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Summary of reviewsThe Bridge Helmsdale, located in the picturesque heart of Helmsdale, is a charming hotel celebrated for its blend of traditional Scottish Inn style and modern comfort. Positioned ideally for travelers exploring the NC500 route, it offers easy access to the beach, river and harbor, presenting guests with tranquil and scenic surroundings. The proximity to local cafes, restaurants and other amenities, including ample parking options, adds convenience for those on a leisurely road trip or a relaxing getaway.
Guests repeatedly commend the hotel's breakfast, highlighting the variety and quality offered. The extensive buffet includes both hot and cold items such as cereals, a full Scottish breakfast, fruit juices and more, making it a hearty start to the day. The phrase “great start to the day” encapsulates the sentiments of many, while a few isolated comments suggest minor improvements could be made.
Although The Bridge Helmsdale does not offer dinner on-site, guests have highly recommended nearby La Mirage, a renowned fish restaurant that promises exceptional crabs and fish dishes. Additionally, other local dining options, including a nearby pub, provide good food and value, though advance booking is advised due to limited availability.
The rooms at The Bridge Helmsdale are frequently described as spacious, comfortable and impeccably clean. Guests appreciate the cozy beds, large bathrooms and inviting seating areas that contribute to restful sleeps and overall comfort. Despite minor comments on basic furnishings and occasional minor flaws, the historical character and well-maintained nature of the property add to its charming appeal.
Cleanliness at the hotel is consistently noted as impeccable with both rooms and common areas maintained to a high standard. The traditional styling combined with modern, functional amenities ensures a cozy and comfortable atmosphere for guests. The tranquil and quiet location, paired with the secure and easily accessible parking facilities, further enhances the sense of peace and convenience.
The staff at The Bridge Helmsdale are widely praised for their friendliness, professionalism and accommodating nature, contributing significantly to the positive experience of guests. Hosts are noted for their welcoming demeanor and willingness to go above and beyond to ensure a pleasant stay, creating a warm and inviting environment.
While the hotel offers easy access to WiFi, some guests have experienced weak or erratic connections with connectivity issues in certain rooms. However, the availability of 4G in the area serves as a reliable fallback for those needing stable internet access.
In summary, The Bridge Helmsdale stands out as a charming and characterful hotel ideal for travelers seeking a blend of traditional charm and modern comfort along the NC500 route. The exceptional location, combined with spacious and clean rooms, a hearty breakfast, friendly staff and excellent parking facilities, make it a highly recommended stopover for a tranquil and enjoyable stay. Show more
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Room Types
Deluxe RoomOffering free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The double room offers soundproof walls, a wardrobe, an electric kettle, a flat-screen TV, as well as garden views. The unit offers 1 bed.
Family RoomProviding free toiletries, this family room includes a private bathroom with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The family room provides a flat-screen TV, soundproof walls, a wardrobe, an electric kettle as well as garden views. The unit offers 3 beds.
Deluxe Twin RoomOffering free toiletries, this twin room includes a private bathroom with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The twin room offers soundproof walls, a wardrobe, an electric kettle, a flat-screen TV, as well as garden views. The unit offers 2 beds.
Deluxe Double RoomProviding free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The double room provides soundproof walls, a wardrobe, an electric kettle, a flat-screen TV, as well as garden views. The unit offers 1 bed.
Single RoomProviding free toiletries, this single room includes a private bathroom with a bath or a shower and a hairdryer. The single room provides soundproof walls, a wardrobe, an electric kettle, a flat-screen TV, as well as garden views. The unit offers 1 bed.
Guest Reviews
8.4
Very Good
Location
The Bridge Helmsdale boasts an outstanding location that appeals to a variety of travelers. Nestled in the heart of Helmsdale, this hotel is ideally positioned for those exploring the NC500 route. Guests appreciate its proximity to the beach, river and harbor, providing picturesque scenery and a tranquil environment. The hotel’s historical character and traditional Scottish Inn style add to its charm, making it a beautiful surprise for visitors. With a central position in the peaceful village, you’ll find cafes, restaurants and local amenities just a short walk away. The ease of parking and convenient access to the northern coast make it a perfect stopover for road trips. This quiet, friendly and charming hotel is well-suited for relaxing stays and leisurely explorations of the surrounding area.
Breakfast
The breakfast at The Bridge Helmsdale receives high praise from many guests with multiple reviews highlighting its variety and quality. Guests frequently mention the extensive selection available, both hot and cold, which caters to various tastes and dietary preferences. Many point out the buffet style, emphasizing the abundance of options including cereals, a full Scottish breakfast and a good range of fruit juices, yoghurts and toast.
Several reviews describe the breakfast as excellent, superb and very good, noting it as a great start to their day. Descriptions of the breakfast spread include words like "plentiful," "hearty," and "tasty," with particular mentions of top-quality eggs and great coffee. For many, the generous offerings contribute to the value for money, making it a significant highlight of their stay.
A few guests felt the breakfast could use improvement, particularly in terms of variety and temperature, but these were exceptions rather than the rule. Overall, the breakfast experience at The Bridge Helmsdale is highly regarded, adding to the hotel's appeal.
Dinner
When staying at The Bridge Helmsdale, guests should be aware that there is no evening dining available on-site. However, culinary delights are not far off. Many guests highly recommend La Mirage, a fish restaurant conveniently located next door. La Mirage serves not just spectacular fish dishes but also exceptional crab, making it a favorite among visitors. Besides La Mirage, there are a few other dining options in the town, though they may require advance booking due to limited availability. For a fabulous dining experience in Helmsdale, La Mirage seems to be the star, praised for both its food quality and friendly staff. Other local eateries, including a local pub, also offer good food and value for money, making dining out a pleasant part of the stay.
