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8.9 / 10 Guest Rating

St Magnus Bay Hotel

Shetland, Hillswick, gb

St Magnus Bay Hotel - main view

About the Property

Luxurious Accommodations
Experience the charm of St Magnus Bay Hotel with its en suite bedrooms featuring modern amenities. The Bridal Suite offers a touch of indulgence with a spa bath for relaxation after a long day exploring Shetland.

Gourmet Dining Experience
Indulge in a culinary journey at the hotel's cosy dining room, boasting a delectable a la carte menu. Enjoy your meal while taking in the striking views of the surroundings, creating a truly memorable dining experience.

Historic Charm and Hospitality
Immerse yourself in the history of St Magnus Bay Hotel, once a favorite spot of renowned figures like W. H. Auden and Christopher Isherwood. The friendly and hospitable hosts ensure a warm welcome, making your stay truly unforgettable.

Book now to experience the perfect blend of luxury, history, and hospitality at St Magnus Bay Hotel.

Facilities & Amenities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Non-smoking rooms
Restaurant
Room service
Terrace
Family rooms
Garden
Hiking
Laundry

Important Information

Check-in & Out

Check-in
Check-out11:00 AM

Property Notes

Please note there will be ongoing renovations for many years to come but work is now very low key and is unlike to impact on your stay. Please note that pets are only allowed in Standard Double Room with an additional charge of £35 per night and make sure to inform the property during the booking process via the Special request box if you plan to bring pets. Also please note that pets are not permitted in the dining areas of the property.Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation. A deposit may be required at the property.

Check Room Availability

1 night · 2 adults

No rooms available

We couldn't find any available rooms for these dates and guests. Try adjusting your search criteria.

Guest Reviews

8.9
Excellent163 verified reviews
AI Summary

Guests highly rate the spacious rooms and frequently praise the friendly staff.

Categories

Cleanliness7.9
Service9.4
Location9.4
Room Quality8.9
Amenities8.9
Value for Money8.4
Food and Beverage9.4
Overall Experience8.9

Select topics to read reviews

T
TonygbGB
Verified booking
young couple
Standard Room
Stayed in Jun 15, 2025

"Just wonderful"

10.0

The staff were wonderful and the owner was very friendly the food was some of the best we have had . The views from the location were unrivalled and we held our breath round every corner of the beautiful island

Couldn't improve upon what was offered

Helpful?
A
AlisongbGB
Verified booking
young couple
Standard Room
Stayed in Jun 10, 2025

"Lovely night in this hotel."

9.0

Very good breakfast. Lovely dinner. Very helpful and friendly staff. Very comfortable room.

N/A

Helpful?
A
AlangbGB
Verified booking
young couple
Standard Room
Stayed in Jun 9, 2025

"The hotel is in a lovely location but everything seemed very basic and limited"

6.0

Location was good overlooking the bay Parking was good,staff very friendly

Food choice poor.Wine choice very poor. Toiletries very basic,tea/coffee facilities limited Cleanliness could be better.

Helpful?
J
JacquinzNZ
Verified booking
young couple
Standard Room
Stayed in Jun 9, 2025

"Hotel in Hillswick, scenic and peaceful with strong community spirit"

10.0

Very friendly, helpful staff. Beautiful, peaceful location overlooking water and surrounded by small farms. Apartment we stayed in was spacious and separate to old hotel, short walk to enjoy breakfast (hill climb walk OK for us, but might be a problem for those with low fitness or mobility challenge, but those people drive everywhere anyway (for us a nice way to stretch the legs). We also got to enjoy a couple of local community events in Hillswick during our stay which were great fun.

The bedroom ceiling in the apartment is VERY low - not possible to stand up in it. Mezzanine area.

Helpful?
G
GeorgigbGB
Verified booking
solo traveller
Standard Room
Stayed in Jun 8, 2025

"Where else are you going to stay in a hotel built from the equivalent of an IKEA flat pack?"

8.0

The Magnus Bay Hotel was actually built in Norway, and featured in the Glasgow Great Exhibition in 1899, being moved up to Hillswick, in kit form, a year later. Its hard to imagine now, as this is so fantastically remote, but in the 1920s there were cruises from Edinburgh, and the hotel was something of a feature as it dominated the bay, in a landscape where there are no trees. Now the cruise ships are long gone, but the hotel is still something of a feature, and is very popular in the summer, as there is some of the most spectacular scenery in the UK within easy walking distance. Its a lovely hotel with friendly staff, a large bar (very welcome after the 5 hour hike round the amazing Ness of Hillswick), a restaurant and a huge, very tasty buffet breakfast included in the price. It also has tables outside with a great view over the bay, if you, like me, live in Shetland and are acclimatised to the wind. I was in a single room, and it was actually pretty spacious, comfy and the bed was the larger single size which was just fine. The room had all the amenities you would expect, but i did really like the kitkat biscuits next to the coffee, and the USB ports in the electric sockets. I may as well say that Shetland is expensive and this hotel, nor any other, is a bargain basement price, but after a strenuous walk in bracing wind, it was an absolute pleasure to hobble up to my cosy room. It was a very enjoyable stay.

nothing

Helpful?
S
SmithgbGB
Verified booking
young couple
Standard Room
Stayed in Jun 2, 2025

"Wonderful location and great meals."

8.0

Views from the house.

Height of ceiling in bedroom.

Helpful?
R
RobertauAU
Verified booking
young couple
Standard Room
Stayed in May 31, 2025

"Superb"

9.0
Helpful?
K
KategbGB
Verified booking
young couple
Standard Room
Stayed in May 26, 2025

"Friendly and generous comfort with great food."

9.0

Friendly staff led by generous and thoughtful hosts. Excellent food, and plenty of it: perfect when you've been battling a northern wind all day! Good options for vegetarians. A comfortable room with great supply of hot water. And a pretty decent whisky selection too!

Only improvement I can think of for us southerners not used to the "simmer dim", would be blackout blinds for the windows.

Helpful?
I
IaingbGB
Verified booking
young couple
Standard Room
Stayed in May 25, 2025

"Well run hotel, friendly staff and excellent food."

10.0

Full breakfast was included and was very good with a wide range of choices. We stayed in an Airb&b apartment separate from the hotel, this was comfortable with amazing views. We had two dogs with us, the hotel were very accommodating with them which is unusual for Shetland. We ate all our evening meals at the hotel. Having worked through most of the menu choices I can say that they were all excellent. The staff were amazing, really friendly and nothing was too much for them to help. Thoroughly recommend. Paul and Andrea, the owners were very welcoming. A great place to stay.

There is some ongoing building work but this does not affect the quality of the stay at the hotel. I am unable to find anything that I didn't like.

Helpful?
A
AndrewgbGB
Verified booking
young couple
Standard Room
Stayed in May 23, 2025

"Very comfortable stay"

9.0

Great location Comfortable room Friendly staff Brilliant breakfast

Helpful?