Scottish hotels to suit every personality
From hill hikes and golf greens to picturesque sunsets and top-class tipples, the land of the brave really does have universal appeal. High Life heads north to find the stays with Caledonian allure for every kind of guest
01/11/2021Updated 21/02/2025
View from the Sheraton Grand of the Usher Hall and Edinburgh Castle
For the… city slicker
SHERATON GRAND HOTEL AND SPA, EDINBURGH
Every night out needs a Michael. At One Square, Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa’s flagship bistro, Michael J Brown is the resident juniper expert and a man with but one mission: to find you your ultimate gin love match. His ‘Ginnasium’ experience (which roughly distils to four tailor-made gins, a theatrical look back at the history of the spirit, and the chance to wax-seal your very own miniature) is the perfect start – or indeed, finale – to any Edinburgh night out. Just as the Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa is the perfect base. Come night-time, the city’s enchanting castle glimmers from the guest room windows, the indoor-outdoor hydropool (swan neck showers pouring and jets rumbling till 10pm) glows a neon-blue, and One Square buzzes with out-of-towners, chatty locals and whoever Michael happens to be plying with gin. It’s in walkable proximity – roughly ten minutes – of the Old Town and Princes Street, so you won’t be reaching for taxis, while a piping hot breakfast, served with Scottish potato cakes and haggis, is on hand to soak up any booze from the night before. Top tip: ask to upgrade for access to the Club Lounge, where ice-cold Champers and light bites are served from 5pm-7pm.
The Duke’s Course by the Old Course Hotel, St Andrews
For the... good sport
OLD COURSE HOTEL, ST ANDREWS
Golf runs in Scotland’s DNA. In fact, you’ll be hard pushed to find a hotel without its own green. For the best homage in the land, head to St Andrews and the historic Old Course Hotel. Overlooking the iconic West Sand Beach, this five-star property is surrounded by 11 courses (including the oldest in the world) and is filled with milestone memories from the sport: pictures of Tiger Woods claiming the youngest ever Grand Slam win and sepia shots of players in the 1800s. Head for the Millennium Wing, where 31 new luxurious bedrooms and a stunning penthouse suite come featuring marble Kohler bathrooms, sports-channel-equipped TVs and an office area overlooking the fairways. Tighten up your game by practising in The Swing Studio, a simulator equipped with more than 60 courses and a PGA-qualified instructor. Ready for the real thing? Leave booking courses and club transportation to the concierge, who’ll also regale you with anecdotes about illustrious visitors. Relieve tired muscles after a session with a Golfer’s Recovery Massage in the on-site Kohler Water Spa, where a therapist will stretch and soothe aching muscles.
Fonab Castle nestles in the Highlands (also opening image)
For the... outdoor enthusiast
FONAB CASTLE, PITLOCHRY
It’s no secret that Scotland is the UK’s adventure playground, and the glorious Fonab Castle is a great place to kick off an escapade. Not only is it quintessentially Scottish – here’s a lochside castle boasting 200 types of whisky – but it’s also just 90 minutes from Edinburgh and Glasgow airports, and next door to the Cairngorms National Park. It overlooks the River Tummel (which runs all the way to tourist hotspot Glencoe) so watersports are a big focus. Charming staff are primed to arrange any and all excursions, from high-octane white-water rafting, tubing and canyoning to more serene kayaking, paddleboarding and fishing trips. Alongside bike and hike trails, nearby distillery visits and golf games are also available, not forgetting the property’s long-standing partnership with Land Rover Experience Scotland, so you can head into the highlands on your own 4x4. Indoors, Fonab is equally tantalising – think purple tartan carpets, orange feather light shades and vast, mirrored wine racks. Garden pods accommodate intimate outdoor dining experiences, while the first-floor veranda has stunning sunset views. There’s also a top-of-the-turret penthouse, generous spa and outdoor pool. But what Fonab does best is get you out into the wilderness and then wrap you in a warm, never-want-to-leave hug on your return.
