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Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Dalhousie Castle Hotel and Aqueous Spa is a magnificent 13th century fortress set within acres of wooded parkland on the picturesque banks of the River Esk. From the moment you arrive at Dalhousie Castle a warm Scottish welcome awaits. Whether relaxing in the the Spa, gathering in the library next to the open fire, dining in the vaulted 2 Rosette winning dungeon restaurant, or retiring to your chambers, you will always feel as welcome as the 'Laird'. Brimming with over 700 years of history, Dalhousie Castle is the kind of place that could have been plucked from the pages of a fairy-tale. But make no mistake, this ancient castle with its complex arrangement of turrets and towers is very much the real McCoy. Once the seat of the Ramsay Clan, the castle boasts an illustrious guest list that includes King Edward I, Sir Walter Scott, Oliver Cromwell and Queen Victoria. Today the castle’s long tradition of hospitality continues and you can still be assured a royal welcome and the highest standards of food and service at this fine four-star hotel. Please note that despite our best efforts it is has not been possible to install a lift in the castle. Instead we invite you to start discovering the castle from the moment you arrive, taking in every nook and cranny and peeking behind unlocked doors and to satisfy your curiosity on the way to your bedchamber.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to TheAA: The Automobile Association.
HOTEL STYLE
Quiet
Location
Bonnyrigg EH19 3JB Scotland
Dalhousie Castle Hotel & Aqueous Spa
3,093 reviews
Getting there
Car recommended
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Set in a historic castle, Dalhousie Castle Hotel & Aqueous Spa offers a serene ambiance and impressive dining experiences that many guests appreciate. However, some travelers have expressed dissatisfaction, citing the spa's outdated condition and guestrooms that lack modern touches and tend to be small. While the service has received mixed reviews, from exceptional to slow and occasionally rude, the cleanliness generally garners positive remarks.
Opinions on the atmosphere and decor are divided, with some appreciating the historic charm and others finding it lacking. The location's proximity to Edinburgh is a plus, but accessibility can be an issue for some.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Eclectic
Rooms
Dated
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Underwhelming
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After missing out on holidays earlier in the year, we needed a wee child free weekend break just to unwind and relax. We couldn't have picked a better place to come.
The castle is truly stunning and after a very quick and efficient check in process we went to explore. The place is an incredible maze with corridors taking you to many different nooks and crannies. We spent the first hour or so just exploring the amazing rooms, so much to see and its clear that that the hotel has evolved into the thick brick walls of the building and I think each room will be truly unique.
So onto our room, #25, they kind of undersold it as a room. Its a stunning themed suite, large comfortable bed, relaxed sitting area and a huge deep bath that you could lie in for hours. We went half board and so glad we did. Breakfast is served in the Orangery, a bright summer room with views across the the river Esk and the forests around it. I had the full scottish breakfast and savoured every last mouthful. Not a huge plate, 1 sausage, 2 rashers half slice of black pudding, half slice of haggis, scrambled egg, potota scone, mushroom and tomatoes however every single mouth full was packed with taste and left me more than satisfied. My wife had the smoked salmon and scrambled egg which she also really enjoyed. Then onto dinner and I think I would go as far as saying its the best meal I have ever had. Meals are served in the Dungeon, a truly stunning location, with no windows and lit by candles. Suits of armours, swords and other themed items adorn the walls and just add to the experience. And then onto the food, a cut down menu due to covid but still stunning. I had a lovely soup to start with however the main event was the rib eye steak which just melted in the mouth and was one of those meals that I wanted to never end.
After the meal there lot of different rooms to sit and relax with a drink before heading to bed. Bar prices are very reasonable for a hotel and a decent selection or wines, gins, whisky and cocktails. If I was being overly critical they only had one lager in draught which was Moretti.
Customer service has also been first class, we had a small issue between the booking agent, hotels.com and the hotel, however the reception dealt with it and it was all sorted out very quickly.
As far as covid regulations, we felt very safe at all times. Lots of space in public area, tables in restaurants and bars well spaced and hand sanitizer readily available in public areas.
So in summary, a truly stunning and unique location, great rooms, fantastic food, amazing customer service and just what we needed. First time here, it won't be our last!
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Date of stay: October 2020
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Services , Guest Services / Front Office at Dalhousie Castle Hotel & Aqueous Spa
Responded 24 Oct 2020
Dear Guest, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review of your recent stay with us. We are delighted to read you had such an enjoyable stay with us. We look forward to the opportunity of welcoming you back!
