Melville Castle Hotel

I wish I could rate Melville Castle higher. We just stayed there last night. It is gorgeous, the whole thing is beautiful. Restaurant was perfection. But, the main point of a hotel is sleeping, which was terrible. There was a wedding booked. For some reason they placed us in a room facing the tented outdoor wedding party that lasted until midnight. I included a pic of the view from our room. The music and laughing was so loud, we could hear every word to every song.(Yes, our window was was closed.) I will admit to liking their choice of music, but it was our 15th day in Scotland touring and we were wiped out. We had just dropped our kids and granddaughter off at the airport. And were looking forward to a quiet night together to celebrate my husband's 65th birthday. Out of our whole trip, this is by far the most expensive hotel we stayed in. We paid 352 pounds or $468. That is a lot for us! It was a splurge. But, all the noise ruined the relaxing birthday I had planned. I called down and asked for a room change, but the hotel was booked full. I ended up putting ear plugs in, and my headphones over that. Was not comfortable, but I could fall asleep that way. I asked why they don't put people not in the wedding party on the other side of the hotel, and I was told that they just don't do that. I cannot recommend staying here, even though I liked everything else so much. If you want to risk it, try to make sure there isn't a wedding going on. All I can say is Melville Castle must be pretty desperate for money to take our $468 and then place us right next to a wedding party. Pathetic.

We spent 2 days and 2 nights in this intimate little castle. Very good welcome and overall the staff is warm and up to the task (perhaps less so for the restaurant, efforts need to be made). Our duplex suite was impeccable and our 11-year-old grandson slept downstairs in his space..perfect. The bar is very warm, the appetizers and a meal taken were pleasant, friendly staff. The whisky tasting is a must-do, my husband enjoyed it. Slightly disappointed by the restaurant, even though the food was good. The service lacked warmth and was very slow even though we were with an 11-year-old child; more than 30 minutes to take the order and therefore 50 minutes to see the dish arrive.., also a shame about the prohibitively priced bread (even though we were starving) which we did not have in the other castle hotels. That was the only downside. Perfect bedding, large bed, housekeeping up to par. The breakfast..the best of our Scottish stay.. the service of the maître d'hôtel was perfect and everything one could desire. The best part of the hotel: the bus to Edinburgh at the castle gates, a treat. Perhaps for families like us with a teenager..offering a game of croquet or badminton in the park would have surely made us stay one more day. I recommend it nonetheless because this place has many assets, including the quiet after days of excursions.

Melville Castle left a highly favorable impression. It distinguishes itself not merely as a mansion, but as an authentic and aesthetically pleasing castle, complemented by a magnificent estate and a rich historical background. Our junior suite, while more compact than other accommodations, was particularly appealing due to its antique furnishings, an opulent desk, and an elaborately ornate mirror. The corridors possessed a distinctive charm, and the breakfast room offered picturesque views of the meadows. The traditional English bar also contributed to the overall ambiance. The breakfast service was excellent, with the added convenience of à la carte options. We also thoroughly enjoyed the dinner experiences, both in the main restaurant and the bistro. Access to Edinburgh was remarkably convenient via bus route 3, which is located a short distance from the estate and provides direct access to key attractions within the city, with a total travel time of approximately 45-50 minutes, including walking. This was truly a remarkable experience. We extend our gratitude to Valentina for her insightful tour and detailed information about the castle, and to Andreas, for the kindliness.