Glen Lui Hotel

Glen Lui Hotel descritpion

Nestled in 2 acres of private woodland in Ballater, this small family-run hotel offers free WiFi, parking, log fires, delightful dining and comfortable bedrooms.
Each bedroom at Glen Lui Hotel is individually decorated, many with views across the golf course towards Lochnagar. All rooms are en-suite with flat-screen TVs, Hairdryer, Egyptian cotton linen and tea and coffee facilities.
The on-site restaurant has an extensive menu which offers seasonal dishes with a traditional Scottish flavour, all freshly prepared using high-quality, locally sourced produce. The bar offers a great selection of single malts from across Scotland.
There are many outdoor activities available locally including golfing, walking, fishing, skiing, hill walking and geocaching. Balmoral Castle is a mere 10 minute drive from the hotel.

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Facilities of Glen Lui Hotel

Outdoors ：Grounds | Terrace

Pets ：Pets are allowed. Charges may apply.

Food & Drink ：Restaurant | Bar | Special Diet Meals (upon request)

Internet ：Free!WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

Parking ：Free!Free private parking is available on site (reservation is not needed).

General ：Safe | Non-smoking Rooms | Heating | All Spaces Non-Smoking (public and private)

Languages Spoken ：French | Spanish | English

Reviews for Glen Lui Hotel

Review 1：only found out when we walked in that restaurant is closed on Mondays - and yet the best that Booking.com offers is rack rate cleaning below-par on this visit

Review 2：view from front bedrooms above entrance is magical newly-refurbished rooms are really good front-of-house staff all really good to deal with Ballater an interesting and thriving village

Review 3：We had our wedding dinner here with a group of friends and family. The hotel staff could not have been more helpful and the service and menu were excellent. Every member of our party complimented the food, service and location. Our overnight guests were equally impressed and cared for. Thank you for a perfect evening.

Review 4：Shower just OK and a couple of things in the room needed attention, curtain rail and toilet seat loose.

Review 5：Large seating area on a veranda overlooking grounds with lovely views. Ten minute walk into Ballater and 5 minute walk to start of 7 bridges walk. Restaurant good standard, food and ambience lovely.

Review 6：The bed was very hard and you could feel the "join" between the two halfs - some sort of topper would sort it out easily enough.

Review 7：The view from the 4-poster suite was spectacular! Staff were great, very helpful in storing our bikes, and the breakfast was very good - tasted like all local produce.

Review 8：We loved Ballater and the surrounding area and the staff at the hotel were very competent and friendly.We loved sitting at breakfast and watching red squirrels just outside. They were obviously well fed too!

Review 9：not a bad experience but the restaurant set menu was expensive for what one received. food was very good but overpriced at £30 for 2 courses or £37.50 for 3 courses with supplements on top of that for certain dishes

Review 10：comfortable, well appointed and quiet rooms

Review 11：This is Highland hospitality at it's very best. We had been covering the Braemar Highland Gathering for Leopard Magazine and arrived tired and hungry. The chef excelled and the staff were brilliant!

Review 12：Very spotty internet. Website says there is a washer and dryer for guest use, but this is not true.

Review 13：Quaint authentic feeling Scottish B&B. Restaurant was good.

Review 14：The hotel is dated and in my opinion gets away with charging what it does purely based on location. Our room was small, very dated and lacked simple things like bottled water and biscuits, which I'd expect in a room costing £130.

Review 15：The location of this hotel is fantastic and the food in the restaurant is very good indeed.

Review 16：We were not able to open the window to get fresh air.. the bathroom was very small and needed extensive upgrading.

Review 17：The hotel is in an attractive and quiet location adjacent to the golf course. The breakfast was adequate.

Review 18：Single beds need a joining strip to make a comfortable double. Shower over roll top bath difficult to access and power shower would be better. Later breakfast time would be a bomus

Review 19：Friendly reception good breakfast.

Review 20：I don't like to given treatment as though I'm a second rate guest.

