The Carlton Hotel offers pet-friendly rooms, free Wi-Fi, a restaurant, and bar in Forres. Rated 3.9 with 151 reviews, close to Brodie Castle and Inverness Airport.
Visitors appreciate the welcoming staff, included breakfast, and central location, while noting some maintenance issues and mixed room conditions.
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Rooms, shared spaces, dining and exterior — grouped so you can skim quickly.
Located at 67 High St in the town of Forres, The Carlton Hotel offers practical accommodation with easy access to local attractions and transport links. Guests appreciate its central location, which is ideal for visitors interested in sightseeing and recreation, with notable nearby points of interest such as Brodie Castle and Estate, the Moray Coast Trail, and Benromach Distillery.
The property is a modest hotel with a 3.9 rating based on 151 reviews, reflecting a mixed but generally positive guest experience. Some visitors note signs of wear typical of an older building, including maintenance issues, while others commend the cleanliness and comfort of the rooms. The bathrooms tend to receive positive comments for being spacious and well-equipped.
The Carlton Hotel provides a range of amenities including free Wi-Fi, a smoke-free environment, and is both pet- and kid-friendly, making it suitable for travelers with families or pets. Dining options on-site include a restaurant and bar, with breakfast typically included in the stay along with additional perks like a complimentary first drink. However, the hotel does not feature a pool or fitness center.
With check-in from 15:00 and check-out by 10:00, it accommodates visitors who plan to explore the nearby areas or travel through the region, especially considering its convenient driving distances to Inverness Airport (32 minutes) and Aberdeen International Airport (over an hour). The hotel is also surrounded by several other lodging options within a few miles.
This property is well suited for travelers prioritizing location and value over luxury, particularly those wishing to explore the local culture and natural sites around Forres. The overall guest feedback suggests a straightforward stay enhanced by friendly staff and good breakfast offerings, balanced by some caution regarding the age and upkeep of the building.
The short version: what's available day-to-day, and the key practical details most travelers search for.
Reviews from travelers who stayed here in the last 12 months, grouped to help you spot the pattern quickly.
This is an old hotel so don't expect a luxurious stay, they do lack maintenance in the place and you see that in various things from doors that barely lock or not at all to leakage. However the bathrooms are nice and spacious with a big rain shower, they try their very best to make the best out of it through giving a free first drink or the breakfast that's included, they also give you a whole booklet with what to do where you are and recommendations. The staff is super kind and the bar downstairs is superb, a classic Scottish bar and for sure the cheapest one around, definitely worth it to just sit there for an evening and have a drink with the locals. If I'm ever back in Scotland they can expect a visit from me!
Cosy, confortable Staff was welcoming. Breakfast (hot+cold) was really good with different options. Bedroom was cosy and quiet. We enjoyed our stay.
For the price a great place to stay. Breakfast superb. So easy to drive to anyway in Scotland for a day trip. Staff excellent thanks for your kind service. Loved my stay.
This hotel truly hits the mark when it comes to location – it's right in the heart of all the pubs, making it an absolutely ideal spot for exploring the nightlife. The rooms were generally decent, though there was a noticeable stain on the couch. My main concern, however, was with the water quality. It seemed to have a strong chemical smell, almost like too much chlorine. Both my dad and sister woke up the next morning with bright bloodshot eyes after showering and washing their faces, which was a bit alarming. On a brighter note, the service was fantastic; the staff were consistently friendly and incredibly helpful, which really made a difference.
We had a nice stay. The room was clean and comfortable, tea and cookies were provided. Breakfast was nice, and we appreciated the free drink voucher. Affordable food options at the bar.
Following a two night stay at the Carlton with 7 other colleagues I can say that it is excellent value for money, was clean and tidy with comfortable beds. When checking in it was a nice touch to receive a voucher for a free drink at the bar and a bag of sweets! The breakfast was also very good. We all enjoyed our stay and would happily return to the Carlton
My wife and I made an emergency overnight stop at the Carlton as we heard that our village was snowbound while returning home from a winter break. The staff were very friendly and welcoming, and went out of their way to make us comfortable. The hotel is clean and tidy, the food is good and reasonably priced, and the room rate included a very good breakfast. All in all, a very pleasant and relaxing stay. Thanks to all at the Carlton!
Nice experience in this hotel, really peculiar and in a small city (that we would love to explore more). We just stayed one night, staff was really nice, room ok (shared bathroom, perfectly clean). We appreciate the drink included with the booking and the breakfast included. Forres is far, but if you want a place to stay for the night and don’t want to stay in the overrated and overpriced Inverness, come here!
Based on sightseeing, recreation, and getting around
Curated spots travelers usually pair with a stay in United Kingdom. Distances are rough real-world times, not straight-line.
2,077 reviews Brodie, Forres IV36 2TE, United Kingdom
1 reviews Forres IV36 1PB, UK
1 reviews Invererne Rd, Forres IV36 3EB, United Kingdom
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