Rooms
The guest reviews of 'The Bridge Helmsdale' highlight the hotel's spacious, comfortable rooms as a significant positive. Visitors frequently praise the generous room sizes, often mentioning the presence of inviting seating areas and large, clean bathrooms. Comfort appears to be a consistent attribute with many guests noting exceptionally cozy beds that contributed to restful sleep.
The rooms are described as clean and tidy with several reviewers specifically mentioning the spotless nature and pleasant smell upon entering. Despite some noting the basic furnishings and occasional minor flaws, such as a crack in the sink or an isolated location, the overall impression remains favorable. The presence of antiques and characterful design elements adds a touch of charm and uniqueness to the experience.
Additionally, the hotel staff receive commendation for their welcoming and helpful demeanor, particularly in accommodating late arrivals and ensuring a pleasant stay for solo travelers. The inclusion of good breakfast options and teas and coffee in the rooms further enhances the guest experience.
Overall, 'The Bridge Helmsdale' is noted for its large, comfortable and clean rooms, offering good value for money and a cozy atmosphere along the NC500 route with its character-filled building adding to the appeal.
Beds
At 'The Bridge Helmsdale', guests frequently highlight the comfort and size of the beds in their reviews. Many describe the beds as extremely comfortable with phrases such as "the most comfortable we have ever slept in" and "super comfy bed" being common. The rooms themselves are also noted for their spaciousness, often mentioned as "big room" or "huge room," paired with "large and bright bathroom" adding to the overall comfort.
Several reviews specifically praise the generous size of the beds, such as "king-size bed" and "massive bed," making for a restful night's sleep. The quiet neighborhood contributes to the peaceful atmosphere, even with windows open. A recurring theme is the cleanliness and maintenance of the beds, ensuring a pleasant stay for guests.
However, there are occasional mentions of beds being old-fashioned or uncomfortable, suggesting that some rooms might benefit from updated mattresses. In one case, a bed was described as being done in a hurry. Despite these isolated comments, the overwhelming sentiment leans towards praise for the comfort and quality of the sleeping arrangements at The Bridge Helmsdale.
Cleanliness
The Bridge Helmsdale hotel consistently impresses guests with its impeccable cleanliness. The property is described as spotlessly clean with both the rooms and common areas receiving high praise for their maintenance and tidiness. Rooms are noted to be not only very clean but also spacious and well-designed, often styled in a traditional and simple Scottish manner. Guests repeatedly highlight the comfort of the large beds and the quality of amenities, such as clean bedding and powerful showers. The facilities are modern and functional, contributing to an overall comfortable and cozy atmosphere. The hotel is also well-maintained, retaining its traditional features while ensuring everything is kept in pristine condition. Additionally, the peaceful location with ample parking options adds to the sense of convenience and tranquility. Overall, The Bridge Helmsdale stands out as an exceptionally clean and pleasant place to stay.
Staff
The reviews for 'The Bridge Helmsdale' consistently highlight the exceptional quality of its staff. Guests frequently mention the friendly and welcoming nature of the hosts, describing the owner as not only knowledgeable but also genuinely interested in ensuring a pleasant stay. Many users express that the staff were always attentive, available and accommodating, enhancing the overall experience with their professionalism and cordiality.
Multiple reviews commend the helpfulness of the staff, going as far as offering insights about the local region and even special gestures like offering whisky. The manager and hosts are often singled out for their polite and friendly demeanor with one particular host, Hans, receiving praise for going out of his way to assist guests.
Overall, the staff at 'The Bridge Helmsdale' are portrayed as charming, professional and super friendly, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that leaves a lasting positive impression on visitors.
Wi-Fi
The Bridge Helmsdale offers a generally comfortable stay, but future visitors should be aware of some challenges with the WiFi. On the positive side, the WiFi is noted to be very easy to access and in some cases, it connects and stays connected smoothly. However, many guests have experienced issues such as weak or erratic WiFi quality, no WiFi in rooms and poor overall internet connection. Some reported that while they could connect to the WiFi, there was no actual internet service, making it unreliable. For those reliant on a stable internet connection, this could be an inconvenience. Fortunately, the availability of 4G in the area can be used as a backup for those needing to stay connected.
Parking
The Bridge Helmsdale is highly praised for its excellent parking facilities, making it a convenient choice for travelers with vehicles. Guests highlight the ample off-street parking available behind the hotel, as well as the availability of private parking at the rear. The parking options are versatile with secure spots for motorbikes and convenient, free private parking just adjacent or directly outside the hotel. Motorcyclists, particularly those on routes like the NC500, find it a safe place to park their bikes.
The hotel offers a mix of gravel and concrete slab areas for motorbike parking and even opens back gates to accommodate guests' cars. On-site parking is frequently mentioned as an added bonus with plenty of space either on the street or in the hotel's rear area. For those willing to take a short walk, good availability is mentioned, along with convenient options such as a car park opposite the hotel and easy on-road parking. In summary, The Bridge Helmsdale provides guests with numerous and secure parking options, enhancing the overall stay experience.
No, The Bridge Helmsdale doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at The Bridge Helmsdale.
No, The Bridge Helmsdale doesn't allow dogs.
Yes, parking facilities are available at The Bridge Helmsdale.