Broomhall Castle Hotel: Your Fairytale Scottish Getaway Awaits!
Broomhall Castle Hotel: Your Fairytale Scottish Getaway Awaits!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this is gonna be one messy, opinionated, and hopefully helpful review. We're diving deep into this hotel, and I'm not holding back. Forget the polished brochure speak; this is the real deal.
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First things first: Accessibility. This is HUGE for me, as I've got a family member with limited mobility. The website said it was accessible, but you know how that goes. Lies, I tell you, lies! (Okay, maybe not lies, but definitely… nuanced interpretations of the word "accessible.")
- Wheelchair accessible: Okay, the lobby seemed decent. The ramps weren't too steep, and there was a proper elevator. But… getting to some of the restaurants proved a bit of a maze. One time, we had to go through a back hallway that smelled suspiciously of old mop water. Not ideal, but we made it.
- Facilities for disabled guests: This is where things got a little tricky. The room itself was supposed to be accessible, but the bathroom was… well, let's just say it required a contortionist to maneuver the wheelchair. The grab bars were there, thankfully, but the layout? Questionable at best. This needs improvement. Majorly.
- Elevator: Thankfully, present and mostly reliable. (Except for that one time it got stuck between floors. Minor panic attack, but otherwise fine.)
Overall Accessibility Score: Mediocre (and that’s being generous). Needs serious attention.
Next up: On-site accessible restaurants / lounges. Ugh. See above. Getting to the places was a struggle. Once inside, the seating arrangements were okay, but maneuvering around crowded tables with a wheelchair… let’s just say you’ll make some friends. (Or enemies. Depends on your mood.)
Now, to the good stuff… or at least, potentially good stuff: Dining, drinking, and snacking! (Because who doesn’t love food?)
- Restaurants: The variety was impressive – Asian cuisine, international cuisine, and a vegetarian restaurant?! Score! Of course, the vegetarian place was tucked away in a corner and looked suspiciously empty most of the time, which is a red flag! I hope it didn't get the short end of the stick.
- Breakfast [buffet]: This was the chaos I had hoped for. The buffet was… okay. The usual suspects: scrambled eggs (meh), bacon (greasy, but what else do you expect), pastries (stale-ish). The Asian breakfast options were better, actually! The congee was decent, and the dim sum was surprisingly good! The only real issue was the crowds. Expect a little elbowing, folks. It’s every man/woman for themselves at the breakfast buffet.
- Room service [24-hour]: This was a lifesaver after a long travel day. The service was prompt, even if the food wasn't exactly Michelin-star quality.
- Poolside bar: Ah, the sanctuary! Drinks with a view. I could get used to this life.
- Coffee shop: (I'm a coffee addict, so this is crucial!). Decent coffee, but slow service. Bring a book. Or just people watch.
Dining Verdict: A mixed bag. Some hits, some misses. The breakfast buffet could use some serious crowd control. And the vegetarian restaurant needs some love.
Speaking of love… Ways to Relax!
- Pool with view: The photos online did not lie. The pool was gorgeous! Infinity edge, overlooking… well, you'll have to see to believe it. It was the highlight, hands down. I spent hours just floating there, watching the world go by. Bliss.
- Spa/Sauna: I'm not a spa person, but my partner dragged me in. The sauna was hot (duh) and the steamroom was…steamy. They had body wraps and body scrubs, but I’m more of a "get in and get out" kind of guy.
- Fitness center: I can't speak on the gym as I failed at the gym altogether.
Relaxation Score: The pool rescued everything.
Now, for the Internet situation…
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! YES! And it actually worked! A rare treat.
- Internet Access – Wireless: Fantastic. Couldn't have survived without it.
- Internet [LAN]: I didn't even check, but wireless was enough!
Internet Score: A+! They got this right.
Let's talk about Cleanliness and safety. This is a big deal, especially these days.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Good to know!
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Okay.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Good to know.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: I didn’t opt out.
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere. Which I appreciate.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Seemed like it. They were wearing masks and generally being cautious
- Cashless payment service: Convenient!
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Mostly observed, but crowded areas were a problem.
- Safe dining setup: It seemed okay.
- Doctor/nurse on call: Hope I don’t need it.
- Fire extinguisher/Smoke alarms: Present and accounted for.
Cleanliness & Safety Score: Passable. But there's always room for improvement, especially in crowded areas.
Services and Conveniences:
- Air conditioning in public area, in all rooms: Yes! Glorious air conditioning!
