The Royal Hotel

I was on a hiking vacation in Scotland. I phoned the hotel in the morning to book a room for the following night. The man who answered (presumably the owner), after taking my credit card details, said I wasn’t allowed to take hiking boots in the room; fair enough, I said. But when in the late afternoon I arrived at the hotel after a 15 mile walk, I had completely forgotten, and moreover the girl at the reception said nothing about my boots. It was only later in my room that I remembered that I should have left them downstairs. So next morning, on departure, I walked downstairs carrying the boots in my hand, so as not to dirty the moquette, only to find the hotel owner with a dark face abusing me for having disobeyed his instructions. He even refused to listen to my explanations. I was treated like a misbehaving six-year-old by a hotel manager, after having paid him 95 pound for the night, and all because of a trivial misunderstanding regarding shoes. Never again!

Welcome: arrived slightly early and couldn't access building but plenty coffee shops in area. Once in a very lovely welcome and swift check in to a lovely double room, spotless with very clean bathroom. Tray had custard creams and ginger nuts a little treat 😊 Very comfortable night and breakfast with choices from night before was freshly cooked and above standard.

I stayed here after my first day of walking St Cuthbert’s Way. My feet were tired and I was looking to relax and give them a break. Alex greeted me and had already taken my suitcase up to my room (very grateful for that!). Good sized room, great water pressure in the shower. Located very close to the abbey and other amenities.