March 2024 by Pam Chalmers
Wonderful food, reasonably priced. Breakfast exceptional.Would reccommend and stay again.
February 2024 by Mike Osborne
Did not go to this Hotel. I visited the village very nice and used the Milk & Honey cafe enjoyed a drink & quiche.
October 2023 by Eliza A
Quirky and welcoming hotel in the village centre. It is an old building and has a lot of character, which I loved. I didn't see a lift so maybe not suitable to those with accessibility concerns, best to check first. We stayed in a superior garden view room that was clean and spacious, but could use some updating and soundproofing, it was not a luxuriousroom. I think some of the hotels rooms have been redone and probably they will work their way through all of them at some point. But it was ok and wasn't very expensive by Dornoch standards. The restaurant was lovely, for both breakfast and dinner. The lounge bar is really cosy and a fun space to have a few drinks. The staff are fantastic, and really make the hotel an exceptional experience. They all seemed friendly and helpful and happy to be there. I hope they are treated well by management because great hospitality staff are worth their weight in gold!
October 2023 by Lawrence James
Staff very friendly and helpful. Standard rooms are a cheaply built block off the rear that are pretty shabby.
September 2023 by Sam5933
Dornoch Castle Hotel is definitely an old world charm about this hotel. We booked the Cathedral view room. This overlooks the main road and was quiet during our stay, despite having the window open. The room was big, and spacious and decorated in the character of the hotel. The bathroom was a bit dated with whirl pool system on the bath. Didn't use this but did use the shower but you had to climb into the bath (good water pressure on the shower). The toilet was nicely located in the turret which added a bit of quirkiness. Breakfast was OK but my eggs benedict could have done with more hollandaise. My wife's veggie breakfast we good though. The only other slight issue was the noise from passing guests as the room is on the 1st floor with a number of corridors leading off it and we did have a number of people filing past making a noise. Not the hotel fault but something to consider when choosing rooms.
September 2023 by Liz Kelly
Lovely hotel however we did expect a little more luxury. Our room was on the first floor, it was very small but comfortable but the light pendant was missing so all the wires were hanging loose and there was mould on the bathroom ceiling, most likely because there was no window. The bar is ok, not the best selection but plenty for the whisky lovers! The restaurant was unfortunately jam packed with a group of American tourists who were extremely loud and it kind of ruined our meal, however once they left we managed to chat and enjoy our cheese board and coffees. The staff are all lovely and attentive and couldn?t do enough for you, so we?ll done to everyone at Dornoch Castle Hotel
September 2023 by alistaih
wow what can we say this castle is great to stay in. Remember to get a castle room which will cost more but well worth the extra. Staff were great 110% always happy to help and take food orders with a smile. the staff are an asset to the company so polite and professional. great gardens to sit in in enjoy a drink.
September 2023 by I7347FDaprilw
Beautiful historical castle turned hotel. We had a lovely four poster bed. Mattresses & pillows hard as rocks. Would be lovely if they updated the mattresses & pillows. Otherwise breakfast was lovely and staff were accommodating. This is located directly across from the cathedral, so easily to walk to see. We also visited the shops next door and bought some beautiful wool jumpers & scarves. Great staff there, as well!
September 2023 by Jennifer Cormack
After waiting 45 minutes for my expensive fish it arrived cold. They did heat it again which didn't improve the flavour. I was offered a free coffee.
