Find out The Best Hotels in Scotland where you can have lots of fun
Scotland's breathtaking seaside on the ultimate road trip offers stunning experiences for all kinds of travelers. Browse for our top picks, listed without any specific ranking.
Lundies House
We have always enjoyed the gentle feelings of a hotel coming to life, but Lundies House enhances the experience. At the first light of dawn, a faint silver glow spreads across the clusters of purple loosestrife flowers swaying in front of the large sturdy stones and tall windows of the ancient manor. Afterward, there was only the sound of the wind in the garden and the unique call of curlews flying over the Kyle of Tongue.
A breathtaking sea loch stretched out in front of the house and the small village of Tongue to the east. In the end, a faint noise is heard from a sitting room as someone lights a fire, and then they walk across slate flags to reach a kitchen where a chef is adjusting the radio. Could this be the most stunning hotel located to the north of Inverness? I think we would agree, and then we would daydream about it.
Lundies stands out as the crown jewel among the 15 properties owned by Danish businessman Anders Holch Povlsen, showcasing tranquil Scandinavian design and custom Scottish cabinetry. Its introduction four years back, right before the pandemic hit, received little attention. The thick stone walls of the former clergy house built in 1842, where Reverend Lundie once lived, are beautifully sturdy. Here you are protected from the changing temperatures of Scotland's rugged Highland shore.
Cameron House, Loch Lomand
A sought-after location on the picturesque shores of Loch Lomond, this authentic Scottish mansion is exactly the untamed, romantic cluster of towers, turrets, and battlements you desire it to be. Despite hosting famous figures like Winston Churchill and Barack Obama, the retreat maintains an appealingly modest atmosphere.
The rooms are a beautiful sight, featuring tall beds that required a nearly a running jump to reach, adorned with luxurious textures like velvet Bonn headboards, embroidered pillows with thistle designs, and tartan blankets. There are a variety of traditional activities available to enjoy, such as fishing, countryside strolls, spa therapies, and two golf courses, to rejuvenate oneself.
Continue with afternoon tea in the beautifully golden lobby bar, or opt for a more formal experience at the Great Scots' Bar, adorned in tartan and boasting a collection of 300 whiskies. This is a hideaway where all crew members can also sleep - young children are taken care of with special menus (including for afternoon tea), swimming pools, and water slides in the leisure center, along with an enchanting fairy path to explore and plush teddy bears to bring back.
Rusacks St Andrews
To golf enthusiasts, the Old Course at St Andrews is considered very sacred, and Rusacks is just a low wooden rail away from it. The beautiful beach where the beginning of Chariots of Fire was recorded can be seen right across from the well-kept lawn, just past the golf course. After being acquired by new owners and undergoing extensive renovations, Rusacks reopened in 2021.
The chambers have a design reminiscent of the Victorian era, featuring Scottish elements and golf-related decorations. They also have spacious bathrooms and TVs compatible with Chrome, allowing golf enthusiasts to watch live tournaments from around the world, even if one is happening below their balcony.
Be mindful of the detailed godwits in the chandeliers - a beautiful addition, often overlooked. The recently opened rooftop restaurant, 18, offers upscale dining with a focus on beef, game, and seafood.
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh
Situated in the historic Old Town, the hotel is positioned prominently on winding, hilly Victoria Street, and consists of multiple interconnected buildings that stretch to Cowgate. All 222 rooms have a "two-chamber" design, regardless of their size, featuring sliding doors that separate the sleeping/living and loo/bathroom areas to maximize the sense of space.
The Commons Club Restaurant and Bar are both fantastic - they are notable new establishments in a city that already has plenty of great restaurants and bars.
Waldorf Astoria, Edinburgh – The Caledonian
Anticipate only magnificence from 'The Caley,' still known as The Caley regardless of ownership, one of Edinburgh's two stunning historic railway hotels (the other being Rocco Forte's Balmoral). The size of the property is impressive, along with the stunning views and prime location.
There are various room options available, including a one-bed eyrie with Castle views and a variety of suites, each unique in size and design, but all having a classic-contemporary style. The rooms facing Lothian Road offer a perfect view of the Castle's silhouette on the rock, surrounded by smoke.
The Fife Arms
In 2009, Manuela and Iwan Wirth, considered the most influential contemporary art dealers today, converted Durslade Farm in Somerset near Bruton into a highly successful combination of gallery, guesthouse, and restaurant. Mud, dung, macrobiotics, and works of art.
A decade later, they managed to recreate a comparable lightning in a separate container on the opposite side of the nation, in the Scottish Highlands, at the Fife Arms, a former hunting lodge in Braemar, close to Balmoral Castle. The Fife Arms enhances this charming imagination by adding acid to its whisky, electrifying the bagpipes, and cranking them up to 11.
Glenapp Castle
Even if nothing else, Glenapp Castle, once owned by Lord Inchcape of P&O, demonstrates that this neglected part of Ayrshire excels in grand baronial-style architecture, dramatic coastline, expansive moorland, charming livestock, and quirky aristocrats just like any other place in Scotland. The castle is reached by a beautiful one-mile driveway that meanders through a densely wooded ravine filled with ferns, firs, rhododendrons, and redwoods, creating an almost magical atmosphere.
A stunning penthouse suite with four bedrooms was revealed. The whole area is like heaven for families and those who love the outdoors. You definitely shouldn't miss out on the hotel's Hebridean Sea Safari, where you can explore nearby islands with a skilled RNLI skipper and a marine biologist, stay in luxurious tents on secluded beaches, and have a private chef cater to your needs.
