March 2024 by Tim Colebrook
I would highly recommend this hotel. We had the most perfect 3 night stay with a warm welcome ,friendly staff , and superb food. It was quiet and our rooms were upgraded without asking. Rooms are very good with superb showers. Heating is easily controlled. We would love to go
January 2024 by paul anderson
A great place to stay at New Year. Rooms are cosy with quality fittings. Food, locally sourced is presented well and very tasty, although lacks colour. Tried and enjoyed unfamiliar dishes. Breakfast very good. Good choice of wines and spirits. Excellent common rooms for relaxing and oodles of books to discover. Wonderful views of surrounding area and a relatively short walk to the town centre. Good parking. Very pleasant and helpful staff.
November 2023 by Cory Robertson
Absolutely the best! Fiona and Nigel have curated a fantastic home that is not only wonderful to stay in, but a dining experience like none other. Across 2 nights we ate some of the best steaks I have ever had in my life. All in this little home.You HAVE to eat here. While you're at it, enjoy their kickass bar with a wonderful selection of beers and spirits. Stay here too. Forever.Rooms: Small but exceptional. En suite bathroom with separate shower and bathtub.Food & drinks: The food rivaled some of the best I've ever had in my life. Fantastic chefs!
October 2023 by Deborah
What an amazing hotel. A hidden gem. We celebrated my friends birthday, and stayed for one night at the weekend, during our visit from London. The food was amazing, rooms clean and cosy. So beautifully decorated throughtout. The staff were welcoming. Would definately recommend and will be visiting again.
October 2023 by David Gordon
A wonderful hidden gem at the gateway to The Highlands. Beautiful rooms, engaged and efficient owners who could not have been more pleasant. Excellent staff and wonderful food - what else is there?! Highly recommend Darroch
October 2023 by Jason
Elegant dining experience with many courses to mix and match. Filet steak was not as tender as I'm used to in North America but very full of flavor and delicious. Trout, bisque, and salmon were stand out options. As well as desert.
September 2023 by Peter Sklarew
This is just for dinner at the restaurant in early August; we did not stay there. It is too bad that Google does not give separate review options for hotels with good restaurants. The restaurant was really great. Food was excellent. The setting, in a glass-enclosed room, was very nice. Service was good.
August 2023 by Elisabeth Ashworth
Great place, very kind and efficient staff. We stayed in a room facing the highlands hills : fantastic sunset ! A little expensive but for one night in the highlands, worth it ! Thanks a lot for a (surely) great souvenir.
August 2023 by PeteEdinburgh7
We stayed at the Darroch Learg for a couple nights during a trip round NE Scotland. It's a small traditional hotel that has been attractively refurbished to a high standard both in the rooms and the public areas. It is located on a beautiful forested hillside setting on the outskirts of the village of Ballater. The village centre is within easy walking distance. The restaurant serves fine dining standard food, but with limited choices due to the small size of the venue. Breakfasts were good, with various freshly cooked options. There was good use of local produce on the menu, and in the bar drinks. The staff were very pleasant and professional, and were particularly helpful arranging an early breakfast for us when we wanted to leave early for a big day of hillwalking. A good place to stay to explore Deeside. Features: free parking, EV charging, lift/elevator, bar, lounge, restaurant
August 2023 by Scot211
Delicious dinner. Trout, steak and a range of cheeses washed down by a Sancerre. A very pleasant dining room with a lovely lounge. Definitely worth it. Lovely unobtrusive staff. Don?t miss this treat. They just need to purchase a Tomintoul for the bar!
July 2023 by 303AngelaH
We recently booked this hotel for four nights. Our fairly small double room was well furnished in a contemporary style and had the added terrace which helped to expand the space. We were initially impressed with the relaxed style and nice touches such as elegant lounges which flowed into a conservatory dining room. However the hotel has faults, the dinner in the evening was a no choice single dish per course menu, for the four dinners we had duck in some form or another was the only option. This basic menu at 55 pounds per head is the only justification for an extensive overpriced wine list and extortionately priced cocktails. Ballater is a beautiful highland village and the location of this hotel high on a hill is unsurpassed for extensive views of the countryside that surrounds it. As a result they seemed quite busy. It is then such a pity that the ownen's find it necessary to extract as much money from guests as possible.
July 2023 by emilyj623
Our tour guide, Calum, from Bothies & Bannocks recommended we stay here and he was spot on. A truly lovely hotel run by equally lovely people. Our room was very comfortable with an excellent view and our dinner and breakfast was also excellent.
July 2023 by Russell C
We loved staying at Darroch Learg and Nigel and Fiona are wonderful hosts. We arrived in time for dinner which was outstanding - among the best meals we had in Scotland. The family room was perfect for our family of four and the surroundings are beautiful and quiet (note that at least in our rooms a tiny key on the window sill is used to open the windows - we did wish we had figured that out earlier to enjoy fresh mountain air while we slept). Breakfast was just as good and we were well positioned for our visit to nearby Balmoral Castle. An excellent place to stay in the Cairngorms.
July 2023 by Road733703
We hadn?t been to the Darroch Learg for many years, but returned on the 5th of July. It certainly won?t be as long before we return. The hotel is beautifully decorated, very comfortable and peaceful. Nigel and Fiona are wonderful hosts, and nothing too much bother. The restaurant is lovely, and the food delicious. We would thoroughly recommend it.
July 2023 by davidjV5746HJ
Went for dinner in early July. Excellent hotel and restaurant. Food, service and ambiance all excellent. Personal service and attention to detail. Lovely hotel, care and attention has been lavished on this property and we would choose this over the competition for our next stay