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We stayed here for 2 nights in August for our 35th wedding anniversary. Staycations seem to be the way to go just now, and this is just south of Edinburgh. We spent 1 day in The Borders, and the other along the coast from Edinburgh. We had room 28 in the basement. This was a comfortable room, although the decor was rather tired and dated. The corridor to the room smelled of damp, as did the room occasionally. (Though obviously this is a very old property.) Slippers were provided, but not the stated bathrobes. WiFi was unpredictable (although we found a "hotspot" next to the TV!) and there was no mobile signal in our room. We were given a card and box of chocolates from the hotel team as it was a special occasion, which was a lovely gesture. At dinner, we also received a plate with petit fours, decorated with anniversary wishes! We ate in The Dungeon on our first night and had an excellent meal. (This is currently the only dining option.) The meal was quite expensive, (£45 for 3 courses), although we benefited from the eat out to help out scheme! Drinks and wines were very reasonably priced. The breakfasts -cooked to order- were good, with very high quality ingredients, although the service was a little slow, particularly on our second morning. We were a little nervous about staying in a hotel during these odd coronavirus times. An e mail is sent before arrival with information on what to expect. Good proceedures were in place. Staff do not enter your room during your stay, (so no cleaning/ making up bed etc). Routes to dining areas around the hotel are signposted, but it does require going up and down several sets of stairs. There were several hand sanitiser "stations", (although we found the product provided very sticky.) Wearing a mask within the hotel is down to personal choice. On check out, your bill is delivered to your room, and payment is made by phoning reception. It was rather surprising to see that the toiletries available in the bathroom were "multi use,” and not the small bottles usually found in hotels. (I had taken supplies with us, so we used these instead.) The Spa was closed at the time of our visit due to Covid19. Despite the restrictions we had a lovely stay, and it was nice to feel as if we were doing something slightly "normal". The downside of social distancing unfortunately meant much more limited interaction with staff.
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Date of stay: August 2020
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Rooms
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Services , Guest Services / Front Office at Dalhousie Castle Hotel & Aqueous Spa
Responded 24 Oct 2020
Dear Guest, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review of your recent stay with us. We are delighted to read you had such an enjoyable stay with us. We look forward to the opportunity of welcoming you back!
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We stayed at Dalhousie for our wedding anniversary and booked the 'summer staycation' package. We stayed in a four poster room which was wonderful and we had a card and chocolates from the manager as an anniversary treat, a lovely touch. Complimentary Wi-Fi worked well in our room and we enjoyed the Milton Brown toiletries provided (appreciated these were in larger dispensers rather than the mini bottles as more environmentally friendly). Bathroom was good, it's an old castle so hot water a little irregular but to be expected! The package included a 3 course dinner in the Dungeon Restaurant which was fantastic, especially the desserts. Breakfasts were also really good with plenty of choice. The staff coped really well with Covid restrictions and were very friendly, and overall it all felt very safe and relaxing. As we were there mid week the hotel was quite quiet. We had a riverside walk and a wander around the grounds, and afterwards returned for cocktails in the library. I would definitely recommend Dalhousie for a couples getaway!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: September 2020
Value
Rooms
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Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Services , Guest Services / Front Office at Dalhousie Castle Hotel & Aqueous Spa
Responded 24 Oct 2020
Dear Guest, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review of your recent stay with us. We are delighted to read you had such an enjoyable stay with us. We look forward to the opportunity of welcoming you back!
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Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Themed room was lovely to look at but faulty storage heater meant our room was actually FREEZING. (January) We were given a cheap (very loud) blow air heater to take the chill out of the room (number 16)
Considering we paid £140.00 for the night this wasn’t acceptable.
We ordered Soup with home baked bread, Steak Baguette with fries and bottle of wine from Room Service. However; the wine and home baked bread was forgotten. When we highlighted this they eventually delivered it to our room AFTER or lukewarm food was finished.