- Concierge: Helpful! Answered all my questions and got me where I needed to be.
- Daily housekeeping: Excellent!
- Laundry service/Dry cleaning/Ironing service: Thank goodness!
- Luggage storage: Easy and convenient.
- Elevator: Worked and was clean, what more could you ask for?
- Currency exchange: Handy!
- Car Park [free of charge], Car Park [on-site]: Very convenient
- Doorman: Felt fancy!
Services & Conveniences Score: Solid. They've thought of most things.
For the Kids:
- Family/child friendly: They seemed to cater to families, but I don’t have kids, so I'm not the best judge.
- Babysitting service: Good to know.
- Kids meal: Probably exists, but I didn't look.
For the kids Score: Probably good, but I didn't use it.
Available in all rooms:
- Air conditioning: Yes!
- Wake-up service: Yep!
- Free Wi-Fi: Thank God!
- Hair dryer: Yes!
- Mini bar: Yes!
- Safe Box: Yes!
- Coffee/tea maker, complimentary tea: Yes!
- Toiletries: Yes!
- Hot water.
- Window that opens.
Rooms Score: Generally good, but sometimes messy with the structure of the entire place.
Getting Around:
- Airport transfer: Easy to arrange.
- Taxi service: Also very easy to arrange.
- Car park [free of charge], Car Park [on-site]: Convenient
- Bicycle parking:
The Quirks and the Quirky Observations:
- The hotel staff were generally lovely, always smiling. Which is great, but also… a little too perfect at times? Made me wonder if they were robots.
- There was a shrine tucked away in a corner of the hotel. Unexpected, but hey, okay!
- I noticed a proposal spot. Romantic! I'm a hopeless romantic, so this got to me! (Even though, you know, I wasn't proposing.)
- The room decorations were slightly dated, but generally fine.
- The soundproofing wasn't perfect. I heard a lot of the neighbors and that was distracting.
Final Verdict:
Overall, it's a mixed bag. The potential is there. The pool is a showstopper. The Wi-Fi is reliable. But the accessibility issues are a major letdown. The dining is hit or miss. The service is great. Bottom line? Do your research, know your needs, and manage your expectations. Would I go back? Maybe. The pool is tempting… But they need to fix those accessibility issues. Seriously. Recommendation: 3 out of 5 stars (with a strong suggestion for improvements)
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Okay, buckle up buttercup, because this isn't your grandma's itinerary. This is… my Broomhall Castle adventure, and it's gonna be a bumpy ride!
Day 1: Arrival and a Whole Lotta "Wow!" (Plus, Maybe I Should Have Packed More Socks)
- 1:00 PM: Oh man, the journey. From… well, let’s just say the journey involved a train, a taxi driver who seemed to know every backroad in Scotland (and probably half the sheep’s names), and my general sense of direction utterly failing me. But FINALLY! The gates of Broomhall Castle swung open, and I… I think I actually gasped. Not a dignified gasp, a full-on “WHOA, IS THIS REAL LIFE?!” gasp. The sheer… castle-ness of the place is bonkers. Way grander than the pictures, and already I’m worried about breaking something. I’m clumsy!
- 1:30 PM: Check-in. The lobby is… well, it's like stepping into a historical drama. Or a really posh museum. I'm pretty sure I saw a suit of armor wink at me. The staff, bless their hearts, are impossibly polite. I felt horribly underdressed in my travel-wrinkled jeans. (Note to self: Pack a nicer outfit. And maybe iron it.)
- 2:00 PM: Room reveal time! Oh, sweet merciful heavens. My room is bigger than my entire apartment. Four-poster bed, a window overlooking… a freaking lake! (I think? It’s definitely water. Maybe a loch? Geography is not my strong suit.) I'm already half-tempted to just stay here and never leave.
- 2:30 PM: Quick unpack. And by "quick," I mean flailing around, losing my toothbrush (still haven't found it), and realizing I only packed three pairs of socks. Scotland, you icy temptress, you're gonna make me cold!
- 3:00 PM: Castle exploration! I'm wandering around, getting lost, and basically gawking. The stained glass is INSANE. The artwork is… intimidatingly impressive. I'm pretty sure I stumbled into a library the size of a small town. This place is legit haunted by history and grand architecture.
- 4:00 PM: Afternoon tea. This is where I feel I truly, deeply, belong. Tiny sandwiches, scones with clotted cream (OMG, that cream!), delicate pastries… Pure, unadulterated bliss. I demolished everything, and I have no regrets. No. Regrets. I could get very used to this.