Auld House suite with views of the loch at Cameron House
For the… whole pack
CAMERON HOUSE, LOCH LOMOND
When the hotel welcome hamper greets you with both a Lego set and a bottle of local artisan gin, you know you’re somewhere that has guests of every age in mind. Cameron House, only 30 minutes from Glasgow Airport, is full of these little touches: mini robes and slippers in the rooms, an afternoon tea that includes a sweet kids’ version, plus children’s menus in its two excellent restaurants for keeping picky palates happy. There’s even a leisure club with two pools and its own water slide. You can take a Loch tour on the Celtic Warrior, try remote-control boating or falconry lessons, and – if you’re brave enough – go up in the resident sea plane (which is parked right outside – watching it take off and land is an activity in its own right). Cameron House also pulls off the feat of having beautifully designed public areas – velvet and leather textures, tartan carpets, gold-leaf wallpaper in the library – that seems robust enough not to spark parental terror that your children will wreck something. Your future self will thank you for choosing a room with a loch view, which waits to dazzle when you wake up, and large family suites come with cosy bunk bedrooms (the ladder is fixed and the top bunk includes a roll barrier) with their own TV. Happy kids = happy parents.
Kinloch Lodge on Sleat, Skye’s southern peninsula
For the… hungry introvert
KINLOCH LODGE, ISLE OF SKYE
Getting away from it all means more than shutting a laptop. It’s a chance to recharge, reset and reawaken the senses – and nowhere is better for this than the breathtaking Isle of Skye. Drive just 100 miles west of Inverness Airport, along the famous Loch Ness, and escape to The Misty Isle’s majestic mountains, rolling hills and famous Fairy Pools – blasting yourself in the face with cold sea air from the spectacular Neist Point. Here, pure relaxation, good food and a crackling log fire waits for you at Kinloch Lodge, a family-run luxury hotel tucked away in the south of the island. This former 16th-century hunting lodge is home to the Macdonald clan, previously run by cookery writer Lady Claire Macdonald. Daughter Isabella is now at the helm, and she warmly welcomes guests into her childhood home, which has just 18 bedrooms (including three suites) across the North and South lodges. Food remains very much at the heart of Kinloch, with comforting dishes expertly crafted from seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. In fact, some are sourced right from the grounds, and you can go foraging for wild mushrooms in nearby woodland with Kinloch’s own gillie. For the ultimate down-time, nothing beats curling up with a book in one of the lodge’s three peaceful drawing rooms, with plush sofas, log fires and beautiful views of Loch na Dal beyond.
The playful morning room at Glenmorangie House
For the... whisky lover
GLENMORANGIE HOUSE, TAIN
The world of whisky can seem a bit of an unfriendly club, where membership requires knowledge of blends and barrels and having strong opinions on ice. The only entry requirement for Glenmorangie House, owned by the venerable whisky producer, is a willingness to have a good time. An hour from Inverness airport, the boutique hotel sits is just down the road from the Glenmorangie distillery, a must for a tasting session, and you can book a nearby foraging walk through the wild surroundings with head chef John Wilson, or a sea safari to spot whales and dolphins. Its bar is stocked with rare bottles and exclusive editions, and ran by staff only too happy to help whisky sceptics find a cocktail they love. And while it may look grand, the house has just nine rooms, giving it the feel more of an opulent home than a hotel. Rooms were designed in the spirit of ‘luxurious fun’ by Russell Sage Studio, with giraffe motifs nodding to the height of the distillery’s copper stills and furniture made from old barrels. The stunning morning room, with its gold ceiling and amber hues, is redolent of a warming single malt. Book the Reserve bedroom for maximum interior-oomph (expect monkeys on the wallpaper and a tiger in the wardrobe). Finally, the luxurious fun extends to dinner, served at a huge communal table to encourage mixing (of people and drinks). Expect to go home with several new friends and a bottle of your favourite tipple.
Words: Hannah Ralph, Ally Wybrew, Helen Whitaker, Olly Richards and Ally Sinyard
