Macdonald Highlands Hotel at Macdonald Aviemore Resort

Hotels
•
Macdonald Hotels & Resorts
7.3 (4038 reviews)
Aviemore, Inverness-Shire , Aviemore , GB
+44 344 879 9152

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

Fitness facilities
WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Fitness center
Swimming pool
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Clean facilities
Good location
Cons:
Uncomfortable beds
Poor reception service
Limited amenities

Categories

Cleanliness
7.88
Multiple reviews praised the cleanliness of the hotel.
Service
7.35
Service was generally friendly, but some reception issues were noted.
Location
8.39
Location was highlighted positively throughout the reviews.
Room Quality
6.84
Some rooms were comfortable; however, issues with beds and updates were mentioned.
Amenities
6.37
Amenities such as spa restrictions and no evening entertainment were points of dissatisfaction.
Value for Money
7.33
Additional charges for amenities raised concerns about value.
Food and Beverage
6.88
Food quality was mentioned positively; however, service was inconsistent.
Overall Experience
7.35
Overall, guests had a pleasant stay but noted significant areas for improvement.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-12-20 11:25

Property Description

Luxurious Accommodations
The Macdonald Highlands Hotel offers 4-star rooms with modern amenities, ensuring a comfortable stay for guests. From flat-screen TVs to free WiFi, each room is designed to provide a relaxing retreat within the Cairngorms National Park.

Gourmet Dining
Indulge in exquisite dining experiences at Aspects Restaurant, where guests can savor contemporary Scottish cuisine made from fresh, seasonal ingredients. With a variety of dining options available across the resort, culinary delights are always just a step away.

Leisure Facilities Galore
Guests can enjoy exclusive access to the resort's leisure facilities at the Aviemore Activity Centre, including a leisure pool, gym, and soft play area. Whether seeking relaxation or adventure, there's something for everyone at Macdonald Highlands Hotel.

Book now to experience the ultimate blend of luxury and leisure at Macdonald Highlands Hotel within the award-winning Macdonald Aviemore Resort.

Important information:

The credit/debit card used to book a pre-paid rate must be presented to reception on arrival at the hotel. Please note that failure to do so will result in an alternative payment method being required.

Please note that not all spa and fitness facilities are currently available.

For guests staying on a Dinner, Bed and Breakfast package, a EUR 25 spend towards food can be enjoyed in one of the poperty's restaurants.

Children aged 12 and under can stay and take breakfast for free when sharing a suitable room with two adults. Child dinner will be charged separately dependent on the menu chosen

When booking 7 rooms or more, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

Guests may experience noise from 22 to 24 August 2025.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.
Guests under the age of 18 can only check in with a parent or official guardian.
A deposit may be required at the property.

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

Location

Guest Reviews

7.3
Based on 4038 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.88
Service: 7.35
Location: 8.39
Room Quality: 6.84
Amenities: 6.37
Value for Money: 7.33
Food and Beverage: 6.88
Overall Experience: 7.35
B
Barbora • couple • cz
10
Pros:

Bohatá snídaně. Krásné ubytování. Bazén a sauny v ceně.

Cons:

-

2026-09-19 • via Nuitee
B
Babber • solo_traveller • gb
5
Pros:

It is an overly priced average site .

2026-09-19 • via Nuitee
D
Deuchar • couple • gb
8
Have been coming to Aviemore more than 50 years and breakfast at this hotel lets it down badly.
Pros:

Room comfort and cleanliness

Cons:

Breakfast as usual a huge disappointment. Cold eggs and bacon and no fresh fruit salad and as well as having to make your own toast you have to serve yourself to tea or coffee at the other end of the room!! Come On Macdonald Highland, you can do better. I remember when chef made me my eggs to order and racks of mixed toast were brought to your table with pots of tea and coffee. 4 Star Hotel?? Definitely not in my book. Even Premier Inn up the road did better, everything fresh made and HOT!!

2026-09-17 • via Nuitee
C
calum • couple • gb
7
Good but finding the hotel and chacking in needs to be much clearer to customers
Pros:

comfy room with nice view

Cons:

Finding the hotel and checking in took ages! Signs said Aviemore Hotel, I was booked in Highland hotel so thought it was in a different place, drove around a lot to find it. You need to publish a map showing all the different MacDonald hotels in Avienore and how to drive to them, I didn't know they were all in tha same 'complex'. Checked in to the wrong hotel before being told where my hotel was.

2026-09-16 • via Nuitee
D
Didzis • solo_traveller • lv
9
Pros:

Good quality mass tourism hotel, part of a sprawling complex, that includes pool, spa, cinema and shopping. Good breakfast, but no haggis though. Check the swimmig pool opening times, it is not open late or very early. Excellent location for hiking. One of the better local hikes start rigbt from the hotel.

2026-09-13 • via Nuitee
R
Robert • solo_traveller • gb
3
Go camping instead
Pros:

Not much

Cons:

Looked dated, not accessability for disability unless wheel chair, sight loss mobility issues The food was not nice and service bad. 4 star is pushing it. The premier inn is miles ahead of this place, it needs an upgrade and money spent. Not a good advert for the gateway to the highlands and it wasn't cheap. Don't book it.

2026-09-12 • via Nuitee
M
Michael • solo_traveller • gb
7
2026-09-10 • via Nuitee
M
Mark • family_with_children • mt
8
2026-09-10 • via Nuitee
J
James • couple • us
2
Find somewhere else- this has had its day
Pros:

Not a lot

Cons:

Tired, shabbyfacilities, poor staff especially in restaurant

2026-09-10 • via Nuitee
T
Trunzo • couple • ch
8
2026-09-08 • via Nuitee
C
Colin • couple • gb
6
2026-09-08 • via Nuitee
J
Joyce • solo_traveller • au
8
2026-09-08 • via Nuitee
A
Arthur • couple • de
7
2026-09-08 • via Nuitee
W
wilhelmina • couple • gb
5
Disappointing given the Franchise has other much better facilities
Pros:

Its location

Cons:

Old, tired.. needs complete revamp
Felt like a prison
Reception desk not inviting
Breakfast mediocre with staff who didn’t really engage
Staff in pool area very helpful

2026-09-08 • via Nuitee
T
Thomas • solo_traveller • nl
7
Pros:

Kamer was netjes en is een prima verblijf om een doorreis door schotland te maken.

2026-09-07 • via Nuitee
M
Morrison • couple • gb
7
Pros:

Good

Cons:

Nothing

2026-09-06 • via Nuitee
L
Lisa • couple • ie
9
Pros:

Great location food in restaurant was fab

Cons:

Pool closed early

2026-09-06 • via Nuitee
S
Sandy • family_with_children • gb
2
Avoid -Has an Old care home feeling and smell.
Pros:

The location .

Cons:

-room was not cleaned properly during the stay.
-pillows had a foul smell, end of mattress edge was dusty.
-safe box was not working, I had to ask staff on 2 separate occasions after which it was fixed.
-Fan extractor in bathroom was not working and wasn’t even looked into despite reporting it to reception staff.

2026-09-06 • via Nuitee
D
Deborah • couple • gb
1
Pros:

Room very tired needed a revamp and it was a signature suite!
Quality of breakfast was awful hair found in fried egg.
Aspects restauean5 was again poor quality food.

Cons:

Needs a whole revamp, retraining of staff. Complacency due to location should not be an excuse .

2026-09-06 • via Nuitee
A
Andrew • couple • gb
8
2026-09-05 • via Nuitee