Macdonald Pittodrie House

Very enjoyable short stay. We...

Liked: Outstanding position in beautiful countryside. Good sized room and lovely public rooms. Friendly and helpful staff.
Disliked: Could be a little cleaner in certain areas

Fantastic, would highly recommend one...

Liked: Lovely building and grounds, staff were really friendly, breakfast was amazing though expensive if you don't have it included in your room price though (We did) some of the best Black Pudding I've ever had!

We will not be recommending...

Liked: Looking on to bennachie
Disliked: Cleanlieness of the room as we asked for our room to be cleaned due to coming back later in the afternoon and hadn’t been done and only the bins were emptied, the towels we used were never changed 1st day and glasses used were never cleaned, the toiletries and the tea and coffee was never refilled, on the second day bed was pulled up and not straightened out or changed as there was blood on the quilt cover and pillow case and also the service of breakfasts in the mornings were a lot to be desired due to having approx 45 mins with no explanation what the hold up was, cold porridge, no ham in omelette, orange juice instead of apple juice

Exceptional

History, walks, fine dining and...

Liked: I think it's a home away from home that everyone dreams of. Unless you own a stately home yourself and if so, you can share your experience with the rest of us! We've been at Pittodrie for about a week in May 2025. It felt like you're on set of a period drama when the props were taken straight out of an antique furniture shop. Maybe they really were? Forgot to ask. I loved the strenuous walks around the neighborhood, climbing Bennachie mountain to see the old Pictish fort and stopping right before reaching the top. The hotel had nothing to do with it, it was my fear of heights. But the staff definitely patched my underachievement wound with late-night drinks at the lounge. Seriously, plan for that, even if you're there just for day. Let yourself soak in the cozy atmosphere. Or stay in your room, have the ice bucket filled, nurse a drink of your choice in hand and read a book. No one will disturb you. Around Pittodrie: go to Castle Fraser to hear the whispers of the history again; take a look at 'them and us' French and Scottish impressionist exhibition at Aberdeen Art Gallery; feel the wind blowing in your face when you're up the hill at Dunnottar Castle ruins in Stonehaven. That's what we did, (Take a deep breath if you have fear of heights, too, hold the rail firmly, it's doable) The staff can book you a taxi to Inverurie, about 20 minutes' ride, and you go on from there by train. In at home: try every item on the menu (especially dill salmon and cajun fries with garlic butter); take a picture of the dish if you feel like it, it's an art form, compositionally on the plate as well as taste-wise; take a sneak peek at a Scottish wedding if you're lucky. Stay away if you've seen too many in your life.Have fun!______Many thanks to the staff. You made our stay unforgettable and we're coming back for more exploration.
Disliked: Nothing at all. No one was there to ruin the experience. Happens to the best of us, right?

Exceptional

Comfy bed, shower feeble, staff...

Liked: Nice area, old worldly
Disliked: Fabric of the building a bit run down and needing maintenance

Bed cleanliness appalling. Shower broken....

Liked: The grounds are very impressive. These and the provenance of the property deliver a sense of history. Most of the internal materials and fittings are of good quality and work well with the older structural parts of the building. The food was very good and of value. The choice at breakfast was limited. For example a three star property in Cullen offered kippers for breakfast.
Disliked: The choice at breakfast was limited for those on a gluten free diet. Maybe traditional kippers as offered elsewhere….Our room was poorly presented. The duvet cover had a red mark on the outside. On turning down to go to bed, many hairs were revealed and even a toe nail or dry skin. A bulb in the standard lamp was blown. The shower head dropped and had to be hand held. The service was variable. Some staff members showed genuine care and kindness. Most seemed to be acting and insincere.

A beautiful old building, with...

Liked: For a vegetarian the dinner menu was limited, but overall there was not a large choice. The breakfast was much better. The staff were excellent, knowledgable, and clearly very well trained.
Disliked: Only early the limited choices on the dinner menu for a vegetarian.