Review 21：Don't provide Wi-Fi as advertised, no curtains in bathroom window, downgrade from hotel to outhouse without consultation, and allocate dining tables according to status. We were placed beside toilets - you are not free to choose your own table. The ones with a window view are reserved for privileged guests. Overpriced at. £110 per night.

Review 22：This aging hotel needs to be renovated. Our room was the worst of our trip. Paintings, carpets, bathroom (was stinking, very unpleasant), everything shoul be changed urgently.

Review 23：Marvelous location! Verlpfully helpfull staff and good breakfast.

Review 24：We had room 4 which was very small. The en-suite you could not swing a cat in. Needed to leave the bathroom just to towel off after a shower. Also rubbish view from a window that would not open even an inch.

Review 25：Some pegs to hang towels etc in the bathroom would have been helpful.

Review 26：The hotel is in a beautiful location, a few minutes walk from the town. We stayed in the annex at the back of the hotel which we found peaceful and relaxing and very private. We were made to feel very welcome. It was lovely to eat our breakfast overlooking the mountains in a beautiful old dining room with highland music playing in the background!

Review 27：The room toilet didn't flush properly. The bedroom was above the lounge in which piano was available for guests.

Review 28：The dinner and breakfast food was excellent though there was no reduction in price for not partaking of the starter in the two course evening meal. The room was compact but comfortable. Great view accross the golf course to the mountains. The lounge was very comfortable and made for a relaxed evening.

Review 29：Two small things, the sausages, and the butter/spread at breakfast.

Review 30：A cosy, friendly hotel. The dinner was perfect, and beautifly presented. The Balmoral bread is delicious.

Review 31：Enough could not be done to accommodate my numerous allergies. I even had my own menu for my evening meals. The owners and staff could not do enough to help. We will definitely be back. Well done the Glen Lui.

Review 32：Wi Fi was hit and miss in the cabin terrace.

Review 33：Very attentive host. We were made to feel extremely welcome. We ate there for dinner and breakfast and the food was great. Overall really enjoyed the stay.

Review 34：We stayed in a pine terrace room. For £100 a night I would expect better quality as the furnishings and bathroom are very basic. The bed springs were very tired and seemed to have a life of their own.

Review 35：The staff were friendly and the feel of the main house was very welcoming. The dinner was good quality and priced accordingly. It is set a very short walk to the pretty village of Ballater.

Review 36：Difficulty in finding somewhere to sit in the evening as the main sittingroom had been taken over by a party of cyclists, the other available room had the main route to the restaurant going through the middle. Breakfast was a bit limited in choice. Bathroom not clean with mould arround the bath.

Review 37：Lovely views, bedroom was nice with a good outlook. Decor was a bit old fashioned but nicely done.

Review 38：Room had to the smallest I've ever stayed in for the money. We were only there for one night so it was ok(just). In short the room was oversold it was a single room with a double bed in it.

Review 39：Staff attentive. Breakfast good.

Review 40：The bedroom was in the main building and cost extra but was very small and lacked enough space for two average sized people. Compared to the other four hotels we stayed at in the highlands it is overpriced. Dinner was also expensive, we dined out.

Review 41：nice location, friendly staff, good breakfast.

Review 42：Dinner. I would have preffered a plainer meal. Had salmon with a mush of beans, capers etc which I could not leave to one side

Review 43：Enjoyed the sticky toffee pudding. Too expensive.

Review 44：Nothing

Review 45：Wasn't planned to stop in Balater, but due this location it was worthwhile. We stayed for 2 nights. Our "rooms" were outside the hotel, the "Pine Terasse", but we didn't miss anything there. Breakfast was great.

Review 46：My room was in the so-called Pine Lodge which is a very basic and very tired timber chalet at the rear of the hotel proper. At £100 per room it was ridiculously over-priced. Avoid....

Review 47：Friendly welcome and good breakfast. Pleasant small traditional Highland hotel.

