Sound proofing. But it’s an older building so it was to be expected.

Clean and comfy room and great location. The food was delicious and all the staff were so friendly and helpful. Thank you!

Stayed in May 2024

It’s expensive for a non boutique hotel Breakfast excellent… dinners good but vegetable selection slightly tired and overcooked.

Must be the best hotel on Orkney. Wonderful position on Loch Harray. Central for all the key sights. A bonus if you fish is it’s on a loch and John the gillie is a star. Food good. This is a traditional hotel … absolutely not a boutique hotel (long may it last).

Stayed in May 2024

That we had to leave!

Everything was exceptional: the room, the setting, the food, but most of all the staff! Debbie checked us in and checked up on us several times through our stay. She was a delight!

Stayed in April 2024

Nothing it was great

Location and friendliness of staff very helpful and Happy to help

Stayed in October 2023

The chairs in the bedroom were not very comfortable - though still more comfortable than some places we’ve been.

The staff were very friendly and helpful and were always smiling. The menu was varied enough for us to have something different on each of the 5 nights; the food was always excellent The view from our room was wonderful.

Stayed in October 2023

It's 2 beds rather than a double bed. So it's not that comfortable. But other than that, no complaints here.

The pictures don't do justice to the hotel. It sits on the Loch, the breakfast area is facing the Loch. The service is top notch, the rooms are clean and nice. Good breakfast. When I'll get back to Orkney, I will be coming back to Merkister, for sure.

Stayed in October 2023

Not only is the Merkister Hotel beautiful, the staff are amazing too! We absolutely loved our stay and can’t thank the staff enough for all their efforts to make our stay special.

Stayed in October 2023

There was nothing we didn't like except that we couldn't stay longer. We will return whenever we can (hoping it's soon) and highly recommend it to others.

We were warmly welcomed immediately upon arrival, checked in and personally shown to our rooms. The hosts explained meal arrangements to us and made us feel comfortable right away. The rooms were exceptionally clean -- almost certainly the cleanest hotel rooms I've ever stayed in. The beds were comfortable, the bedding and towels were fluffy and bright white, and the tea/coffee service was lovely and generous. The breakfast, dinner, and bar offerings were exceptional as well, as were the wait staff and bar service. There is a separate lounge area for hotel guests, where we took our beers one night and played darts after the barkeep personally searched the grounds to find us darts. And the outside surroundings couldn't be any more gorgeous, right on the loch with a beautiful country road to walk in the mornings and evenings. But despite all this, the very best part of our stay was the staff -- down to a person, we were cared for with warmth, generosity, and high quality.

Stayed in September 2023

Nothing

Staff are extremely kind and helpful. Good use of local ingredients in the food.

Stayed in September 2023

The hotels states its dog friendly however you cannot take the dog for breakfast, cannot leave it in the room so the only options you have is either leave the dog in the car (our dog doesn't like being left in the car) or you split breakfast with your spouse - which is not ideal. A solution would be to allow guests with dogs to have breakfast in the bar area (where you can have your dog with you for dinner), which is funnily enough right next door to where you have your breakfast.

The food within the hotel was excellent, as was the service and staff. Great views from the hotel over the loch and in a quiet rural setting.

Stayed in August 2023

Staff, setting, cuisine all v. good

Stayed in September 2023

Nothing

The staff were excellent. Warm, extremely helpful .Food was great. We had an issue around our passports and the staff could not have been more helpful in resolving it for us. They had a nice way about them. We were treated as if we were special.

Stayed in September 2023

Food was great - almost as good as the staff

Stayed in September 2023

Nothing

Super accomodation, wonderful location in remote Orkney countryside. Saw the northen lights from bedroom window. Great brekfast in lovely dining room.

Stayed in September 2023

There was nothing i could fault.

Brilliant

Stayed in September 2023

Nothing, really…if I had to be picky, on occasion I would have liked a sweet for breakfast…a croissant, e.g., since we stayed for five nights. But that’s a super minor issue. We loved the Merkister!

The staff members were fantastic and quick to respond. Great room, comfortable big bed, lovely views over the sound. Dinner was good, too.

Stayed in August 2023

N/A

All aspects were excellent

Stayed in August 2023

The location, the staff, the food… everything was top notch.

Stayed in September 2023

Location, communal area and kindness of staff

Stayed in August 2023

Food was fantastic, staff friendly and attentive, room was great.

Stayed in August 2023

Hard to say - everything was so good. Picking a fault would be just that, picky!

This is a hotel for those fishing the loch. I was cycling. Staff were welcoming and helpful , even keeping a meal ready for me on return from visiting a nearby music event. Really enjoyed staying here and would stay again.

Stayed in July 2023

It’s difficult to think of something negative. I can imagine that during a rare sunny day on Orkney, guests would like some extra outdoor facilities (comfortable chairs, or outdoor dining). I found the interior to be fine, but I could imagine that someone else would see some of the facilities as a bit outdated. Everything worked well in the bathroom, but it wasn’t the most modern. However, this was not an issue for me at all. It was quite the opposite for me, I thought everything was really nostalgic.

The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. At check-out, when we requested them to order a taxi to get us to our next accommodation in Kirkwall, we were offered a car ride instead by a very friendly member of staff. This avoid a taxi fare. The atmosphere was very peaceful, and the hotel is located on a beautiful loch, surrounded by rolling hills. Truly quiet space.

Stayed in August 2023

Loved the breakfast and the views where amazing! Very cozy rooms :)

Stayed in July 2023

Nothing really, we even had good weather. Food was good, staff friendly. Only minor ‘criticism’ is there was a damp used shower towel hanging on the back of the door, presumably from the previous occupant. And a fairly big cobweb on the bedroom ceiling which I removed. Otherwise perfect!

Stunning setting with scenic views. The restaurant manager was lovely.

Stayed in August 2023