Again we were disappointed as this hotel is beautiful and the rooms are gorgeous. Such a shame the Room Service wasn’t up to scratch.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was our second time staying here, we liked it so much on our first overnight that we were considering having our wedding here but unfortunately this stay left a lot to be desired. We booked their dining experience which consisted of a 2 night stay. We opted for a room upgrade to one of their themed rooms. I'm not sure what the theme is meant to be but to us it seemed like a downgrade. One our last visit we stayed in a standard double which was lovely and spacious. In our upgraded room you couldn't hardly move around the bed. Not what we expect to pay more money for. We booked for afternoon tea on our first day, which was mediocre with the sandwiches being a bit stale as if they had been left out for a while. Our evening meal was in the orangery which again was mediocre, nothing to write home about. We were advised that as part of the dining experience a 3 course meal was part of the deal but were then presented with and extra bill on check out. Breakfast the next morning was a let down and was left uneaten. We also booked to use the spa with treatments. The treatments were the best part about this trip and can not be faulted. Unfortunately the spa is out of date. The hydro pool was out of use and the remaining facilities were insufficient. There are better facilities at my local gym. We had lunch in the orangery as part of our spa deal but unfortunately their menu is that limited that if you are here for more than 1 night it becomes a bit boring and not worth the money. I had a sandwich which yet again was stale. We ate in the Dungoun restaurant for our second night and the food was good, although the service was a bit rushed. We learned from our mistake the previous morning and stuck to the continental breakfast. This hotel advertise discounts for booking direct with them as opposed to throught a third party. Please be aware that they don't take these discounts off and you will need to point it out on check out or you will over pay. All in all I'm glad we stayed as it cemented that this is definitely not where we want our wedding to be as the hotel has definitely gone down hill since our previous visit.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was our 4th visit to Dalhousie and having had a not so great experience last time (2017) we were apprehensive about returning, however we needn’t have been as this was our favourite trip yet!!
We got engaged here 3 years ago and felt there was a drop in the customer service compared to previous times, however this time was perfect. Right from check in all staff were so attentive and really welcoming. Check in process went smoothly, we had mentioned we got engaged at Castle Rocks and we were keen to upgrade to a Castle Rocks room which we paid a small fee to do so. Went to our room on arrival and we’d been upgraded to the Castle Rocks suite (Room 36). There was even a wee card from the General Manager saying “Welcome Back Mr and Mrs Turner” which we thought was a really lovely touch.
The Castle Rocks suite was just stunning, massive bed, attached conservatory with sofa, TV, fridge, chaise long and a table seating four. Lovely view of the surrounding grounds, it was so peaceful. There was also a generously sized en-suite with a roll top bath which was amazing! And a dressing room which was really handy too.
We enjoyed dinner in the Orangery the first night and the Dungeon on the second night, food was delicious as always. We also had afternoon tea in the Orangery which still remains the best afternoon tea I’ve had anywhere, and I’ve tried many!
We spent a lot of our time in the library playing games, reading and enjoying a few drinks. Again service was great here, we had worried as on a previous trip we waited a long time to be served but we were only sitting down 5 minutes before someone came to take our drinks order. Special shout out to Scott who served us both in the Library and in the Dungeon and was amazing, friendly chatty and knowledgable, a credit to the place. One thing we were sad about was the beautiful fireplace not being lit this time around as it’s currently awaiting repair, hopefully next time! As it was a little chilly in the evenings and it would have been perfect.
We used the spa and both had hot stone massages which were amazing. The spa was lacking a little this time around and is probably the only other tiny thing we would highlight for improvement. The hydropool seemed a little temperamental, we couldn’t get the airbed to work although it did go on itself briefly the day before. And the shower was out of order which was previously one of our favourite features! Also missed not having recliners anymore in the tepidarium and wasn’t too sure about the new blue lights, thought they just didn’t really go with the exterior of the castle when looking up at nighttime. However that said, the sense of calm and well-being following a couple of hours in the spa was unchanged and it’s still one of the most relaxing spas we’ve been to.
So all in all we had an absolutely amazing time visiting Dalhousie and we can’t wait to return again soon! Staff were amazing and really made our first trip to Dalhousie as Mr and Mrs special :)
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dalhousie Castle is very impressive and beautiful inside and out. We, unfortunately, stayed out with the castle itself in what is termed Castle Rocks, a 3 storey building a few minutes walk away over a narrow bridge. Room only for over £150 was not good value. Our room (33) was in the attic on the second floor (no lift but not a problem) and on arrival was super hot with all the bedroom lights on and radiator on full blast. We didn't like to open a window due to the huge swarms of midgies flying outside but thankfully there was a big floor standing fan inside the Narnia sized wardrobe. The furniture in the room was mis-matched and crowded leaving very little floor space and my partner hit her head several times on the eaves despite being only 5'5" in height (I'm 6' but managed not to bang my head though). Everything was clean but tired looking. We were pleased however to see that there was a small fridge which we hadn't expected. The Spa in the castle was lovely, we booked a 90 minute slot due to Covid and had it to ourselves for the first 20 minutes, which was great. The spa staff were really friendly and nice and the spa itself was bigger than expected. There isn't a swimming pool, but it has a Hyrdo pool, heated room, steam room, jungle shower spa with different settings, a foot spa and a seating area looking out over grounds, so a much better experience than we had anticipated from reading previous reviews. No doubt we were fortunate with our timing and the spa having reduced capacity due to Covid. We enjoyed our time in the spa and also loved the toiletries which smelled gorgeous (these were also in our room in wall dispensers in the shower). All in all the castle was great but Castle Rocks not. We would not stay there again, but if we had the inclination and the money would pay extra to stay in the castle itself where we can only presume the rooms would be a much higher standard.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: October 2021
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Services , Guest Services / Front Office at Dalhousie Castle Hotel & Aqueous Spa
Responded 4 Dec 2021
Dear Guest, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review of your stay with us. We do have a wide range of bedchambers and themed suites, please do contact us directly when looking to stay with us again and we will ensure you will be happy with your room. We very much look forward to the opportunity of welcoming you back!
