Fonab Castle Hotel And Spa

We booked Fonab Castle to celebrate a belated anniversary and were really looking forward to a special stay. Unfortunately, our experience was very disappointing. We were assigned an accessible room, although we had not requested or required one. Our first issue was discovering that we did not have hot water. My husband called the front desk to report it, and during that conversation I also told them about a much more concerning problem with the shower. While showering, the heavy glass shower door had come off its track and pinned me against the wall, causing me to hit my head. The manager came to our room to apologize for the hot water situation and I shared what happened. I asked for an ice pack for my head, which she brought to the room. The shower rail in the other bathroom was also loose. Combined with the boiler issue and lack of hot water, the bathroom experience was certainly not what we expected from a hotel of this standard. The room also showed signs of wear, including a noticeably stained couch. Unfortunately, dinner did little to improve the experience. At nearly £200, we expected considerably better. The steak lacked seasoning, was not cooked to the temperature requested and contained a significant amount of gristle. We ordered three sides for £15, but they were forgotten, leaving us sitting and waiting while the rest of the meal cooled. The Caesar salad was so heavily dressed it was almost soupy, and the béarnaise sauce had become too congealed to enjoy. The highlights were the wine and the beautiful view. The setting really is spectacular. We were ultimately given a 10% reduction on our bill. We appreciated the acknowledgement, but considering the combination of maintenance issues, the disappointing meal and, most importantly, a heavy glass shower door coming off its track and causing an injury, the response felt underwhelming for a property positioning itself as a luxury hotel. We chose Fonab Castle for a belated anniversary because we wanted it to be memorable. It certainly was, unfortunately for all the wrong reasons. The property has a beautiful setting, but our experience fell well short of the standard, attention to detail and level of care we expected at this price point.

Fonab Castle Hotel is everything you'd want from a 5 star hotel (and a Scottish castle). There are historic castle rooms which lovely and surprisingly spacious but they also have more modern rooms if you don't want to stay in the castle. The staff is so attentive, helpful, and friendly. Everyone from the front desk to the porters to the restaurant was wonderful. My hot stone massage at the spa was the perfect way to relax and unwind and I left feeling so refreshed. Finally, the breakfast and dinner was so delicious, especially the venison loin, and the wine list is fantastic and pairs perfectly with the food.

We stayed a night at this hotel. We loved the idea if staying in an old castle. The free access to spa facilities was treat and we enjoyed the gym, sauna, steam room and heated pool. The check in staff were great, however, dining staff not particularly friendly and some additional training required for a 5 star experience required ( eg don't lean accross guests plate to replace cutlery). The meal itself ( we had the chefs special Tomahawke steak to share) was fantastic.

From arrival to departure, our stay at Fonab Castle Hotel was wonderful, and a true highlight of our Scotland vacation. Kirsty, Davie, and Neta delivered top notch support and customer service (professional and personable, solution-finders) at arrival, departure, and throughout our stay. Our dinner (food and service) were extraordinary; breakfast was incredible too with a variety of options and prompt service, without rushing us through the meal. The dining room is well appointed and there is not a bad table with the views it offers. The room, the view, the vibe ... all amazing. Wish we could have stayed longer; and will definitely look for a return to this specific property when we are next in Scotland. And until then, will recommend it to those we know traveling to the area.