August 2025 by Ce Fe
Visited the gardens - they are partnered with the RHS, but the website also indicates they do garden tours. The gardens are separated into different areas - an arboretum, walled vegetable garden,cutting garden, ornamental greenhouse with exotic plants, brook side garden, terraced garden. Each area was immaculate and plenty of the plants are labelled for identification. The Gardeners were friendly and helpful. Well worth a visit
July 2025 by Viven Milne
Visited for afternoon tea.
What a beautiful setting with immaculate grounds with outstanding views. We were welcomed by staff who were professional, experienced, and polite. The afternoon tea experience was well presented, with a selection of delicious sausage rolls, sandwiches, scones, and cakes served with a choice of coffee or tea. It was a wonderful experience from start to finish. Thank you again all at Douneside House
July 2025 by David Hill
What a beautiful place. We were well looked after. The food was excellent. As was the walking... we will be back!
July 2025 by Olwyn Craib
Arrived for the Garden Open Day. Thoroughly enjoyed it,very hot day. Will try a lunch very soon.
July 2025 by Nigel Huxtable
Downside is an exceptional hotel. The food is worth a stay alone suiting all tastes and dietary needs. An excellent cellar and tasting menu makes for a very special stay. The gardens are a hidden gem with produce from the kitchen garden included on the menu. Step outside the grounds for easy hikes to explore the local villages and historical remains. plenty of parking and space to enjoy privacy for a quiet read or wander to enjoy the views ofer the farmland and local hills or over to the cliffs of Lochnagar.
June 2025 by simon wilde
Great location for my mothers 90th birthday
June 2025 by Vanessa Velez
Douneside House was one of our favorite stays in Scotland! The staff were warm and welcoming, and the cottage was clean, comfortable and cozy. Breakfast was delicious, with a generous spread of both continental options and cooked dishes. What truly set the experience apart were the stunning gardens, relaxing pool, steam room, and hot tub at the health club? all of which made our visit exceptional. Delightful hospitality! Thank you!
May 2025 by Rosemary Davidson
Disappointingly stuffy and lacking in true class. Unfortunately the balance between hospitality provider and customer is geared strongly in the wrong direction with staff communicating in an extremely patronising and positively rude manner to prioritise meeting the needs of the hotel. I do appreciate that the rural setting must make it challenging to source high calibre staff but an establishment like Douneside should be able to make sure that senior staff act in a professional manner. Food and wine was good in areas but definitely not great overall.
April 2025 by Deborah Singleton
Regretfully not a residential stay , but would love to remedy this! However the hotel kindly loaned our family golf clubs to play at the nearby @Tarland golf course ,(-also throughly recommmend !) very helpful and friendly . House has great views !
March 2025 by Tony Foster
I stayed here for the third time on March 7 with three other friends. This place is ideal if like me, you enjoy nights away with a touch of homely comforts with some great service in a lovely setting.
We booked direct and opted to have dinner included option. We had pre-dinner drinks served by their wonderful sommelier, James. He?s a gentleman in the true sense of the word and his manner is perfect, truly compliments the hotel.
We ordered sea bass we my friends found to be ok, I had pheasant which once lovely. Breakfast was lovely and our server, Josh was attentive bringing me boiled eggs with soldiers which was really funny.
Unfortunately, I do have two issues which surprised me, first the shower in room 5 was dreadful, really no pressure, however for me, the most upsetting issue was the restaurant manager, I didn?t find his sense of humour very becoming. I quietly approached him at the pre-dinner drinks and said excuse me, his reply, your excused! I?m a guest in the hotel and this is how you reply to a guest? This wasn?t just an isolated situation, they were several remarks throughout the night. Particularly disappointing.
Other than these two points, this is a lovely location with a really sad backstory which is now helping many people. I?ll leave it up to you to find out more as it?s really worth a visit.
March 2025 by Scotty J
Didn?t stay so can?t rate the rooms but the service and location were fabulous. Highly recommend the Afternoon tea and can only imagine all dining options are great.
January 2025 by ken mathieson
Great atmosphere at the hotel, staff very knowledgeable and helpful. The tasting menu with wine a perfect meal.
January 2025 by Anti Wedding Wedding DJs
Lovely place for a wedding. Great for photos and the conservatory was perfect for the evening reception party.
January 2025 by rafe welsh
Incredible gym and spa. Day passes are good value
December 2024 by Diane Duncan
On a return visit with friends who had not been before - it did not disappoint ?? superb food and facilities.
