Dalhousie Castle Hotel & Spa - Tranent

We enjoyed the stay and the high level of service. Grounds are beautiful and the room was very nice. We ate in the Dungeon after a drink in the library. Would recommend this castle anyday.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Allister, the concierge, suggested a wonderful restaurant in Edinburgh to have a nice meal, and it was wonderful. Allister also arranged our transport into town which made it all very convenient. We had a marvelous time seeing Edinburgh Castle. Our rooms at Dalhousie were very lovely along with the breakfast in the mornings. I would definitely encourage […] others that stay at Dalhousie to go out on the grounds to explore and see the aviary. The path to the end of the property along the river is quite scenic and should not be missed. Read more

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Dalhousie is a real life castle. The grounds are amazing and the castle itself is spectacular. The place is old and so are the rooms and beds. This may be done on purpose to give it that medieval feel. The place is rumored to be haunted and there is a night porter named Peter who will give you a "ghost" tour of the castle if you ask. The falconery and […] archery offered are worth it. Being so close up with a real life owl is unbelievable. The spa is also nice and you can use the facilities for free. Make sure to have dinner in the dungeon during your stay. Food and atmosphere are amazing. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Surprise for friends birthday who has always wanted to stay in a castle. She loved it. Staff very accomodating in letting us take photos of the grounds and rooms inside. Wish we would have known more of the history for this castle. Strong connections to Scottish history. Late November was a great time to visit as very uncrowded.

Genuine Expedia guest review

The idea was fabulous! The hotel was the least professional of all the places we stayed our entire trip. We booked themed rooms...we got the two highest rooms in the castle and probably the only ones left...neither room was pictured on the website. My parents had the Lairds room, it was okay, dated and up about 5 flights of stairs. We were in the William […] Wallace suite...still one more flight up...this room had not been updated since maybe the 70s...the only way to describe is groovy! The sofa at the foot of the bed was sagging in the middle and it had a comforter draped over it...covering rips and grossness! There was a wedding going on when we checked in and the next day was a wedding open house so we didn't stick around the castle during the day. For the money spent, I was very disappointed and expected much more. Until they do a major renovation, I wouldn't recommend! I really wanted to like it, I thought it would be the highlight of our trip... Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

The Dalhousie Castle was extraordinary. We loved every minute of our stay. The staff was so friendly and helpful and the grounds and all the rooms were superb. We couldn't have ask for anything better. The staff showed us all around the Castle and we ate dinner in the elegant dinning room. Food was exceptionally good. Thank you to all the staff for […] making this one of best stays during our UK visit. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

I had broken my leg before coming to the castle but after I made the booking. This hotel is not at all disabled-friendly - there are stone steps everywhere and no ramps. The staff were helpful and it really is a beautiful place. I couldn't get around in time to make it to breakfast so can't comment on the food. I would go again, but not on crutches […] . Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

This was not exactly the castle experience I was truly looking for. I was wanting a more rustic, old rustic experience. This Castle is updated very plush and beautiful. The hotel staff is very kind, friendly and helpful. The grounds surrounding the castle are beatiful fun to walk around, full of wildlife, and relaxing. I recommend this to couples who […] are looking for a great get away, peaceful and quiet. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

We specifically stayed at Dalhousie for two reasons: falconry experience and having a meal in its dungeon. We were able to fulfill one part: eating the meal in the dungeon because anything to do with falconry was cancelled due to the weather. overall, we felt that the staff was very accommodating--some of them work very very hard--such as the very kind […] bell person who was also kind to share with us information about the hotel, as well as provide with us brochures of various at the site. He certainly works very hard considering that there is also no elevator onsite. It would have been nice to been offered possible alternatives to the falconry, but we're not sure if there was enough staff to be able to handle such a follow-up. However, any time a question was asked, it was promptly answered or given attention to. The meal in the Dungeon was one of the best we had in the UK; it was completely unexpected and we did not expect the quality of the meal to be so excellent. We will definitely recommend a stay at this hotel, but will recommend going during the summer months when the weather is more accommodating. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Staying in a castle from the 1500's was a neat experience. The outside was very well maintained. We loved visiting the falconry, although being an animal lover we did feel bad for the birds that they couldn't live out in the wild and instead they were kept in cages or leashed to a pedestal. Dinner was so-so for the price. The meat and seafood was lacking […] in the pasta dishes we ordered. The room was ok as well. The bathroom was clean which is important to me. The bedpost had some spider webs hanging from it and the carpeting looked almost as old as the castle! An exaggeration but I could tell it was very old because it was very worn and my allergies began to act up the moment I stepped into the room. Old carpeting like that is somewhat of a health issue. Other than that I suppose i would stay again if we had a room that was dusted and had newer carpeting. I don't think the room was worth the price at all. We were obviously paying for the fact that it is a castle that is 500 years old, which is very cool! Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

