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18 THE MONASTERY

18 THE MONASTERY

4.5
out of 5
Ratings from 13 reviews
85% of guests
recommend
Cleanliness
4.5
Comfort
4.4
Condition
4.3
Location
5.0
Value
4.2
Customer
Service
4.6

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'GRUINYARDS' - THE MONASTERY - 2 BEDROOMS

PROPERTY FEATURES: STUNNING LOCH NESS VIEWS - WIFI - ORIGINAL FEATURES
GROUP RESERVATIONS: COMBINE WITH STRUAN, FRASER & ABBOTS' REST

Wonderful stay

Review submitted on Thu, 14 Sep 2023
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
We loved our stay here. Lovely grounds and the staff was very helpful and responsive. The pool is worth reserving and it is clean, warm and comfortable. If we come back to this area we will be staying here again.



Highland Club Direct replied 219 days ago
Thank you for taking the time to review 18 The Monastery. As one of Highland Club Direct Loch View properties it is extremely popular and has one of the best views of Loch Ness available. Coupled with an abundance of architectural features it's a real gem. We are delighted you enjoyed your holiday and took advantage of all the leisure facilities and local area attractions. We hope you will visit again soon and take advantage of our repeat guest discount and voucher. Kind regards Joanne Nicholson Highland Club direct

Good experience

Review submitted on Sat, 19 Aug 2023
3.5
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
3.0
Comfort
3.0
Condition
3.0
Location
5.0
Value
3.0
Customer
Service
4.0
In general terms we liked the apartment, specially for the good location in the heart of the Highlands. But the apartment is not new, it would need a little renovation to worth the money charged.



Highland Club Direct - Thank you replied 99 days ago
Thank you for taking the time to write a review. We hope you will stay on another occasion and take advantage of the Highland Club Direct repeat guest discount. Kind regards Joanne Nicholson

Nowhere near the standard we have previously experienced in other Highland Club apartments

Review submitted on Fri, 14 Jan 2022
2.5
out of 5
Guest doesn't recommend this property
Cleanliness
3.0
Comfort
2.0
Condition
2.0
Location
5.0
Value
1.0
Customer
Service
2.0
The apartment was very poorly maintained. The washing machine and dishwasher were broken. The oven was overheating burning everything unless you halved the cooking time. The oven glove was so thin it burnt my hand (not badly however). The curtains in the lounge were missing some hooks, the blind wasn't working properly, the blind in the main bedroom was broken. The wardrobe in the main bedroom was so full of miscellaneous equipment/rubbish it was impossible to hang clothes or store cases without using the second bedroom as a storage area (fortunately there were only two of us staying there). The flush in the ensuite wasn't working properly. The taps in the other bathroom were loose and the shower screen had been temporarily replaced by a curtain. Both bathrooms needed decorating (paint peeling off radiators etc.) The heating hadn't been put on in good time before our arrival, the result of which meant we couldn't enjoy the view for the first three days due to condensation on the windows which steamed up again as soon as it was wiped off. In short it should never have been let in this condition.



Joanne Nicholson - Customer services replied more than 1 year ago
Thank you for your frank and honest review. Good reviews are always welcome however, it is also important to know when improvements need to be made as is the case with Gruinyard’s apartment. Thank you for pointing out that you have stayed in numerous properties at The Highland Club which have provided a high standard of accommodation. Unfortunately, this property has slipped under the radar with both the owner and property manager, who are now both working hard to rectify the situation. Highland Club Direct will be taking no more reservations for this property until we are satisfied that the correct standards are in place. Gruinyard's apartment is one of the loveliest properties at The Highland Club and once refurbished once again be a fantastic place to stay, offering a great aspect, view, and many original features. Compensation has been offered and accepted by the guest. Works have commenced on the property which will be available to book from March 2022.

Great value

Review submitted on Sun, 26 May 2019
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
A beautiful place, with very helpful staff. Overall an excellent place to relax for a few nights after our long road trip.