September 2023 by timchambola
We stayed here for one night during our NC500 road trip. The last time we were in Dornoch (20 years ago) we couldn't get a room here and were disappointed. Well, we were successful this time and were equally disappointed!! The managing director of this hotel is Mr Colin Thompson so I will send a separate private note to him but for this review, please note: - It's expensive - Rooms are damp and smell musty (corridors even worse) - Our room TV was minuscule! - Cheap uncomfortable bed - Exterior needs extensive attention (jet washing at least) - Food was pretty poor and expensive (explanation below) - Service was matronly! - Buildings are crumbling - The beer garden is scruffy - It was actually clean (ish) Food: This merits a more detailed review: Firstly, we arrived at around 15:00 and had a table booked for 20.30 that evening. We had had breakfast in Edinburgh but were a little peckish when we arrived. We stowed our luggage and found a table outside - the weather was glorious so we found a seat on the lawn outside. I went to the bar and asked if we could have a sandwich/bar snack - we couldn't, 'so sorry'! We went up the road to The Eagle and spent £50.00 0n drinks and toasted sandwiches! Then, dinner - oh my goodness, Caesar Salad - Warmed-up chicken, limp leaves and soggy croutons, one anchovy and a pressed, paper-thin piece of bacon? My chicken was so bland and just edible and my wife's langoustines were ok but just piled on the plate like a load of logs! The MD was very dictatorial, and reminded me of an old school mistress of mine! Breakfast was no better (my wife elected to miss it) and pretty tasteless. I will say that the server asked me if everything was ok and I replied, "just ok"! This place will always be full because of it's location and the wealth which comes into the village with the rich golfers and tourists. Why would they bother to attend to the basics? We won't return.
September 2023 by anoutsider
An excellent place to visit if you're into whisky. Great selection of drams at reasonable prices, with seats in front of a roaring fire. Heaven. Rooms also great and feels luxurious. Only downside was a slightly less impressive breakfast. Overcooked and uninspired, particularly compared to how good everything else is.
September 2023 by ge90
Not like previous castle hotel stays we have experienced. Not a luxury hotel. The Dornoch is quite idiosyncratic with its sloping bedroom floors, lack of a proper front entrance or reception, and the lack of useable wifi in our room. The beds were not in their prime. Big effort getting luggage up and down winding stairs with no elevator. The breakfast was a sort of 4 out of 10. We had certainly not experienced eggs Benedict like that before. Evening meal was undistinguished. We felt rather expensive for what you get. But Dornoch is a charming village and the Castle was rather fun in all its wonkiness. But only for 1 night, I would suggest.
August 2023 by HongKongPhooey69
Visited Dornoch Castle as a stop on our NC500 road trip. It was fantastic! The hotel itself was delightful, the staff were so welcoming and checking in was relaxed and we were in our room quickly. And what a room! It was a big room, with a really comfortable and enormous (super-king?) bed, with great views over the Castle gardens to the coast. We were supplied with real coffee, fruit tea and even sherry! The Castle itself is a really interesting rabbit?s warren of corridors and different levels. Whisky is the main focus of the bar, and there is a vast range to choose from, but the staff were very helpful with our pre-dinner wine selection too. We were able to enjoy it in the evening sun out in the garden. Dinner was excellent. We had venison for main course and the cheese board and puddings. Everything was perfectly cooked/ baked / presented. The Tain Creamery cheeses were fantastic and a real treat as they aren?t easy to get hold of! Breakfast was also excellent, and the staff coped admirably with the broken coffee machine. A lovely place to stay at the start of our holiday. We had a walk round Dornoch in the morning; visiting the museum and the beach. Definitely would pay a return visit to stay there.
August 2023 by GS157
This is a great old building. The staff were lovely although we were unfortunate in getting a noisy guest in the room next to ours, not the fault of the hotel. Breakfast was freshly made and we had our evening meal there, which was equally delicious. My negative comments are that the room needed a thorough clean; the corners hadn't been touched in a long time and it was very noticeable. The towels looked like they had been white in the last century with the bathmat actually stained.
August 2023 by Valentina Saltane
We stayed at Dornoch Castle Hotel for two nights in one of the upstairs rooms. The place is lovely, but not luxurious as you might think from the ads. We had a beautiful view, and all the staff were friendly. The bar is simply amazing with great variety of Whisky and friendly, knowledgeable bar tenders. We also had a lovely dinner at the place. Would definitely recommend.