I recently stayed one night at the castle and overall had a great experience. The hotel and surrounding grounds are beautiful and the staff is professional and friendly. Yes there are some squeeks and groans, but come on, you're staying in a castle over 800 years old with amazing history! Those noises are part of its charm. I ate in the Orange room […] restaurant and wouldn't recommend it. The service was greatly lacking and food subpar. I can't comment on the Dungeon restaurant. The onsite Falconry is a must do! I did the ultimate 2.5 hour experience and it's one I will never forget. They provide outstanding education and an incredible experience. Read up as much as you can online about the history and the information they have in the room to help put in perspective how much history this place offers and be sure to have them point out the slug (bullet) still in the wall. If you don't have a car and are taking a taxi from downtown Edinburgh plan to pay 20-25 pounds each way depending on the driver. Thanks to all the staff for making my stay enjoyable! Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

We stayed here because our friends did and we are glad they told us about this retreat. If your looking to relax and be pampered at a wonderful Castle this is it!

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

It's a bit far from town, you can either take the Route 31 bus and walk 20mins, or take a taxi costing 20-25gbp. Apart from that, it's a nice place to stay for a night or two. There's a field outside the castle, and with the lights on it looks great too in the night. The 45gbp dinner was not the most elegant/delicate kind, but I would accept it as […] a premium to live in this building(need a boost on the starters given this price). The breakfast is wonderful though. Fresh oven baked pastries, nice jam and butter and a lot of fruits. With the daylight in the greenhouse setting, it's a really good start for the morning. The grilled haddock is one of the best I have ever tried. Overall service is friendly, and they got free bottles of water in the room too. The bedroom itself is nicely decorated, and the bathroom is modernly equipped. Not a big room, but spacious enough. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

We were very satisfied overall with our stay, but wish the hotel focused a bit more on the history of the castle. We chose this hotel specifically becasue of its association with the Ramsay Clan, but I couldn't find anyone who could describe the various intricacies of the castle and there were no displays that made that history come alive. The guide […] paper which described the walks around the area was confusing and the trails were not well marked. I objected to paying for the internet when the cost of a night's stay was already very high. That said, our room was delightful, the shower fantastic and our meal was delicious. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Beautiful castle from the 12th century converted to a hotel. This was amazing, the Castle is old but it just adds to the elegance. Rooms were clean and nice. Best part is the Orangery which is a restaurant where you have breakfast over looking the Castle grounds with a cup of tea. If I were to go back, this is were I would stay again.

Genuine Expedia guest review

This is an authentic castle with beautiful wooded countryside all around it, and just a short cab ride from downtown Edinburgh. I wish we had known that we could make a "reservation" with the Falconry, and actually handle and fly the falcons, we did just walk over to visit the birds and the falcon owner/handler was so friendly and chatted with us all […] about her birds (owls, falcons, eagles, buzzards) as she was getting them out of their roosts and onto their perches for the day. The standard room was "quaint", more 1920's or so in decor, but comfortable and clean. The "dungeon" restaurant dinner was excellent. Breakfast was also excellent in the sunny Orangery restaurant. Staff was great, knowledgeable about the castle and gave us the "informal tour" around the main public rooms. Our friends took the 10pm ghost tour offered and really enjoyed it as they saw rooms/stairways/ etc that you wouldn't normally get access to. Overall, it was a very nice stay. The only caveat I would pass along is that there are many stairs (no lft that I saw) in case you have any ambulatory problems. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

