Aald Harbour Bed & Breakfast

Most reviews of this B & B describe it as excellent - my husband and I didn't get the chance to find out. I booked this accommodation well ahead of our intended visit back to the UK from Australia, and subsequently booked international flights, overnight accommodation and ferry crossing to suit. Upon receiving an email from the host of this B & B that breakfasts would be served at another establishment, variously described as being between a five minute and ten minute walk away and served between 8.30 am and 9.00 am I wrote back to express my disappoin**ent given my recent knee replacement operation and subsequent complications. I had previously expressed concern also that after arriving in Lerwick early morning on a Sunday, and having travelled 12,000 miles in three days no assistance or advice whatsoever was offered regarding where we could rest until our room was ready especially if the weather was inclement, other than dropping our luggage off at an allotted time. Following these two concerns the host wrote back to me advising that obviously their establishment wouldn’t suit us and that they had cancelled our booking (and re-advertised the dates) – not asked if we wished to cancel or offer some alternative. I suggested that perhaps there was some compromise we could agree upon. In desperation and because of the considerable expense already expended in the above bookings to suit, and with barely three weeks before our intended arrival, I re-booked on *********** following which I received an email from the host advising me that they had cancelled our booking on *********** and not to try to book again as they were not prepared to re-consider or compromise. After a very stressful 48 hours, I finally managed to find alternative accommodation for the required period and I’m very pleased to say that the host/owner there was accommodating in every sense of the word. My husband and I have travelled quite extensively over the years and have never encountered a host who treats paying guests with such apparent contempt.

Owner and staff very friendly and welcoming. Lynette very helpful she advised us to download the Shetland Travel Information app ( blue background with a white Z). Locals use it for bus and ferry timetables. Found it useful when traveling to Yell and Unst Island, picking up ferry etc. The staff work very hard slaving away cleaning rooms at both Aald B&B and Fort Charlotte Guesthouse and breakfast for guests at both accommodations. As at the moment Lynette is also running the Fort Charlotte Guesthouse as well as Aald Harbour B&B as owner of Fort Charlotte’s husband is seriously ill. As a result breakfast for Aald Harbour B&B residents is held at Fort Charlotte Guesthouse in Charlotte Road. It’s located off the main high street (Commercial Street) beside the soap shop (there is 2 soap shops, it’s the one next door to Boots the Chemist). Just up the the hill you will see the oval sign and stone steps. The entrance is up the steps and door to your right. The breakfast is second to none. Staff very attentive, toppling you up asking if you wanted more juice, tea, coffee, or toast etc. As soon as you get up to leave they asked if there was anything in your room you needed or wanted done. As owners don’t stay at accommodation. We stayed in the Aurora room lovely decorated. Welcoming pack and laminated sheets with further details a nice touch and very useful. Bed very comfortable, but only thing we could fault was the size of the bed, a double bed. As it was a little cramped for my husband and I for our week stay. A king size bed would have been more suitable and more comfortable. Downstairs in the laundry room next to the toilet there’s an iron/iron board. There is a communal kitchen with a microwave, toaster, and 2 fridges and a fridge in all rooms. Although you can’t eat in room as they don’t want the linens soiled. We ate in kitchen on nights we didn’t want to eat out. You can help yourself to more milk and tea etc from the kitchen if you run out in your rooms. On last day once we checked out of our room Lynette said we could store bags in communal lounge and sit in there and help ourselves to tea etc until it was time to pick up our ferry to Aberdeen. This is central location for pubs/restaurants in walking distance. However restaurants get very busy and booked up. Therefore if you plan to eat out I recommend you book in advance. Whilst in the Dowry several diners were turned away at 8pm and 9pm as every night they were open for business they were fully booked. The Dowry, No.88,

Well presented rooms and good bathroom facilities but let down by "character" room height. No staff on site in case anything goes wrong. Breakfast is provided in another B&B about 10 minutes walk from this site. No food available at this location.

Well first of all I have to say that after reading the reviews from past travellers we are really looking forward to our stay at this lovely Bed & Breakfast. The rooms are excellent standard and very clean however it is best to check with the owner that the room you think you are booking is the one you get allocated. This particular important if you are tall or have some mobility challenges. The second floor rooms while lovely are very restrictive and the climb up stairs to access them extremely difficult. The shower rooms have angled ceilings and the sink is extremely small presumably to make fitting possible, standing at the sink is a challenge. We were informed by email the night before arrival that breakfast was not being served on the premises, the walk if you have some challenges is considerable to get to the second property they are operating and continental breakfast was not offered. The owners did refund the cost of breakfast to us which we found agreeable and sourced our own breakfast. Parking is available opposite and slightly up the road, if you can get it! This is very much in demand and after being caught out the first night resorted to using taxis for going out in the evenings for the rest of our stay. This property is pushing the boundary’s to be called B&B, there is no one to greet you on arrival and you enter by a code operated electronic lock. Your keys are hanging on hooks with post it notes attached with your name on and you show yourself to your room. There is no one staying on the premises overnight so should there be any events you would be on your own. Had we not made contact on arrival to discuss some points I feel we would never have met the owner at all during our stay. This is not what we consider a homely B&B which was completely different when we arrived on Orkney despite belong 11:30pm.

Aald Harbour is a very comfortable and well located B&B. Lynette and her mother were fabulous hosts. I became quite unwell after I arrived and they advised me perfectly and made sure I was ok with my circumstances. My room was well appointed, very comfortable and clean. I highly recommend this B&B.

I really loved staying here. My room was so cute and comfortable. The whole B&B was clean and in a great location. At the time the breakfast was at another location (owner helping out another) but a quick walk away. Each morning it was very good and kept me going all day.