Check-in is a very off-hand and brief process at the central main reception. Hotel information is a single A4 page showing restaurant open / close times onto will be placed a cross to indicate the restaurant where breakfast will be served. This depends on which of the Hotels on the site you have a room in.

Direction to the Hotel and my allocated 'Executive Room' was with a simple hand gesture.

Once located following a visit to a second reception desk the room showed little promise. Furniture was battered and worn, dust was evident on most surfaces, the bathroom tiles and shower screen were in need of a decent clean. Limescale is obvious with grouting very badly discouloured with soap scum and mould. Toilet seat was loose and one pad was missing from the underside. Wastepipe was very poorly fitted and had been botched with filler which was not finished, was also badly discoloured and unsightly. The toilet flush handle was also loose. Extractor fan did not work although there was a warning about steam escaping the bathroom activating the sensitive fire alarm system. Heated towel rail had no indication or control and seemed to be connected in some way to the electric room heater in the main room, so heat your towels but also heat your room.

Furniture was tired with door hinges badly aligned and some loose causing ill-fitting doors.

Crockery for the 'tea-making' facility was chipped and cracked.

Information about Hotel services were not in evidence apart from a room service menu and the A4 page handed over on arrival. Internet booking site indicated an Executive Room with amongst other services a DVD player, Fridge, Pay TV, Alarm Clock and Bathrobe - None of these exist. There is a TV with 6 or 7 options including Sky sports 1, 2 and 3, an Ice bucket on a tray carried a card inviting you to call room service for ice. ( Room Service carries a £5 charge and allow At Least 30 minutes ? )

There is no secure storage in the room.

Food - A good choice of options with three restaurants but breakfast found toast with green mould was served one morning.

Staff - Restaurant Staff were at all times courteous, pleasant and attentive.

Reception Desk Staff - Aloof, disinterested and lacking in attention to detail.

On checkout I discovered the addition of a 'Donation' to a carers fund. A leaflet is given to each guest on arrival (not) and agreement sought to add this 'donation' (definately not)

I had this 'donation' deducted but payment was then refused on one of my credit cards. Later enquiries with my credit card company revealed that staff at the hotel had entered the card expiry wrongly which had caused the problem. (Deliberate? I wonder!)

As a Scot, and proud of it, I would welcome anyone wishing to visit this very beautul part of my Scotland but would further advise them to give Macdonald Hotels a MISS.