The sink did not drain and the bathroom was flooded after showering.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

The Dalhousie Castle Hotel & Spa is a diamond nestled just outside Scotland's capital. It's a short 15-minute drive from Edinburgh to relaxation, peace and quiet. My husband and I did a busy 8-day tour of Scotland and booked an extra night on our own to unwind before flying home. We chose the Dalhousie property for its beauty (13th century castle turned […] hotel), seclusion, Owl Experience (offering Falconry on the grounds) and proximity to Rosslyn Chapel. We were very pleased with the service and the staff was top notch! I highly recommend this castle hotel if you are looking to get away with your significant other or family. You can't go wrong with Dalhousie! Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

My husband and I just stayed at Dalhousie and were thrilled! We like places with character (our house is from the 1800's) and it was infinitely more interesting staying in a castle when we visited Edinburgh for a few days than in an ordinary hotel. The staff is all around excellent and we didn't want for anything. Granted this is not the Ritz or the […] Four Seasons so think of the amenities as a bit scaled back, but I was pleasantly surprised at how nice everything was. Peter gave us a tour of the castle free of charge and we tipped him; getting this tour made the whole stay even more meaningful because we knew some of the history then! The grounds are beautiful and we enjoyed a few hour hike one day. We went to visit Edinburgh though, not to stay and relax in a hotel, so we made the trip into Edinburgh 2 of our 3 days there. Rather than rent a car or take taxis back and forth we decided from the beginning to use the bus and save some money and have some fun. We took the #31 Bonnyrigg bus to Dalhousie which took a good half hour, but it's fun to sit there and see all of the sights - it's like a tour all unto itself! Once at the bus stop closest to Dalhousie you will have a bit of a walk, say about 15 minutes or so. But it was staying light until going on 11 pm (amazing!) so we took the bus back in the nighttime too. You will need to have the converter plug (takes their 3 prongs and fits the U.S. 2 prongs) for cell phone and camera chargers. I also had use the voltage converter along with the plug converter for my hair dryer - it worked but would heat up before I was finished so I would take breaks. The room we were in (Cedar Room) had a fantastic hair dryer as they go for overseas hairdryers. My flat iron would not work even with the voltage converter period. By the way, I called them directly with questions beforehand and they were very helpful. So unless you prefer to stay in your typical type hotel where everything is the same as the last hotel and will be the same Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Looked forward to staying in a countryside castle but was disappointed. The enviornment in the hotel was geared more towards conferences than travelers. In order to eat in the "Dungeon" one must order a 5 course meal that neither of us wanted. The staff was very nice except for the dining room. We waited 1 hour for my dinner and then it was not that […] good. We got a compliemntary dessert which that did not compensate for the wasted time. The weather was very windy so we could not walk around the extensive grounds. Under other circumstances we might have enjoyed it more. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

We got married at Dalhousie in addition to spending the night and we could not have asked for anything better! We stayed in the William Wallace suite which has a gorgeous view from the roof-top balcony. The 4 poster canopy bed was comfortable, there were plenty of usable electrical outlets, the bathroom was well-appointed and the towel warmers were […] a nice touch. Breakfast was fine-I did not choose the traditional Scottish breakfast as I'm a vegetarian, but it looked good! We had dinner in the Dungeon and the food was amazing-very "fancy" food, BEAUTIFULLY presented. We had drinks in the Library which was such a warm inviting room-complete with leather couches and a fire in the fireplace. Lovely! The staff were so helpful, kind and warm. The Castle Steward, who piped me down the stairs en route to the Chapel to get married, was delightful and full of stories! The only slight drawback is that it's a 20 pound taxi ride into Edinburgh, so it might be better to hire a car during your stay. I could not have asked for a better wedding and hotel experience. I highly recommend Dalhousie Castle! Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

The hotel is a little drive from Edinburgh, but is more than worth it. Our room was great, and we thoroughly enjoyed a fireside drink in the library, the full Scottish breakfast and visiting the hotel falconry.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