- 5:00 PM: Strolling around the grounds. Trying to channel my inner landed gentry. Failing miserably. I spent a solid ten minutes attempting to open a gate that was already open and then tripped over a thankfully-small twig! But the views are amazing, and that fresh air is intoxicating.
- 6:00 PM: Nap time. Too much fancy food is hard work. Also, those socks are starting to give me the chills, and I’ve decided the whole castle is trying to steal my energy.
- 7:30 PM: Dinner at the hotel restaurant. The food is fantastic, fancy, and a bit intimidating on the menu. I got something, and I'm still not sure what it was but it tasted amazing. I’m making friends with a couple at the next table who are very clearly seasoned castle-goers. They’re giving me tips. Apparently, I need to embrace the old world and avoid looking like a tourist. Easier said than done.
- 9:00 PM: Drinks at the bar. The bartender is amazing and makes the most incredible cocktails. I'm starting to feel a warm, fuzzy glow. Maybe it's the drinks, maybe it's the ambiance, maybe it's the fact that I'm officially on vacation.
- 10:00 PM: Bedtime. Too much excitement for one day. A final glance at the lake (or loch? I'm still not sure). I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.
Day 2: The Stirling Adventure, and Trying Not to Fall into the King’s Well
- 8:00 AM: Wake up! Thank goodness for that super comfy bed. Still no toothbrush, though. I'm starting to wonder if it's been swallowed by a particularly mischievous ghost.
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. More amazing food. I’m developing a serious craving for more scones. And the full Scottish breakfast! Oh, my heart (and my stomach!).
- 10:00 AM: Excursion to Stirling Castle! I hired a private car this time – I'm done with dodgy backroads! The castle itself is incredible. The history is fascinating (I swear, I'm actually learning!), but the crowds… oh boy. I'm sure I bumped into at least twenty people. And the views from the castle walls are breathtaking. I stood there, trying to comprehend how many battles took place there. It's mind-boggling.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch in Stirling. Found a tiny pub with amazing soup. And whisky! Because… Scotland.
- 1:30 PM: Back to the castle. Attempted to channel my inner medieval queen. Failed again. I'm absolutely convinced I would have been executed within an hour.
- 3:00 PM: Walk around the town. So quaint! So charming! And the cobbles are determined to trip me up. I think I now have a deep appreciation for walking sticks.
- 4:00 PM: Back to Broomhall. I think I’m getting used to the grandeur, or maybe it’s just that I’m too knackered to care.
- 5:00 PM: Another walk on the grounds. Got an idea. Trying to find the lake, or loch, and then sit, and do absolutely nothing but breathe.
- 6:00 PM: Pre-dinner drinks in the lounge. I met a very chatty older gentleman who proceeded to tell me the entire history of the castle, in great detail. He was fascinating. Turns out, the castle has a very interesting past, and that "whispering" from the rooms is the result of wind tunnels.
- 7:30 PM: Dinner again! The food, the atmosphere… pure indulgence. I feel like I should apologize to my bank account.
- 9:00 PM: More drinks? Why not! I’ve decided to embrace the castle lifestyle.
- 10:30 PM: Bedtime. Exhausted, happy, and utterly smitten with Broomhall Castle. Scotland, you beautiful, unpredictable place, you've got a hold on me.
Day 3: Leaving with a Heavy Heart, and the Promise to Return (and Maybe Pack More Socks!)
- 8:00 AM: Packed my belongings. Still no toothbrush! Is this a sign? Am I meant to stay here forever?
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. One last glorious Scottish breakfast. Scones. Oh, the scones.
- 10:00 AM: Final stroll through the castle. I’m saying goodbye to the suits of armor, the stained glass, and the feeling of being utterly transported. I'm convinced I’ll be back, maybe with a partner, maybe with a family, but definitely, I'm coming back.
- 11:00 AM: Check out. And, just like that, my fairytale is ending. The staff bids a warm farewell, and I’m fighting back tears.
- 11:30 AM: The taxi ride. Back to reality!
- 12:00 PM: Thinking about packing more socks and maybe taking up archery.
- 1:00 PM: The train station. Heading back to the real world. But my heart? My heart's still in that castle.
Okay, Seriously, Why a Tiny House? Are You Nuts?
