We have been to a few 'suspect' hotels, but never as bad as this. I suppose if you want to be herded, it's fine to be there. The food was nice, but if you didn't want to suffer from indigentsion, it's not the place to be. The main meal in the evening was like a race. You felt that you had to get the food off the plate with haste before the waiter was breathing over your shoulder ready to rush the next course in. And the buffet breakfast was spartan.You were handed out, as you lined up, your slice of bacon and an egg (or other choice of Enlish/Scottish breakfast foods). There was no helping yourself at 'the buffet'. They advertised hairdryers for the guests. They had six hairdryers among approximately 100 guest to share around and they never even bothered to keep track of who borrowed them. So first in best dressed for a hairdryer. You had a choice of four television channels to view on a exceptionally small television. As Australian tourists looking for a highland Scottish experience, that was lost amongst the 90% or so Eastern European staff. And to claim Monarch of The Glen allegience when there were just a few scenes filmed in the main entrance only, is really stretching the truth a bit. Overall, it was a very ordinary stay and we wwould even consider staying at the Duke of Gordon again, even if we had the opportunity.

Picture the scene. A couple enjoying their first valentine's day together in the snow of the Scottish Highlands. Sounds nice doesn't it? That's what I thought.

I found the Duke of Gordon on the Laterooms website and looked at the reviews and the hotel's own website. It looked great. I booked it three weeks before the break for three nights.
14th February and we set off for the 6 hour drive. We arrived at the hotel early afternoon, plenty of time to go up the mountain for some fun in the snow, or so we thought! The hotel had not got our booking and rather than try to work it out, they blamed laterooms all the way. They offered a twin bedded guest house as an alternative (romantic valentine's break - I think not!). After a short discussion, it was clear that they weren't understanding my frustration having driven the best part of 400 miles to get there and after calling laterooms, we set off into Aviemore. Laterooms found us an alternative hotel (the MacDonald Academy) which was lovely but I was left footing the extra cost of the room.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay, although we missed the first afternoon messing around looking for accomodation, and after seeing both the Academy and the Duke of Gordon were quite happy to have avoided the rather dated Duke and the musty smell that seemed to linger there.

Kingussie is also not as close to Aviemore as I had expected. It is of note that the drive from Kingussie to Aviemore is a bit too far for a taxi if you want to go there for a drink and there's an additional 8 or 9 miles to get to the mountain base station.

Other people did tell me about the hotel but I won't include their comments (not at all complimentary) although their view that it was a "coach holiday hotel" did confirm my own observations whilst waiting in reception for the booking -- to be sorted out.

I would never consider going to the Duke of Gordon again and would advise my friends against it! Spend the extra and go into Aviemore, you'll have a much better time!

The hotel was very welcoming with a roaring fire in the lobby as you walked in. The decor is a bit passe with swirly carpets and floral bed linen etc but it kind of works in the Highlands because you need comfort and cosiness. The lift is rather slow and clunky too but it adds to the Celtic charm!

The dinners were excellent value with 5 courses and plenty of local produce on offer. The staff were mainly foreign but very efficient and friendly. Breakfasts were ample too with porridge and kippers on offer.

The rates are very reasonable. My only gripe was that when I reported a fault in the room it was not addressed.

Evening entertainment is limited with some singing in the lounge. A hotel for older guests I would say.