Highland Club Direct - Joanne Nicholson replied more than 1 year ago
Thank you for taking the time to write a review. Gruinyard's has some of the best views of Loch Ness and the surrounding country side. We are delighted you enjoyed your stay during your trip around the Highlands of Scotland. Kind regards Joanne Nicholson Highland Club Direct

Fantastic views on Loch Ness

Review submitted on Sun, 30 Dec 2018
4.5
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
4.0
Condition
4.0
Location
5.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
5.0
We stayed here during Christmas and enjoyed it very much. The Abbey is a great place to stay. With the pool and the lounge with a huge snooker table you can easily spend the whole day inside if you want to. The apartement itself has great views on Loch Ness and is very cozy. The kitchen is equipped with all you need. We definitely recommend this apartement.



Joanne Nicholson - Highland Club Direct replied more than 1 year ago
Thank you for taking the time to write a review for Gruinyard's apartment. We are delighted you had a great holiday and appreciated the outstanding views over Loch Ness from this property. The owner takes great care to ensure their guests have all they need during their stay and we are glad you felt comfortable and that it was a home from home. We hope you enjoyed the festive decorations and beautiful winter scenery and will take advantage of our repeat guest discount if you decide to visit again. Kind regards Joanne Nicholson Highland Club Direct

What a place :-)

Review submitted on Tue, 06 Nov 2018
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
The accomadation was superb and maintained to a very good standard. The view from the windows was worth all the stairs, amazing view of Loch Ness. We all had a fantastic time and would highly recommend.



Highland Club Direct - Joanne Nicholson replied more than 1 year ago
Thank you for taking the time to write a review. We are delighted you had a wonderful holiday. Gruinyard's apartment has an amazing vista over Loch Ness and the surrounding countryside from all windows. The master bedroom is extremely spacious with a traditional roll-top bath in the ensuite bathroom. We hope you will take advantage of our repeat guest discount and book with Highland Club Direct again. Kind regards Joanne Nicholson Highland Club Direct

Family Highland vacation

Review submitted on Fri, 20 Jul 2018
4.7
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
4.0
Location
5.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
5.0
We had a lovely stay at the Abbey . The location was great for exploring the area around beautiful Loch Ness. Having the kitchen available to us made meals more economical. The pool was wonderful after a long day of hiking




Joanne Nicholson - Highland Club Direct replied more than 1 year ago
Thank you for taking the time to write review. We are pleased you had a wonderful holiday and took full advantage of our swimming pool and leisure facilities. Kind regards Joanne Nicholson Highland Club Direct

All the comforts of home were available.

Review submitted on Tue, 12 Jun 2018
4.5
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
4.0
Comfort
4.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Great apartment with terrific views. The apartment was well maintained and comfortable. Would stay there again.



Highland Club Direct - Joanne Nicholson replied more than 1 year ago
Thank you for taking the time to reply, we are delighted you had a wonderful holiday and enjoyed the views from this terrific property. I am pleased you found Gruinyard's apartment well maintained. It is worth mentioning that the properties at The Highland Club are privately owned and it is at the owners discretion if they choose to take on a property manager. It is worth pointing out that all properties on The Highland Club Direct website have property managers. The use of a manager maintains standards as they are in direct communication with the letting agent and owner. All our properties are inspected by the manager, letting agent, Visit Scotland, and the guests through upfront reviews. All owners receive an in depth report of any missing items and any necessary improvements. Kind regards Joanne Nicholson Highland Club Direct Customer services

The perfect stay on Loch Ness

Review submitted on Fri, 28 Jul 2017
4.8
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
4.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
My family of 4 had the most wonderful time staying at Gruinyards in the Highland Club in July. The apartment was well outfitted and the property and surrounding town are truly wonderful. We were blown away by the gorgeous scenery surrounding us. So thankful for a wonderful holiday in Scotland; we can't wait to come back!



