not someone who expects large portions of food, but I do expect at least value for money. I was charged an exorbitant amount for what amounted to 5 popcorn shrimp and a small order of fries, while my wife's meal which cost less returned a generous portion of seafood linguini. Couple that with some of the wait staff who were difficult to understand and became visibly disgruntled that we did not wish to order wine, and our dining experience was hardly stellar. We did not dine at the castle again as nearby pubs and other restaurants were close enough, and provided better atmosphere and superior value and food. Then there were the castle grounds. We were not informed that the castle would be under refurbishment. I can always understand that maintenance is necessary, but like to be told. However, the condition of the worksite and the grounds was generally shocking. The main worksite had trash and other rubbish strewn about, not contained in bins or bags - freely blowing across the ground, while spools of cable and other large containers of materials were stored openly across different areas of the grounds - not to mention scaffolding which obscured a walkway in an extremely unsafe manner on a hillside behind the castle which we were made to walk around on the way to our lodgings. I want to say that I loved this place because it is, after all, a castle. The staff were helpful, knowledgeable, and in general were amazing. The rooms were clean, well-maintained, and comfortable. However, the overall experience was severely impacted by several obvious issues. It does look like they are making strong efforts to improve the facility and the overall experience, but there are some small things which could be done immediately to make vast improvements to both value and experience.

This was a magical experience. Even before we arrived, they called and personalized our visit. Then, once we arrived, we were treated like royalty. Everyone was kind and welcoming. The best of all was Ruaridh. He made our trip. He made us want to come back. I've traveled to countless countries and places to stay but he will forever stand out as top of the top. His demeanor and welcoming spirit made us feel at home right away. He helped us throughout our stay with a personal touch and indulged our windows questions about the castle and arranged a private tour. The guide, another castle worker named Sean (I think), gave us a wonderful tour and was clearly a master of the hospitality craft. We loved every minute we were there and hated to leave. We certainly want to come back! For those interested in history and paranormal this is a must visit!

This is pretty unique experience. The outside of the castle is classic, but the inside is all very modern and well updated. The falconry experience should not be missed - amazing birds and great Falconer to explain about the various birds of prey. The dungeon restaurant is pricy, but worth it - 7 or 9 courses of unique items.