The Dowans Hotel of Speyside

Hotels
9.2 (333 reviews)
Aberlour , Aberlour , gb

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Restaurant
Business center
Heating
Terrace
Garden
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Great location
Fantastic food
Cons:
Cleanliness issues
Small room sizes

Categories

Cleanliness
8.51
Some reviews mentioned cleanliness issues, particularly regarding room service.
Service
9.98
Staff were frequently praised for their friendliness and helpfulness.
Location
9.52
The hotel is well-situated for visiting distilleries and attractions.
Room Quality
8.47
Some rooms were described as small and lacking privacy, though others were comfortable.
Amenities
9
Amenities such as a whiskey collection were appreciated but complaints about the gym were noted.
Value for Money
8.96
Mixed reviews; some felt it was worth the price while others noted service shortcomings.
Food and Beverage
9.51
Food quality received positive feedback, especially breakfast.
Overall Experience
9.68
Most reviewers expressed a very enjoyable stay despite minor issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-16 00:50

Property Description

Scenic Location and Activities
Perched above Charlestown of Aberlour, The Dowans Hotel of Speyside offers breathtaking views of the River Spey. Ideal for shooting, fishing, and exploring whiskey distilleries, it promises a memorable stay amidst nature's beauty.

Comfortable Accommodation
With en suite rooms providing stunning garden views, this elegant country hotel ensures a relaxing break for all guests. Wake up to the sight of River Spey from the front rooms, immersing yourself in the tranquility of the surrounding woodland.

Convenient Amenities
Enjoy complimentary WiFi and on-site parking during your stay at The Dowans Hotel, making your visit both comfortable and convenient. Perfectly situated for outdoor activities and distillery tours, this hotel caters to every guest's needs.

Experience the charm of Speyside at The Dowans Hotel - book your stay now for an unforgettable getaway.

Important information:

If you plan to check-in after 21:00 please let the property know in advance, as it is a small family-run hotel and there is not 24-hour front desk.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.
A deposit may be required at the property.

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

Property Policies

  • Parking

    Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Internet

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

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for £15 per person per stay when using an available cot.
    You haven't added any extra beds.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

9.2
Based on 333 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.51
Service: 9.98
Location: 9.52
Room Quality: 8.47
Amenities: 9
Value for Money: 8.96
Food and Beverage: 9.51
Overall Experience: 9.68
R
Rachel • family_with_children • us
10
Would stay again for any future trips to Speyside.
Pros:

We loved the location, staff, property and food. Highly recommend eating here - the food was incredible. We also did afternoon tea which was lovely. Staff is friendly and accommodating. Location is prime - easy to walk into the little town of Aberlour and walk along the Speyside river trail. We used taxis to get to some distilleries in Craigellachie and Dufftown. I'm glad we stayed in Aberlour in general, there seems more to do and more accessible than a few of the other towns.

Cons:

Rooms are on the small side. I stayed in double room as solo traveler - wouldn't recommend a couple staying in there. My mom stayed in the exec suite and would recommend that for a couple traveling for a little more space/comfort. Otherwise comfortable and cute rooms.

2026-07-11 • via Nuitee
J
Jan • couple • de
8
Cons:

Kleine Betten im Einzelzimmer

2026-07-08 • via Nuitee
P
Paul • couple • us
10
Wonderful stop along the way of our trip. Will definitely recommend to anyone traveling in the area.
Pros:

Beautiful venue and grounds, excellent food and loved lounging in The Still. The staff were all very friendly, welcoming and accommodating.

Cons:

Room was too warm and was difficult to regulate the temperature to a more comfortable environment.

2026-07-05 • via Nuitee
L
Luc • solo_traveller • fr
9
2026-07-04 • via Nuitee
R
Rade • family_with_children • gb
10
Lovely hotel close to many local attractions: great value.
Pros:

A lovely character hotel in a great location. Set in a lovely garden. Easy walking distance to many local attractions.
Clean well equipped room, friendly and helpful staff, and a great breakfast.

