Grandes dames with golf courses, loch-side lodges, fairy-tale castles – the most luxurious hotels in Scotland are some of the finest in the world.
With mountains and Munros, isles, glens and lochs at its disposal, the country doesn’t have to try very hard for its backdrops to be incredible – and the raft of luxury hotels in Scotland mean that the man-made side is rather beautiful, too. This far north, the days are long and you’ll be in with a chance of seeing the Northern Lights from some locations. And in winter, cozy fireplaces and warming whisky tastings are calling.
The spiraling Torridon, a hunting lodge on the banks of a sea loch, is perfectly placed on the NC 500 road-trip route. One of the best British hotels and most fabulous hotels in the world, Gleneagles has a reputation for golf and gastronomy. Or check in at the city’s Rocco Forte outpost, the Balmoral, for elegant afternoon teas and a central setting on Princes Street. Scroll on for our selection of the most luxurious hotels in Scotland.
Gleaneagles Hotel
So popular with 1920s travellers that it opened with its own train station, Gleneagles remains one of the most fantasized-about hotels not only in Scotland, but all over the world. The huge estate – which has a golf course, zip-lines, falconry and clay-pigeon shooting – aptly styles itself as “Scotland’s playground” and even the grown-up guests get to be big kids.
Helpfully for somewhere that you’ll inevitably want to stay for a while, the hotel has several restaurants, including one with two Michelin stars. The spa is excellent, too, and there’s a handy arcade to shop for everything you need to recreate Gleneagles at home, including, most importantly, the spectacular shortbread.
Inverlochy Castle Hotel
A Highland hotel near Fort William that once hosted Queen Victoria, Inverlochy Castle lies in the foothills of the highest mountain in the United Kingdom. The royal spent a week here on a trip to Balmoral, sketching and painting; as she wrote in her diary, she “never saw a lovelier or more romantic spot”.
Along with Ben Nevis, nearby areas of note include the other mountains of Glencoe, the monument at Glenfinnan and the falls at Glen Nevis – with bedrooms of striped wallpaper, tartan bedspreads and elegant drapery forming the refuge awaiting your return.
Cromlix Hotel
Andy Murray loved coming to Cromlix so much, he purchased it – and has restored the Victorian mansion in Perthshire so that all of us can enjoy the laird lifestyle. A few miles from the tennis superstar’s hometown of Dunblane, and within reach of both Glasgow and Edinburgh, the house is in glorious countryside, with woodlands, gardens, its own chapel and a loch.
The Glasshouse is a beautiful restaurant with views of the grounds, waiting for you to return after days out exploring the Wallace Monument and Stirling Castle, fishing for trout in the house loch and, of course, completing a round of golf at one of the dramatic nearby estates.
The Torridon
A fairy-tale castle with some of the most spectacular views of the Highlands, the loch-side Torridon is one of the northernmost five-star hotels in Britain, with tens of acres of parklands, canoes to take out on the water and Munros to scale.
The far-north setting means long days and short nights – and for when the nights do draw in, the bar has 365 whiskies worthy of trying. The hunting lodge is just off the North Coast 500 route, one of the most scenic drives in the world, and staff can arrange a vintage Morgan to borrow so you can see it in style.
Glenapp Castle
A trailing estate in Ayrshire, Glenapp Castle is surrounded by gardens, forests and the neighboring puffin-inhabited seascapes. The interiors preserve the period details of the Scottish Baronial building’s original style, with its spirals, towers and sandstone battlements all intact.
There’s much to keep guests entertained within the woodland-edged grounds, including a Victorian glasshouse, tennis court and croquet lawn – but for an authentic Scottish experience, try salmon fishing on the River Stinchar, trout fishing on a local loch or a spot of deer stalking. The chefs will gladly accompany you on boat trips to cook your catch, and staff can also arrange treatments at the coastal spa and helicopter trips to Hebridean distilleries.
The Balmoral Hotel
One of Edinburgh’s finest addresses, the Balmoral connects the signature Rocco Forte flair to the Scottish capital, with tartan touches in the rooms, along with Old Town views and some that overlook the castle.
Number One is where to head for fine dining, or try Brasserie Prince, which pairs Parisian style (polished mirrors, leather banquettes and brass) with Scottish produce – and a prime position on Princes Street. The elegance continues at afternoon tea, which takes place beneath the domed ceiling and leafy surroundings of the Palm Court every afternoon.
Isle of Eriska Hotel
Four-poster beds, tended fireplaces and roll-top bath tubs: the Isle of Eriska Hotel perfects the art of the country-house hotel. Built in 1884, the main house overlooks Loch Linnhe and the Morvern Mountains, on its namesake private Isle of Eriska in West Argyll.
Guests can choose from traditional bedrooms in the main house, hot tub-enhanced spa suites in the gardens, two-bedroom cottages in the grounds or one of the hilltop suites, also with their own hot tubs, that look out across the loch. Restaurant options include fine dining and the Deck, the more relaxed bistro with a view over the water.
Glencoe House
Amongst the volcano-formed valleys and mountains of Glencoe, this historic Highland house was once the home of Lord Strathcona. The Pap of Glencoe can be seen from some of Glencoe House‘s bedroom windows for those who want to view it from the comfort of their suite (rather than climb it).
Harry Potter fans can travel onboard the (almost) Hogwarts Express, with a trip on the train that steams along the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Other unforgettable experiences include skiing, snowboarding and sledging, stargazing straight from your hot tub and enjoying the view out to Loch Leven with a drink of delicious whisky.
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