Balfour Castle

Charming older hotel, great location a short walk from the ferry terminal.A bit on the worn out side, but clean and comfortable. No elevator that I saw and there is a 1 story walk up to reception, I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone with mobility issues. The parking at the back is limited and a little intimidating at first. The staff are helpful and friendly.

Shore hotel is an annexe to the Kirkwall hotel where you have breakfast. The food there was very good and the staff were friendly and helpful , I complained about everything in my room and was told housekeeping would be told . I also asked why there were no gluten free sausages at breakfast. I had informed them in February about my husband’s intolerances . The man I spoke to went out and bought some for the next day. He couldn’t alter the room rate but comped us with dinner on one night. Which they tried to charge us for on leaving. Positives Bedding and towels were clean. Room layout was good for a family. Negatives Entrance stairs carpet is ripped , passageway carpet very badly stained. Bathroom radiator is SCALDING, shower is too hot for most people on lowest level . Hot water in tap takes 6 minutes to come through. Shower is filthy round the bottom of the door , inside and out, months of mould and dirt . Small bedroom blinds were thick with dust . Carpet ripped in passageway to bathroom. Dressing table covered in ring marks, chair at dressing table dirty and badly stained. Blind broken on velux window no pole to open windows . All reported and sent photographs , nothing done . Housekeeping in the Shore needs upgraded. We only saw 2 young girls who need shown how to clean showers. We paid over £1300 for 4 nights not worth it at all . If this was 4 in a bed we would have paid nothing.