2026-07-03 • via Nuitee
R
roberto • couple • fr
10
Parfait
Pros:

Le cadre , la salle spécifique whisky

2026-07-02 • via Nuitee
P
Patricia • couple • ch
10
Magnifique séjour
Pros:

Nous avons passé une nuit dans ce magnifique hôtel, idéalement situé. Dès notre arrivée, nous avons été accueillis avec beaucoup de professionnalisme et de gentillesse par une équipe particulièrement serviable.

La salle de dégustation de whisky est exceptionnelle, avec plus de 700 bouteilles à découvrir. Le personnel est passionné, très compétent et prodigue d'excellents conseils, ce qui rend l'expérience encore plus agréable.

Les repas étaient délicieux, et notre chambre, spacieuse, moderne et parfaitement confortable.

Nous avons été enchantés par notre séjour et reviendrons avec le plus grand plaisir. Une adresse que nous recommandons sans hésitation !

Cons:

Rien

2026-07-01 • via Nuitee
R
Robert • couple • nl
10
Mooi hotel in een fantastisch mooie omgeving
Pros:

Vriendelijk personeel, prima kamers en bedden, heel goed eten en een prachtige whiskykamer

Cons:

Geen airco in de kamers

2026-06-27 • via Nuitee
M
M. • extended_group • nl
9
Op loopafstand van de distilleerderijen, een fantastische plek met uitstekend personeel.
2026-06-22 • via Nuitee
H
Holger • couple • de
10
2026-06-20 • via Nuitee
A
Andreas • family_with_children • at
9
2026-06-18 • via Nuitee
Z
Zlatko • couple • au
7
Great old building and wonderful room - service needs to be better.
Pros:

Great old building that has been renovated really well. Loved the room and the amenities in it. Bar was lovely and convenient location to the various distilleries. Spoke with one of the owners over breakfast and she was lovely, providing us with the history of the building and original owners.

Cons:

Unfortunately, and probably because we’re in a remote location, service wasn’t up to expectations. Our dinner waitress said she couldn’t open wine bottles, we had to walk around at breakfast time to find someone to seat us and get our order, etc. This was disappointing considering the price paid. We also found it a very loud hotel - we were given a room above the bar so didn’t get to sleep on Sat evening until after midnight.

2026-06-15 • via Nuitee
P
Pamela • couple • us
10
Beautiful botel
Pros:

The nicest hotel we stayed in our entire trip! Beautiful and just excellent all around. The food was excellent. In a great central location in Speyside.

2026-06-14 • via Nuitee
N
Neil • couple • gb
8
2026-06-14 • via Nuitee
F
fkrauchi • extended_group • ch
8
Hôtel très confortable et bien situé
Pros:

Très bel hotel et bien situé dans le speyside pour des visites de distilleries. L'hôtel est confortable et on y mange bien

Cons:

Il nous a paru bizarre de devoir s'installer au bar afin de pouvoir commander le repas du soir. Normalement on se met à table, on reçoit une carte, on commande et on boit un apéritif. Ici bizarrement on ne peut pas s'assoir à table avant d'avoir commandé. Et le personnel n'était pas très agréable...

2026-06-04 • via Nuitee
A
Alastair • couple • it
10
2026-06-03 • via Nuitee
D
Dennis • couple • nl
10
Heerlijk verblijf in Aberlour!
Pros:

Vriendelijk personeel, uitstekend ontbijt & diner, fijne loungeruimte en terras, netjes en comfortabele ruimtes.

Cons:

Als we dan toch 1 punt voor verbetering mogen geven dan is het de WiFi; signaal is niet geweldig.

2026-06-01 • via Nuitee
N
Noa • solo_traveller • il
9
2026-06-01 • via Nuitee
M
Monish • couple • us
9
Great natural setting, posh room and great location
Pros:

Loved the outdoor natural setting of the hotel. We enjoyed sitting outside catching the views and whiskey tasting. The Scottish Scallops at dinner was absolutely the best. The staff was overall very friendly and helpful.

Cons:

The room got warm in late May when we there and we opened up the windows but it still felt stuffy. The decor of the breakfast and dinner is very industrial. Need some nice lighting, flowers and paintings to soften things up. The breakfast was not the best and we had better breakfast at the Ravenscourt Bread & Breakfast. The lamb roast at dinner was overcooked and dry.

2026-05-29 • via Nuitee
S
Sergio • couple • ch
9
2026-05-26 • via Nuitee