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Only booked a week b4 going. Could get the separate property for 4 nights but we wanted to be in the castle section, so only could stay for the 3 nights. Sign posted well, great entrance, booked in well. Hotel clean and kept to C19 guidelines. Room had a small section of stairs to the bathroom, full of character. No curtains in the bathroom which was a bit odd and clear glass, sink under the window was different. Shower fine, bed comfortable. Towels good, WiFi average as you would expect with very thick walls. Went for a walk round and pleasantly surprised how nice is was, booked in for dinner on the first night, limited menu, sat in the basement or dungeon which was fab. Took some great pictures. Wine was good, they did do the eat out Gov bit, nice pre meal drinks area, well kept grounds, did not try the falconry bit but wish I had, same menu on the second night so decided to go to another venue. Breakfast on the first day was very very slow. Good quality, second and third morning, much better so I think the first day was a one off. Needed to do same work so was given an area with better WiFi and the staff were very accommodating. Check out was trouble free. The spa was closed. Overall the staff were very good, an enjoyable experience, with a little tweak here and there it could be right up there with the best. This could be down to the alterations due to C19. So I will go back when the pandemic is over to confirm what a good hotel this really is or could be.
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Date of stay: August 2020
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Services , Guest Services / Front Office at Dalhousie Castle Hotel & Aqueous Spa
Responded 24 Oct 2020
Dear Guest, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review of your recent stay with us. We are delighted to read you had such an enjoyable stay with us. We look forward to the opportunity of welcoming you back so you can give the falconry a try!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We were attending a wedding and the organisation of this by the hotel staff was first class. We were a party of only 12 close family members but the hotel ensured the rooms allocated for reception, ceremony and dining were all appropriate to the size of our group. Everything went well aside from the fact that our son was charged an additional £45 per night for a child's bed to be placed in his double room (the only family room being unavailable). Seems to us difficult to justify. My wife emailed directly regarding this but received no reply. A shame as it would otherwise be difficult not to give a perfect score and review.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: February 2022
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Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This castle hotel is a lovely little gem just outside of Edinburgh. We hired a car for the weekend and it was just a few miles into Edinburgh and to Roslin which we went to visit the Chapel..worth a trip! ..taxis are around 30 each way to Edinburgh when we checked. Inside of the castle the rooms are decorated beautifully and traditionally. The Dungeon Restaurant is a lovely experience with coats of armour and swords etc for decor. The service from the staff at reception and the spa was excellent. The choices at breakfast time which was included in our room price were great! And you ordered a freshly prepared meal..so not buffet style. Although there is things like pastries fruit cheeses meat juices and bread you can help yourself too as well as a menu of food. The rooms we stayed in at Castle Rocks were just a 5 minute walk from the main castle. But buggies available to transport you and luggage if required. The views are lovely and the main castle really is picturesque. There is a falconry centre on site which has activities available and you can also just go and view the birds which is nice. The spa facilities are excellent with a range of treatments reasonably priced. You can use the pool etc for free with your stay and robes and flip flops are provided in the rooms. The rooms as Castle Rocks had really comfy beds and good facilities. The suites are the better room type but are more expensive. Overall we had a really enjoyable stay and would recommend Dalhousie Castle
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: December 2019
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom89 contributions30 helpful votes
We didn't stay overnight, just for the afternoon tea. So, I don't know about that. But, the food we had, was excellent. If you do decide to stay, I'm sure you will enjoy your time there.
Breakfast is served in the Orangery Restaurant. Dinner is served both in the Orangery Restaurant and the Dungeon Restaurant, depending on the package that you have opted for. Some two day packages included dinner in both restaurants.
If you require a more detailed response specific to your booking, please contact the team direct at the hotel.
Kind Regards
There are more places to choose from in the Bonnyrigg area.
PRICE RANGE
S$270 - S$461 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
dalhousie castle bonnyrigg, dalhousie castle hotel bonnyrigg, castle dalhousie
LOCATION
United KingdomScotlandMidlothianBonnyrigg
NUMBER OF ROOMS
35
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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