This castle was converted into a hotel in 1972 and that appears to be the last time any maintenance was done to the interior. We stayed in one of their theme rooms. Don't stay here expecting luxury. The carpets in our room needed to be steam cleaned (or even replaced) very badly. There were cracks on the walls which one could expect, but some were patched […] with white filler and others weren't. The toilet had to be adjusted to flush as well as the furniture to close doors and drawers, It's serious time to take a look at the repairs and maintenance in these rooms. They also charge for internet connection, but you fight the whole time to get a connection in the first place and when you do it may only last a few minutes. When you call the number they provide to assist you with this, you get the customer service line for their internet provider and then they try to charge you for the call. The exterior of the castle and the castle grounds were beautiful. The bed was very comfortable. You should be warned that the floor can get very wet as the shower barrier covers only half of the tub. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Since this Castle hotel is located so close to Edinburgh, it is a charming place to experience some history, have a great meal in the Dungeon dining room, and have access to lots of activities - including the city of Edinburgh. We really liked the falconry option for an on-site activity; they have an outstanding collection of falcons, owls and hawk […] s! Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

Lovely hotel and accommodations. Good breakfast: forgettable dinners.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Good service was the best part of the castle. Plenty of people to assist you with whatever. Grounds were beautiful. Free breakfast was decent, just decent.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Stayed here for three nights and got an upgrade to a four poster themed room. The room was a little small but perfect for our needs. Staff were really polite and grounds beautifully kept. We did not eat there as chose to head for town each night. Close to city and drove in to the Sheriffhall park and ride(easy done). Breakfast really good and the spa […] well appointed. Would definitely go again. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Amazed this hotel has such a low rating. Went here with my family and had one of the most comfortable, welcoming and enjoyable breaks imaginable. The staff are all warm and friendly, beautifully clean room, gorgeous breakfast, awesome location in a truly history castle. All in a very short drive of Edinburgh. I can't say enough good things about it […] ! Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Found place very pleasant. Thankfully we are able to get about pretty well, but stairs could be problem for some people. I would go back.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

hotel was very clean. staff at hotel were very accomadating and couldnt do enough for us. the spa and hydro pool was very nice and relaxing. location of hotel was just out of town enough to be very quiet but near enough to get to the shops and not too far to get to edinburgh. was a great stay and would definately go again.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

We had a fantastic stay again with the team at Delhousie castle nothing is too much trouble a big thank you to Michael who always goes out of his way to be helpful and friendly he makes it a pleasure to be there he even came in to help us on his day off, Peter again was great telling his stories at night. The food is to die for and the castle is being […] upgraded all the time we couldn't believe all the changes from last year. The cleanliness is second to none which is no small task for such a place. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

Loved the venue and the area and we were particularly impressed by the firendly and helpful staff. Everyone was smiling - English hotels please note!

Genuine Expedia guest review

Very good only one comment is that due to the Christmas party taking place with people smoking outside the noise did travel upto our room as the front windows in this old building are not double glazed. However!! on the last morning we found that the windows had wooden shutters!!! would have been good for the hotel team to point that out on arrival […] as I am sure this would have elimated the noise. Read more

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

atmosphere 1000%

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Enjoyed our stay to celebrate 2 x birthdays. Good service, comfortable themed rooms. Great breakfast.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

From start to finish the service provided by the staff was first class. The castle is a must see and stay location steeped in history. Overall an excellent experience.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

The Castle was everything we expected, beautiful and grand. Excellent Breakfast and helpful friendly staff. Would recommend this experience to anyone looking for a Castle stay.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

The reception from staff on arrival was warm and friendly. The library bar had a stunning view over the countryside and the sandwiches served there were very good. The Dungeon Restaurant was very atmospheric, the staff again warm and friendly and the food excellent - so much so we booked again for our second night rather than eat elsewhere. There is […] plenty to do during the day...at the hotel or surrounding area. It was an excellent break. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

The staff are friendly and welcoming. We ate in the Dungeon for dinner but were disappointed. However breakfast the next day was excellent and we wish we had just eaten in the orangery the night before. Overall we would go back and would recommend it to friends.

Genuine Expedia guest review

Room was a bit tatty - scuffed wallpaper etc - but overall the hotel was well-presented, the service was good and the food excellent.

Genuine Expedia guest review