Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Restaurant
Business center
Family rooms
Pets allowed
Luggage storage
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Excellent/central location
Friendly, helpful staff
Clean linen and good showers reported by several guests
On-site parking available
In-room fridge provided in some rooms
Reasonable price relative to nearby cities for some guests
Spacious/well-ventilated room reported by some
Cons:
Rooms and property described as run-down/dated and needing decoration
Worn/dirty carpets, bird droppings and cleanliness concerns
Small or uncomfortable beds; awkward bed placement
Noisy bar/restaurant with karaoke and disturbance
Breakfast problems (not honoured or unavailable)
Lack of some amenities (no hairdryer, limited plugs)
Check-in signage/navigation issues and fire-alarm testing disturbance
Uneven bathroom floors, creaky floors and general maintenance issues

Categories

Cleanliness
5.5
Mixed reports: some guests praised clean linen and an excellent shower, but multiple reviews cite worn/dirty carpets, bird droppings on windows, cigarette burns and an overall 'not properly cleaned' feel.
Service
9.3
Generally praised: staff repeatedly described as friendly, helpful and a highlight of the stay, though check-in signage/navigation issues and occasional procedural problems (breakfast booking dispute, alarm testing) were noted.
Location
9.7
Consistently positive: several guests called the location perfect/central and highlighted convenience to town and the railway station.
Room Quality
4.8
Frequently negative: rooms described as tired/dated, creaky floors, small or uncomfortable beds, uneven bathroom floors and decor in need of refurbishment.
Amenities
7.4
Mixed: positives include on-site parking and in-room fridge; negatives include missing hairdryer, limited plugs/accessibility and occasional lack of expected facilities (e.g., no hot breakfast when chef absent).
Value for Money
6.7
Mixed perceptions: some felt the hotel was expensive for its condition, others thought prices were reasonable compared with local alternatives.
Food and Beverage
4.5
Negative: breakfast problems (not honoured or unavailable), noisy bar/restaurant atmosphere with karaoke and disturbance; a few guests did not use F&B due to conditions.
Overall Experience
7.3
Mixed overall: strong positives (location, friendly staff, some clean rooms) tempered by tired rooms, cleanliness issues, noise and occasional service lapses; several guests said they'd return because of staff/location while others would not.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-08-13 15:08

Property Description

Charming Accommodation in Dingwall

Convenient Location: Situated just 23 km from Inverness Castle, The National Hotel offers easy access to popular landmarks and attractions.

Modern Amenities: Enjoy a comfortable stay with conveniences such as a restaurant, free private parking, and a bar. Benefit from services like a concierge, luggage storage, and free WiFi during your visit.

Nearby Attractions: Explore the area with Inverness Railway Station, Strathpeffer Spa Golf Club, and the University of the Highlands and Islands, Inverness just a short distance away.

Book your stay at The National Hotel for a memorable experience in Dingwall.

Important information:

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

Location

Guest Reviews

6.9
Based on 1657 reviews
Cleanliness: 5.5
Service: 9.3
Location: 9.7
Room Quality: 4.8
Amenities: 7.4
Value for Money: 6.7
Food and Beverage: 4.5
Overall Experience: 7.3
W
William • couple • gb
6
Good comfortable stay, the property could do with some TLC
Pros:

Bedsheets and towels fresh and clean

Cons:

Old property in need of some maintenance Shower in room 207 not good

2026-09-19 • via Nuitee
D
Denise • solo_traveller • gb
4
Dingwall
Pros:

It was very close to the station as we were going on a train journey

Cons:

The floor had slopes in it the bed was squashed in a corner room very small

2026-09-18 • via Nuitee
V
Vladimir Chovanec • solo_traveller • gb
9
Pros:

1 night stay,nice,clean room, excellent gentleman in reception, very nice and ready to help.

2026-09-18 • via Nuitee
B
Brian • solo_traveller • gb
2
Pros:

Central in the town.

Cons:

The karaoke night in the hotel bar ran until 1am and no one advised us of this when we booked.

Further, the reception staff said you won't hear anything with your room at the front of the hotel, but our room was above the bar and horrendously noisy. It spoiled our first night of holiday on an already short break.

Ridiculously unfair!

2026-09-18 • via Nuitee
S
Sarah • solo_traveller • gb
7
Pros:

Large room with comfortable bed

2026-09-17 • via Nuitee
E
Erling • extended_group • gb
9
Great stop for people travelling to/from Ullapool
Pros:

Clean & comfortable

2026-09-17 • via Nuitee
E
Ella • couple • gb
1
Pros:

We were relocated to a different hotel because of overbooking.
Not amused

2026-09-16 • via Nuitee
V
Violaine • solo_traveller • fr
7
Pros:

La chambre était propre et confortable. L'hôtel est idéalement situé dans Dingwall.

