Macdonald Lochanhully Resort - Carrbridge

con96wilson

We have recently stayed here a couple of weeks ago and we really enjoyed our 4 nights in lodge number 6. ||Yes, the lodges are a little older and more “rustic” but they are perfectly acceptable for the price of £110 per night that I paid. ||Other reviews state that there was a damp smell in their lodge but we didn’t find this at all. We found it cosy and a great base to explore the local area. ||Our daughter loved feeding the resident ducks each day and the setting is tranquil and peaceful with stunning walks around the lake. ||We used the pool each day, as well as the steam room and sauna which again, were well used and a little tired but perfectly acceptable. We were also able to use the facilities at the local Macdonald hotel in nearby Aviemore, but we found this pool dirty with sand/grit all at the bottom so we only went the once. ||We didn’t use Murdoch’s restaurant, however I did pop in for a pint on my own one afternoon. I was the only guest in there and I sat on the sofas around the corner which was out of view from the bar. I can only describe the staffs use of language and conversation (who I presume was the girl on the bar and the chef) to be absolutely appalling. At one point they were slating the manager/owner and I won’t repeat what they said but I was quite shocked that they could talk about this infront of a customer. I can only assume they forgot I was there. This put me off bringing my wife and two year old daughter back in for a drink and something to eat at a later time.||Overall a decent stay and I wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again.

01Ti

We had lodge 25 overlooking the 'lake' ... it's a bit tired but served our purpose. If you are looking for boutique accommodation this is not for you! If you are looking to explore what the Highlands have to offer ... lochs, trails, outdoor activities ... then this resort makes a good base. Travelled to Cullen to sample the 2024 national winning Cullen Skink at Lily's Kitchen Cafe and do a circular walk of Cullen Bay. Had a boat tour of Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle. Walked Loch Garten and Loch Mallachie. Walked to see An Lochan Uaine aka The Green Loch ... a hidden gem ... then did a circular walk of Loch Morlich. Drove to Grantown-on-Spey for a woodland and river walk and to visit the art galleries. ||||We live in Scotland so brought our own food, but did have dinner in the newly opened restaurant, Murdoch's Bar and Restaurant ... Fish & Chips, Cajun Chicken Burger and shared a Sticky Toffee Pudding. We cleared our plates so the food was quite acceptable! ||||The staff ... reception, bar and restaurant ... are all friendly and accommodating. ||||We did not use the pool, nor the small gym ... but we did walk just under 33 miles during our stay. We were lucky, though, as it was sunny with clear blue skies during our entire stay.

Ryan S.

Currently here staying for the weekend, long wait with very few options on the dinner menu, although when the food did come it was great, lodge is nice but very dirty, dead flies on most of the window ledges, dust on nearly everything, bathroom floor full of dust and pubes 🤢

Eve C.

Great location and very peaceful. Restaurant has great food and brilliant service from Phoebe. Rooms are a little tired and the cabins could definitely be spruced up. But okay for price.

Bart B.

Visited the gym and was quite disappointed with the condition of the equipment. Out of the 5 machines available, 2 were not working at all. The equipment looks like it hasn't been updated since the late 1980s — it’s rusty and clearly not maintained. This raises serious concerns about safety and hygiene.

The gym really needs a major upgrade to meet even basic standards. I would not recommend it until the equipment is repaired or replaced.

joy

The cabin - very dated, worn furniture, not that clean (someone’s used plaster on the floor under table, dust on most surfaces and a disgusting conservatory roof), hot water pressure really bad, no mat in hallway to wipe feet and no storage for shoes. Bath panel was damaged and the table and chairs in the goldfish bowl/conservatory were too big so you couldn’t even fit 2 small children on 1 side and a slim adult on the other. The cabins feel the wrong way around as the glass boxes should look at the stunning view not the car park. There’s no nets, blinds or curtains on the glass boxes so sitting in there is uncomfortable at busy times. When people check out the cleaner dumps loads of bin bags on the car park with rubbish, bed sheets and towels in and they often sit there for hours until a van comes and collects them. The grounds themselves lack care and attention, the bridge across the lake is out of order and looks like it’s been that way for a long time. There was an empty water bottle and half eaten apple outside our cabin on check in and it was still there when we checked out 5 days later.
Restaurant - what a shambles!!! Barely anyone in there only us and another table of people ordering when we did yet the food took forever to come out. My burger was 15 minutes later than the rest of the meals and when it finally arrived it was the wrong burger. Frozen chips, hard burgers, split sausages, absolutely awful hard dry sticky toffee pudding and slow service. Arguments between the bar and kitchen could be heard because of the issues with the food (the other table were given the wrong food too). The young girls behind the bar were pleasant but other than that Macdonalds you should be ashamed to call this place a restaurant - especially when compared to the food and service at Dona Lola.
Location - WOW WOW WOW it’s absolutely STUNNING. The play area although small, it was ideal for our little ones and the walks are breathtakingly beautiful. The ducks are super cute and provided hours of entertainment for our children. Honestly this place could be everyone’s favourite holiday spot if only Macdonalds weren’t letting it go to wreck and ruin. The whole place needs revamping and injecting with some tlc.
I’m so shocked and disappointed as I’ve been an owner at dona Lola for 20 years so expected the same standards I’ve always known from Macdonalds however Lochenhuly falls way below the standards of even an average air bnb in every way.

Michelle B.

Lovely site! Facilities are great. The lodges are a bit tired but we'll kept with all utensils, linen & towels. 15 minutes from Aviemore town centre, Landmark trust adventure site & very central location for day trips to Nairn, Balmoral etc.

kennethbX271QQ

Currently staying here as a base for work for 3 nights. If I can get finished I will be leaving early. The location is perfect but the accommodation is run down with mould in the bathroom being freshly painted over. Previous occupants must have had a dog with them as dog hair everywhere. Double bed is tiny. There is what can only be described as a funky smell in the cabin.| One plus is the shower is great apart from the rather unpleasant looking shower curtain that seems to want to cling to you. Cabins feel unsecured as window latches are not very good. | Not what you expect from a McDonalds resort|It’s cheap and you get what you pay for