Joanne Nicholson - Highland Club Direct replied more than 1 year ago
Thank you for taking the time to write a review. We are delighted you had a wonderful holiday and hope you will return soon. Kind regards Joanne Nicholson Highland Club Direct

Consistently spectacular

Review submitted on Mon, 03 Jul 2017
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
Gruinyards is consistently spectacular. My second time and I'll definitely be back. Wow doesn't cover it. Doesn't matter the weather the view the atmosphere the Abbey are all beyond awe inspiring. I highly recommend getting out after the sun goes down.stabding by the loch and watching the bats. What a surreal experience. I cannot say enough about this place. I cannot do it justice. It has to be seen and lived to be fully appreciated. Just wow.



Absolutely lived up to our expectations

Review submitted on Tue, 21 Mar 2017
5.0
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
5.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
We booked Gruinyards based on the view it offered of Loch Ness, so we were expecting to be blown away. But even on a grey rainy March day the sight out of the living room window exceeded all our expectations. Utterly, utterly amazing.

The apartment is also wonderful. The master bedroom is massive and comfortably furnished, with a luxurious en-suite - you can practically go for a swim in the claw-footed bathtub. The twin room was fairly compact but well laid out and extremely comfortable. The shower in the bathroom was hot and strong - what more do you need?

This apartment doesn't feel "posh". My friend and I are pretty down to earth and would have felt worried about breaking things if it had been too luxurious here, but in fact it was like staying at someone's nice home. The furniture was sturdy and practical, everything was nice quality. There's a very slight shabbiness round the edges which we thought added to the charm of the place. It's cosy and comfortable, a lovely place to just chill over a cup of tea or a glass of wine. And all the time that view is waiting for you.

One of the nice things about Gruinyards is the obvious thought and effort that's gone into making your stay pleasant. By this I mean shelves and bookcases with books, games, DVDs, for your entertainment; washing up liquid, kitchen roll and foil in the cupboards since they'r the sort of thing you forget to bring; even a pint of milk in the fridge and teabags & biscuits on the table. These little touches added up to make us feel like welcomed guests rather than just paying customers.

Fort Augustus itself is a lovely little town and the locals seemed pretty friendly.

We're both going to be sorry to leave this apartment tomorrow. If I get the opportunity to come back again I'll grab it with both hands. I really can't recommend it highly enough. After four nights I felt like my soul was soothed and was reluctant to leave. I loved it.




Owner Reply replied more than 1 year ago
Thank you for taking the trouble to report on your time at Gruinyards, we are delighted that you had a wonderful stay and felt at home there. It has always been important to us that it should be like a second home rather than a show-home and somewhere that people can feel comfortable with their families, whatever their age, and so your comments are really helpful in suggesting that we are getting the balance about right. Yours, the owner

Gruinyards

Review submitted on Thu, 09 Feb 2017
4.5
out of 5
Guest recommends this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Condition
4.0
Location
5.0
Value
4.0
Customer
Service
4.0
You need to be able to handle the stairs but once in the lounge the view is well worth the climb. Super view down the Lock. Everything was clean and tidy on arrival. The apartment was well equipped, including tabs for both the dishwasher and washing machine. Both bathrooms were roomy as were the master bedroom and lounge.



Beautiful views

Review submitted on Tue, 25 Oct 2016
4.7
out of 5
Guest doesn't recommend this property
Cleanliness
5.0
Comfort
4.0
Condition
4.0
Location
5.0
Value
5.0
Customer
Service
5.0
This was a wonderful apartment, equipped with everything a family might need.It was warm and clean with the most beautiful views.
The sofas however, were very old and tatty looking. You couldn't really sit on the sofa bed without the cushions you sit on sliding off. I probably wouldn't book this apartment again on this basis, as a lot of time was spent as a family in the living area and the comfort is important.



Joanne Nicholson - customer services replied more than 1 year ago
Thank you for taking the time to write a review, your feedback is very useful. I have spoken to the owner who fully appreciates the situation with the sofa and the cushions. As this has been an extremely popular property due to its outstanding views over Loch Ness there has been a lot of wear and tear on the sofa. Ironically, the owner had already ordered new cushions for the sofa but unfortunately these were not in place for your stay but have now arrived. I am pleased you had a wonderful holiday but wanted to let you know that this is no longer and issue if you wish to book this property on another occasion. Kindest regards Joanne Nicholson