Cons:

L'hôtel est resté dans son jus et la décoration fait vieillotte. L'isolation phonique n'est pas non plus optimale.

2026-09-16 • via Nuitee
P
Paul • solo_traveller • gb
3
I'm very glad my stay was a short one. Would definitely not recommend this place.
Pros:

The only good thing about this place was the location. It's over the road from the bus stop at which I arrived from Inverness, and a three-minute walk from the railway station. Shops are also close by.

Cons:

One member of staff was friendly and helpful, but the first 'gentleman' I met on arrival gave me the polar opposite of a warm welcome. I'd had an email on booking, clearly stating that I could check in from 3.00 pm. I arrived at 2.30, hoping the room might be ready but happy to wait half an hour. I was coldly informed that I was an hour and a half early. On showing him the email, eventually I was grudgingly allowed to check in 'early' - at 3.20.
On reaching the room, there was another man fixing pictures and a mirror to the wall. I eventually had the room to myself. It was barely adequate at best. There was no blind on the bathroom window, and the shower & hot tap remained cold through most of my stay. Other reviews show the futility of complaining, so I just boiled water in the kettle for washing.
The coffee in the room was quite the foulest I have ever tasted. Fortunately the tea was a decent brand.
Breakfasts were consistently overcooked. The coffee was hardly an improvement on that in the room, and lukewarm some mornings. The 'orange juice' was more like weak squash.
Given that this is one of the most expensive hotels I've stayed in, the place is an absolute disgrace and I urge everyone to avoid it.

2026-09-15 • via Nuitee
D
David • couple • gb
7
2026-09-14 • via Nuitee
D
Daniel • extended_group • be
9
2026-09-14 • via Nuitee
G
Gaia • solo_traveller • it
9
Pros:

The staff was nice and friendly and the room was clean.

Cons:

The shower water took a while to become hot

2026-09-13 • via Nuitee
K
Kaïs • solo_traveller • fr
7
Cons:

Chambre vieillissante

2026-09-12 • via Nuitee
W
William • extended_group • gb
5
2026-09-12 • via Nuitee
J
Jessica • solo_traveller • gb
3
Pros:

it was a roof over our head

Cons:

Food was awful! Overpriced overcooked frozen food! I asked for a baked potato and beans for my weaning baby, I asked for no butter as he has a dairy allergy, watched the barman write it on the slip. waited over an hour for this to be cooked fresh, it came out with CHEESE on it! the list goes on, it wasnt really suitable for a baby, as it was all upstairs, therfor carrying buggy all the way up! the person who checked us in didn't know what a travel cot was! The same person who checked us in, was working on the bar, and was also the waiter! there was a blood stain on the bedsheet. There was no accessible plug sockets, so we couldnt charge our phones. a sink that leaked everytime it was used!

2026-09-12 • via Nuitee
P
Philip • solo_traveller • gb
7
Pros:

Tired building but comfortable enough and clean. Ideal for breaki6the journey.

Cons:

The building was tired, but I expect this is why it was such good value.

2026-09-11 • via Nuitee
P
palmer • solo_traveller • gb
8
2026-09-10 • via Nuitee
D
David • couple • gb
4
Wouldn't rush back for another stay
Pros:

Staff were pleasant & helpful

Cons:

Furniture in room was dated. It took a good 15 minutes running the hot tap before the water become warm enough to take a shower, just an absolute waste of water The light over the bathroom mirror didn't work, so making it difficult to shave. There was no shelf in the shower cubicle to put soap & shampoo on. It would also be useful to have a grab handle in the shower cubicle, to hold onto as the floor was quite slippery.

2026-09-10 • via Nuitee
G
Gordon • solo_traveller • gb
1
Paid for something I didn’t receive, no apology or refund
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Booked and paid for a suite to show up and be given a single room, mentioned to staff and was told no suites left. Was given a double room, no apology, no partial refund for extra paid, no attempt to make up for this. So effectively paid for most expensive room and was given basic

2026-09-09 • via Nuitee
E
Elaine • couple • gb
5
The breakfast not very good but I didn’t expect a high standard as it was only £100 a night
Pros:

It was in a good location

Cons:

The bad was not very comfortable and the base was very noisy when you moved

2026-09-09 • via Nuitee