Days are long in summer... it's a pity that dinner times are so early

Wonderful location and high quality staying for a somehow remote place. Great restaurant. Nice room, very quiet.

Stayed in July 2025

Could use some maintenance.

Beautiful, quiet location.

Stayed in August 2025

The linen was a bit tired but other than that everything was fine.

Excellent location for otter watching early in the morning in the quiet bay in front of the hotel. The breakfast was fantastic and the staff were wonderful. Very helpful and friendly at all times.

Stayed in July 2025

The staff were fantastic. They were incredibly friendly and helpful and made our stay really enjoyable. The location was fabulous over looking the bay. The bedroom was large with a very comfortable bed.

Stayed in July 2025

The Loft bedroom is spacious but the ceiling is relatively low. At 5 ft 7 inches I had to bend slightly. We used the washing machine while there but it was difficult to get going despite being relatively new - something that needs to be fixed. One of the front windows needs some repair work as it didn't close completely at the top - tissue paper pushed into the gaps minimized the inflow of cold air during a storm, but it obviously needs attention.

We stayed in the self-contained Loft apartment associated with the St Magnus Bay Hotel, about 300 metres up the hill from the hotel on the edge of the village. We had fantastic views over the bay from the front windows and great views from the kitchen over another bay. From the front door it was a short walk to a beach and the start of the Ness of Hillswick circuit. There was a good store in the village if you wanted to be self-sufficient. We ate in the St Magnus Bay Hotel every night and had the included breakfasts there too. Excellent food. We stayed several nights and met most of the staff - all genuinely lovely people. Great accomodation in a dramatic out of the way location - yet only 45 minutes drive to Lerwick.

Stayed in June 2025

Couldn't improve upon what was offered

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

Stayed in June 2025

N/A

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

Stayed in June 2025

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

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.

Stayed in June 2025

nothing

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.

Stayed in June 2025

Height of ceiling in bedroom.

Views from the house.

Stayed in June 2025

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

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!

Stayed in May 2025

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.

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.

Stayed in May 2025

Great location Comfortable room Friendly staff Brilliant breakfast

Stayed in May 2025

Superb location. Excellent food and super friendly and helpful staff

Stayed in May 2025

Nothing.

Andrea and Paul were excellent hosts and provided invaluable information.

Stayed in April 2025

Andrea and Paul were perfect hosts, it was like staying with family. Up Helly Aa weekend so very busy. Lovely room with a view over the bay.

Stayed in February 2025

Nothing

After our flights were cancelled due to a storm, the hotel changed our booking with no fuss whatsoever. Very welcoming and friendly. Room clean and comfortable with lovely views. Food excellent and restaurant staff are a delight

Stayed in January 2025

Clean and comfortable and well maintained excellent service, friendly performance manager and would highly recommend to

Stayed in November 2024

Accessible by bus from Lerwick but no buses on Sundays and Taxi was costly. Only when we enquired about lunch, on one weekday, were we told they were not offering lunch. Then they directed us and some others to a cafe which we found to also be closed

Great views, helpful staff, good breakfast and dinners. Good location for local walks

Stayed in October 2024

n/a

Interesting building in a fantastic location.Good staff who looked after us well.

Stayed in September 2024

Personal attention of all staff. Excellent food. Warm & welcoming word burner in bar area.

Stayed in October 2024

Not a complaint ~ but I did struggle with the stairs. However this is my fault for not enquiring at time of booking if there would be stairs.

Old style hospitality. Very welcoming and obliging

Stayed in October 2024

Nothing could have been better

The level of hospitality and service was great, with friendly and helpful staff. Breakfast was all that I could ask for and the evening meals were of a high standard. The locations is wonderful and I am looking forward to my next visit

Stayed in September 2024

Nothing negative other than we didn't want to leave!

The hotel was fantastic, it is based in such beautiful surroundings, it is an older hotel but certainly doesn't feel that way once you get inside. The staff are brilliant and are only too happy to help, there is always someone round and about if you need anything. The food was amazing, freshly cooked and healthy portion sizes too!

Stayed in September 2024