Alright, look, I've been asked this a MILLION times. And yes, sometimes, the answer is a resounding YES, I AM a little bit nuts. But the real reason is... well, it started with a Pinterest board overflowing with adorable Lilliputian abodes. Then, I started crunching numbers. My rent was eating me alive! And I was like, "Hey, maybe, just maybe, I can stop shoveling money into a landlord's pocket and build something *actual*. Something... mine."
The romantic ideal? Freedom! Minimalism! Waking up to birdsong and the gentle sway of trees! The reality? Turns out, building a house is like... a really intense, expensive, soul-crushing jigsaw puzzle. But yeah, freedom. Eventually.
Did you actually *build* it yourself? (And if so, are you still friends with your hands?)
Oh, the self-build. The Everest I swore I'd conquer. Yes, *mostly* me. I mean, I definitely didn't do *everything*. I’m not a structural engineer, and I’m pretty sure I'd set the whole thing on fire if I tried to handle the electrical. So, I hired professionals for the important stuff. But the walls, the painting, the agonizing debate over the *perfect* shade of blue for the cabinets? All me.
And my hands? They're... acquainted. I’ve got scars from a rogue jigsaw (don't ask), a permanent callus on my palm from hammering (thanks, Stanley!), and a deep and abiding respect for the invention of work gloves.
Moral of the story: Know your limits and when to call in the reinforcements (and the professionals). Your sanity – and your fingers – will thank you.
Okay, What About the Bathroom? (Because, you know, *needs*)
Ah, the toilet. The true measure of a tiny house's livability. Look, let's be honest. A composting toilet sounds great in theory: "eco-friendly, sustainable, bla bla bla." The reality? It's… a commitment. A commitment to… ahem… managing your waste. I went through a whole philosophical crisis about the importance of poop management.
I ended up going with a simple RV-style toilet (gasp!). No regrets. It flushes. It does the job. And it doesn't smell *too* bad. I've had to learn to be a minimalist about this, and the composting toilet just wasn't for me.
Budget. The B Word. How much did this *actually* cost? (And am I going to need to sell a kidney?)
Okay, deep breaths. The budget. It's a beast. I thought I was being responsible, making spreadsheets, tracking every penny. I even had a Pinterest board dedicated to frugality. But the truth is, things always cost more than you think. ALWAYS.
I started with a vague idea of X, which quickly ballooned to… well, significant. I'm not proud of the final number. But I did learn to become a ruthless negotiator. And I got *really* good at finding deals on Craigslist. So, no, you probably won't need to sell a kidney. But you might have to eat ramen for a while.
What's the hardest part? What would you tell someone else?
The hardest part? Besides the constant stress? The endless decisions! "What kind of wood? What size window? Do I *really* need that exposed beam?" Every little detail matters, and they all need to be figured out ASAP. It's exhausting!
If I could go back in time and give myself ONE piece of advice? "Don't be a perfectionist. Finish it. It's okay if it's not perfect. You'll still have a *house*." Oh, and maybe hire that electrician from the start. Just a thought.
What about the minimalist lifestyle? Is it all sunshine and daisies?
Sunshine and daisies? Hah! Okay, I am a minimalist compared to my old self but I can't say I embraced it fully. You *will* declutter. You *will* realize how much junk you've accumulated over the years. However, I have kept all the things I loved.
The tricky part? Living with less also means you have to really *think* about what you bring into your life. There's no space for impulse buys or that "I-might-need-it-someday" stuff. I’ve had to become ruthless.
Do you ever regret it?
Oh, yes. Sometimes, when the rain is coming sideways, and my tiny house feels like it's sitting on a tiny house raft, or when I am cramped while cooking, or when I am so tired and realize I still need to finish the last wall panel. I feel overwhelmed and I question all my life choices.
But then… I wake up in my own little world. My own space. My own… everything. And then I remember, "Oh, right. I did this." It's a flawed, messy, challenging, beautiful, and utterly *mine* thing. And despite all the headaches, the money-sucking vortex, and the moments I wanted to set the whole thing on fire... I wouldn't change it. Okay, maybe just a few things. But yeah. No regrets.
What kind of tiny house do you have?
I am still kind of confused. It is a trailer-based tiny house, I built it on a double-axel trailer because I thought I would move it a lot. Which I haven't, I have been stuck in my home now for 2 years. The main reason I chose a trailer is because it is easy to get the permits. I should have done more research on this.
It's a long and narrow one. The trailer bed supports a 7.5' x 20' build, because that is the maximum length IUnbelievable Views! Shell Hotel's Mao Mountain Escape (Zhenjiang)
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