We've shared stories of exclusive distillery experiences in Scotland before, but it wasn’t until we drafted this list of Scotland’s best hotels that we realised how rarely we cover the UK’s northernmost tip. Maybe it’s The Traitors returning to our screens. Maybe it’s the poetry of Burns Night. Or maybe – just maybe – it's a bit of both. Either way, we've been inspired to write home about Scotland’s best centuries-old castles, Highland hunting lodges, and mist-laden lochside retreats.
Glenapp Castle
Best for: a storybook-like castle stay.
Sadly, the keys to this woodland-wrapped, turret-topped castle don’t come with hooded cloaks or a seat at a round table of suspicious glances. Luckily, though, they do unlock period suites and personal butlers. And on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th January, the castle will swing its doors open for Burns-themed festivities like a live bagpiper dressed feather bonnet-to-toe in traditional tartan, a full Scottish breakfast (haggis is optional), and ceilidh dancing to whirl you into the wee hours.
glenappcastle.com
Ballantrae, Girvan, KA26 0NZ
Gleneagles Townhouse
Best for: a stylish stay with a side of wellness.
You’ve heard of the original Gleneagles hotel in Auchterarder, but how about its chic city cousin? There’s a clear family resemblance – but what this former Bank of Scotland lacks in championship golf courses, it more than makes up for in gorgeous interiors. Best of all, for Burns Night, you’ll be right in the thick of the city’s festivities. And afterwards, you can cash in on a relaxing stay with over 40 wellness classes held in the building’s vault.
gleneagles.com
39 St Andrew Sq, Edinburgh, EH2 2AD
Seaton House
Best for: golf aficionados.
If golf is your cup of tee, swing by this coast-cuddling hotel. Its sea view suites overlook the Old Course’s first hole (aka where the first-ever game of golf was played 600 years ago). But Seaton House has more going for it than being next door to one of the world’s most beautiful golf courses. To tide yourself over, bag a table at Ondine (the St Andrews spin-off of the Edinburgh restaurant) for fresh seafood like Cumbrae oysters and East Neuk lobster.
seatonhouse.com
76 The Scores, St Andrews, KY16 9BB
The Torridon
Best for: a wildlife-filled and whisky-fuelled escape.
On the hunt for a Highlands hideaway that pairs relaxation with adventure? Kill two birds with one stone at this former hunting lodge. Settle into the whisky bar, where you’ll spot bartenders scaling library ladders to sniff out top-shelf bottles or get your claws on hand-dived Orkney scallops at 1887 Restaurant. And if you can bear to tear yourself away from the wood-burner warmth, head outside and you’ll be greeted by grazing cattle, giant mountains, and a glittering loch.
thetorridon.com
Annat, Wester Ross, IV22 2EY
The Balmoral
Best for: getting into the Scottish spirit – literally.
Some hotels are so iconic that they don’t need any superlatives. The Balmoral might be one of them, but we’re going to use them anyway. For starters, it’s instantly recognisable – and impossible to ignore – thanks to its can’t-miss-it clock tower crowned with the national flag waving in the wind. And for a nightcap, make your way to its aptly named whisky bar, SCOTCH, for a dram from one of the city’s largest collections (500 malts, to be precise).
roccofortehotels.com
1 Princes St, Edinburgh, EH2 2EQ
Penicuik Estate
Best for: a country escape.
16 bedrooms. 12 hectares of parkland. Just 10 miles south of Edinburgh. That's this rural country house retreat in statistics, but in spirit, it’s surrounded by nothing but woodland and is made for long walks, wild swims, and whisky tastings by the crackling fire. Despite the secluded location, you’re still just half an hour from the Burns Night celebrations in the Scottish capital, offering the best of both worlds.
penicuikestate.com
Penicuik Estate, Midlothian, EH26 9LA | Credit: Alexander Baxter
Killiehuntly Farmhouse
Best for: wellness and wild swimming.
Scandi-style interiors inside a boutique farmhouse in the Scottish Highlands might initially seem like a strange combination, but this pairing comes second nature to Killiehuntly. Sleeping just eight guests, it’s one of the Highlands’ most peaceful – and design-forward – places to stay, complete with sheepskins draped over armchairs and crackling fires. Days here are spent testing the waters of natural contrast therapy: plunging into icy, wild swimming-friendly lochs and retreating to the wood-fired sauna yurt tucked between ancient trees.
killiehuntly.scot
