St Magnus Bay Hotel

Hotels
8.9 (143 reviews)
Shetland , Hillswick , gb

Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Non-smoking rooms
Restaurant
Room service
Terrace
Family rooms
Pets allowed
Darts
Non-smoking throughout
Kid meals
Coffee Shop on site
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Spacious rooms
Friendly staff
Great food
Cons:
Cleanliness issues
Higher price compared to others

Categories

Cleanliness
7.9
Propreté pas super nette mentionnée dans une critique.
Service
9.4
Le personnel est très amical et attentif, comme mentionné dans plusieurs critiques.
Location
9.4
Excellent emplacement, mentionné dans plusieurs critiques.
Room Quality
8.9
Chambres spacieuses et confortables mentionnées dans plusieurs critiques.
Amenities
8.9
Absence de recharge en savon et de thé/café soulignée, mais les installations sont généralement bien.
Value for Money
8.4
Mention d'un prix un peu élevé par rapport aux autres hôtels.
Food and Beverage
9.4
Excellente nourriture et petit déjeuner très bien mentionnés dans plusieurs critiques.
Overall Experience
8.9
Expérience globale positive avec plusieurs commentaires favorables.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-11 13:48

Property Description

Luxurious Accommodations
Experience the charm of St Magnus Bay Hotel with its en suite bedrooms featuring modern amenities. The Bridal Suite offers a touch of indulgence with a spa bath for relaxation after a long day exploring Shetland.

Gourmet Dining Experience
Indulge in a culinary journey at the hotel's cosy dining room, boasting a delectable a la carte menu. Enjoy your meal while taking in the striking views of the surroundings, creating a truly memorable dining experience.

Historic Charm and Hospitality
Immerse yourself in the history of St Magnus Bay Hotel, once a favorite spot of renowned figures like W. H. Auden and Christopher Isherwood. The friendly and hospitable hosts ensure a warm welcome, making your stay truly unforgettable.

Book now to experience the perfect blend of luxury, history, and hospitality at St Magnus Bay Hotel.

Important information:

Please note there will be ongoing renovations for many years to come but work is now very low key and is unlike to impact on your stay.

Please note that pets are only allowed in Standard Double Room with an additional charge of £35 per night and make sure to inform the property during the booking process via the Special request box if you plan to bring pets. Also please note that pets are not permitted in the dining areas of the property.Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Property Policies

  • Parking

    No parking available.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    You haven't added any cots.
    You haven't added any extra beds.

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed. Charges may be applicable.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in the hotel rooms and is free of charge.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.9
Based on 143 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.9
Service: 9.4
Location: 9.4
Room Quality: 8.9
Amenities: 8.9
Value for Money: 8.4
Food and Beverage: 9.4
Overall Experience: 8.9
L
Lori couple us
10
Would recommend this hotel to anyone visiting the Shetland Islands.
Pros:

This building is old and well kept. It was a great location from which you could adventure round the isles or sit and relax. Andrea and Paul are exceptional hosts and the food was spectacular.

2026-03-20 via Nuitee
M
Mathilde L family_with_children fr
7
Pros:

Chambre spacieuse, jolie vue sur l'océan et bon petit déjeuner complet.

Cons:

Propreté pas super nette, pas de recharge en savon, shampoing ni thé ou café au cours du séjour.

2025-10-13 via Nuitee
L
Laudy couple nl
9
We will definitely come back
Pros:

Gorgeous location that is easily reachable by public transport from Lerwick. The owners are very, very friendly and invested in the place, working hard to make it last another lifetime. The food was delicious too. Well prepared and fresh. We had lovely chats with both the owner, locals and other guests. The place really calls for good conversations.

Cons:

If you are on a tight budget, it may be challenging. There are no cooking facilities and the place is relatively remote.

2025-10-07 via Nuitee
C
Cristina solo_traveller it
8
Eccezionale, comfort e ottima cucina. Ideale punto di partenza per escursioni nel Northmavine
Pros:

La posizione è eccezionale. La struttura, per quanto un po' datata, è molto confortevole. I titolari sono molto gentili, così come tutto il personale.