Review 48：We felt that the cost of dinner was excessive and found better places. We were disappointed that we were housed in pine cabins behind the hotel which were adequate but on the basic side for the price. I think had we known about this prior to booking we might have enquired a bit more and possibly asked to be housed in the hotel. There is something about coming down to breakfast from an upstairs room rather than a short walk possibly in the rain.

Review 49：This hotel is situated on the edge of and overlooks the Golf Course. There is an excellent terrace where one can sit and view the Cairngorms. The view was very pleasant and typically Scottish. We used it as a base to travel round Deeside and a visit to Balmoral and the Aboyne Games and it was ideal for that. The breakfast was excellent and I enjoyed the porridge!

Review 50：The weather! No, only joking. For the first time (for me) the weather was indifferent. As Oscar Wilde said, "Everybody complains about the weather but nobody does anything about it."

Review 51：Everything - I've stayed at this hotel many times before.

Review 52：The rooms which we were in were in need of refurbishment. But they were comfortable and clean and the location of the hotel, the friendly staff and the food made up for the rooms.

Review 53：We had a wedding party at the GlenLui and were really impressed by the delicious food and the service. The staff couldn't do enough for us. The lounges are comfortable. There is a calm, restful atmosphere and the views are incredible. Nice decking area with tables and chairs to sit and enjoy the view.

Review 54：If you require taxis during your stay, it will pay to book well in advance.

Review 55：Set on the edge of the local golf course and just a few minutes walk from Ballater centre and the river Dee. The food and hotel service are both excellent.

Review 56：The Glen Lui is best described as a guest house rather than a hotel. The facilities were zero, our room was part of the Pine Terrace which resembled a mid range Florida motel. I'm a well travelled person and this was the first "Hotel" where as a resident food was unavailable.

Review 57：Clean,breakfast fine as were the foreign waitresses. Quiet location.

Review 58：Four poster bed in room. As a result the lighting in the room was very poor. Not good enough to read in bed!! The room was on the second floor and the stairs caused difficulty for one of the guest. Breakfast was limited if one did not like a full scottish breakfast, yoghurt and fresh fruit would have been good. Breakfast buffet did not display such items. The cost of dinner was I our opinion too high for a three star hotel.

Review 59：Location Parking Staff

Review 60：Nothing!

Review 61：There were 8 in our group including 17 & 19 year olds. We had a really enjoyable 2 night stay at The Glen Lui which was a great base for us as we were out visiting tourist attractions most of the time.The staff were very friendly and helpful. It's an older style hotel in a great location as was walking distance to the small town of Ballater but the setting was lovely and peaceful with a view to some of the golf course. The whole hotel was immaculately clean. Our rooms had nice decor and were very welcoming with lovely white fresh towels and bedding. An ensuite with shower cubicle (which was rather small but done the job) with toilet and basin. Also had tv and tea & coffee making facilities. They had everything needed for our stay. We had booked B&B but also had and evening meal here one night and we have to say the food was really excellent!! Would definitely recommend this hotel. Thank you to the owners and staff for making our stay a lovely memorable one. If ever decided to visit that area again would definitely try book The Glen Lui.

Review 62：Very happy on previous visits, but on this occasion the room was very pokey, and should at least have been charged at a lower rate.

Review 63：Food and staff excellent, friendly service and stunning location

Review 64：Staff were very welcoming and friendly, catering to all our needs, including a safe place to store our bicycles. The food was excellent, dinner and breakfast. The location was beautiful and the bedroom was more than adequate.

Review 65：the room number 11 was a bit tired and dated. the ensuite too. also the view from window wasn' t very nice. it did for the 2 nights we were there

Review 66：the food was excellent the views from the restaurant lovely

Review 67：Our room was in a separate building behind the hotel which meant we had to walk to the dining rain in poring rain.

Review 68：most things were good to very good, especially the red squirrels outside our window. the hotel was quiet and the food was very good

Review 69：Rather tired and the original room was tiny so we upgraded. This room was much better but the hotel needs a revamp, especially for the priced charged

Review 70：Very warm welcome and the hotel was easy to find. The restaurant was excellent with great food and breakfast was really good.

