Melville Castle Hotel

We spent our final night of our Scotland trip hoping to find a beautiful castle near Edinburgh. Unfortunately, it was a disappointment. The rooms and the location in a lovely park for walking were truly wonderful. However, everything else needs significant improvement. Contact attempts were futile; for instance, we asked for horseback riding recommendations, which arrived by email on the day of our arrival despite multiple calls. Similarly, the request for a vegan menu, made well in advance, reached the restaurant only in the afternoon of the same day, limiting their ability to prepare accordingly—though in today's age, every good restaurant should easily accommodate vegan options. Regarding cleanliness, there were significant shortcomings. Outdoor furniture was scattered and dirty, making it uninviting for outdoor cocktails, despite good weather. When asked about this, three different employees claimed ignorance and disclaimed responsibility—it is indeed their duty to present the hotel as clean and inviting. Additionally, when we inquired about lighting a fire in the fireplace due to chilly evening temperatures, we were denied. Upon inspection, we found an old beer can (!) adorning the fireplace. These are just a few examples from our stay; there were likely many more inconveniences. Our overnight stay cost over £400, and the hotel fell far short of expectations. Unless there are significant improvements, we strongly advise against staying here.

Would recommend avoiding this place at all costs. After paying almost $500 a night, we were given a room on the mezzanine level with comically low roof. The room is small and smelt like mildew, and has a weird set up with two bathrooms. The bathrooms deco style can be best described as prison core with barebones setup and minimum amenities. The WiFi doesn’t work at all in the room. Breakfast is included but I was not even given a spoon for my porridge order. The place feels very depressing and felt like it was held together with duct tapes. None of the employees we came in contact with has smiled even once and it felt like they are always rushing to get things done. It felt like that the entire place is being run with a skeleton crew. If you want a castle experience, this is definitely not it. There are way more better options out there. I would give zero starts if that’s an option.