2025-10-03 via Nuitee
E
Els couple nl
9
Fijn hotel, geweldige ligging, tamelijk duur
Pros:

Fijn sfeervol hotel. Het oude gebouw is mooi gerenoveerd, de kamers zijn ruim en comfortabel. Voortreffelijk ontbijt, goed restaurant. En een leuke pub om iets te drinken.
Dichtbij Eshaness, een geweldig uitkijkpunt. En een prachtig uitzicht

Cons:

Wij vinden het vrij duur vergeleken met andere hotels. In de pub bleef het personeel luidruchtig aan de bar zitten

2025-09-28 via Nuitee
M
MURIELE couple fr
8
Endroit idéal, vue magnifique sur la baie, le personnel est très amicale. Petit déjeuner très bien
Pros:

L’emplacement, le restaurant,le petit déjeuner

Cons:

rien

2025-09-19 via Nuitee
B
Becky couple us
10
2025-09-11 via Nuitee
G
Gary couple us
10
Pros:

Charming property, great hosts, great food. Lots of nearby hiking available.

2025-09-09 via Nuitee
B
BÉAL couple fr
9
Pros:

très bonne cuisine !
le petit-déjeuner était cuisiné et excellent
le personnel du restaurant attentif
le restaurant est d'un bon rapport qualité-prix pour les Shetland
l'hôtel est parfait pour un séjour au bout du monde

2025-08-20 via Nuitee
G
Giorgio couple ch
9
Great hotel in a wonderful place
Pros:

Wonderful location and high quality staying for a somehow remote place. Great restaurant. Nice room, very quiet.

Cons:

Days are long in summer... it's a pity that dinner times are so early

2025-08-19 via Nuitee
K
Kathryn couple us
9
Lovely location, pretty historic building
Pros:

Beautiful, quiet location.

Cons:

Could use some maintenance.

2025-08-17 via Nuitee
C
Chin yu lawrence couple gb
8
2025-08-14 via Nuitee
A
Astrid solo_traveller no
10
2025-08-11 via Nuitee
S
Susan young couple au
8
We had an excellent time thank you.
Pros:

Excellent location for otter watching early in the morning in the quiet bay in front of the hotel. The breakfast was fantastic and the staff were wonderful. Very helpful and friendly at all times.

Cons:

The linen was a bit tired but other than that everything was fine.

2025-07-31 via Nuitee
P
Pahlbod young couple gb
10
Exceptional
2025-07-29 via Nuitee
D
David young couple gb
10
Exceptional
2025-07-18 via Nuitee
A
Adrian young couple gb
10
Fabulous place for a break in a great location
Pros:

The staff were fantastic. They were incredibly friendly and helpful and made our stay really enjoyable. The location was fabulous over looking the bay. The bedroom was large with a very comfortable bed.

2025-07-18 via Nuitee
R
Ramaharris young couple gb
9
Superb
2025-07-01 via Nuitee
M
Marek family with young children no
9
Superb
2025-06-29 via Nuitee
B
Barry young couple au
10
Exceptional
Pros:

We stayed in the self-contained Loft apartment associated with the St Magnus Bay Hotel, about 300 metres up the hill from the hotel on the edge of the village. We had fantastic views over the bay from the front windows and great views from the kitchen over another bay. From the front door it was a short walk to a beach and the start of the Ness of Hillswick circuit. There was a good store in the village if you wanted to be self-sufficient. We ate in the St Magnus Bay Hotel every night and had the included breakfasts there too. Excellent food. We stayed several nights and met most of the staff - all genuinely lovely people.

Great accomodation in a dramatic out of the way location - yet only 45 minutes drive to Lerwick.

Cons:

The Loft bedroom is spacious but the ceiling is relatively low. At 5 ft 7 inches I had to bend slightly. We used the washing machine while there but it was difficult to get going despite being relatively new - something that needs to be fixed. One of the front windows needs some repair work as it didn't close completely at the top - tissue paper pushed into the gaps minimized the inflow of cold air during a storm, but it obviously needs attention.

2025-06-23 via Nuitee