Review 71：location in its own grounds but within walking distance of the town gave best of both worlds, space and views but near to choice for restaurants/pubs, if needed. In our case the hotel food was excellent so no need to go elsewhere.We also saw highland wildlife in the grounds, a bonus!

Review 72：Amazing food attentive staff great setting with deer and red squirrels in the grounds perfect location for bagging Munros

Review 73：Didn't clean the room at all

Review 74：Location

Review 75：Hotel was a bit dated, rooms were quite noisy when other rooms used shower, ran water or flushed toilet.

Review 76：Friendly staff, welcoming hotel

Review 77：Bedroom was more like a box-room and toilet/shower room was a cupboard. Bar prices are exhorbitant.

Review 78：Dining and lounge areas are first class

Review 79：Great location in a lovely little village. Very friendly staff and excellent breakfast and dinner

Review 80：Bedrooms a little small

Review 81：Very friendly atmosphere. Well trained helpful staff. A very welcoming environment

Review 82：Breakfast is served too late for business people

Review 83：beautiful settings and excellent staff

Review 84：We enjoyed everything that the Glen Lui had to offer. The view was unbelievable from our bedroom window

Review 85：Quiet

Review 86：Food and helpful staff, especially the Spanish waitress. Dinner was delicious.

Review 87：TV reception was poor.

Review 88：Sitting outside on sunny patio with glass of wine admiring the stunning countryside.

Review 89：Couldn't work the second TV - but that may have been our fault.

Review 90：Lovely view, great food, comfortable room with separate bedroom.

Review 91：Small room

Review 92：Peaceful location

Review 93：Small room and even smaller shower and bathroom small bed too

Review 94：Breakfast and friendly staff

Review 95：Our accomodation was outside the hotel building

Review 96：Bar was expensive

Review 97：Breakfast

Review 98：Room was looking ready for a makeover, but still very comfortable - would go back without hesitation

Review 99：Fabulous location, fabulous food, great staff

Review 100：Bed was a little hard.

Review 101：Lovely helpful staff. Meals were good. Very quiet. Nice bathroom.

Review 102：Everything. Accommodation, the area, just everything.

Review 103：A lovely welcome. Good sized breakfast and comfortable lounge areas.

Review 104：Nice place, attentive staff

Review 105：Comfy, cosy, and informal but with friendly staff. Very good value for money

Review 106：No privacy on chalet room windows. No light reading material in reception rooms, eg newspaper or mags. No dinner on Sundays!

Review 107：The food was excellent!

Review 108：being in the pine lodges would rather have been in the hotel

Review 109：We had a great sleep, as the place was really quiet. The room was comfortable and clean. The breakfast was plenty and tasted great.

Review 110：Friendly enthusiastic owner, Murray. Nice hotel very comfortable.

Review 111：Hospitable hosts. Excellent food with a good choice for dinner in the restaurant. Hope to go there again.

Review 112：Murray was an excellent host, rooms very clean and meals were a delight. Very enjoyable.

Review 113：Very friendly run hotel and Murray gave us warm welcome on arrival. Beautiful setting with fabulous views over Ballater Golf Course.

Review 114：Bed quite lumpy. Our friends stayed in premium room. We definately would next time. Worth the extra.

Review 115：Very nice hotel. Very olde worlde.

Review 116：Only good experiences

Review 117：Beautiful grounds and lovely atmosphere, restaurant very nice and good food

Review 118：Being kept awake by a faulty smoke detector.

Review 119：Location, food, staff very friendly.

Review 120：The restaurant was fully booked by the time I checked in and as a resident I was unable to have dinner

Review 121：The position of the hotel.

Review 122：Room on third floor and breakfast till 09:30hrs :(

Review 123：The view, food and the room was very good

The Fine Print

Please note that pets are only permitted in some pine terrace rooms.Guests are strongly advised to reserve a table in the restaurant in advance. Due to high demand, tables cannot be guaranteed without a booking.Please note that the restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays, apart from breakfast, until 31 March 2016.