Luxury vacation in scotland
1Inverlochy Castle Hotel

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A Highland hotel near Fort William that once hosted Queen Victoria, lies in the foothills of the highest mountain in the United Kingdom. The monarch spent a week here on a trip to Balmoral, sketching and painting since, 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.
2Gleneagles Hotel

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So popular with twenties’ travellers that it opened with its own train station, remains one of the most dreamed-of 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 the country’s only one with two Michelin stars. The spa is superb, too, and there’s a handy arcade to shop for everything you need to recreate Gleneagles at home, including, most importantly, the shortbread.
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3The Torridon

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A fairy-tale castle with some of the best views in the Highlands, the loch-side is the northernmost five-star hotel 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 draw in, the bar has 365 whiskies to set about 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.
4Old Course Hotel

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Recently benefiting from a several-million-pound renovation, theis named for the iconic golf course it sits upon, which features the golf-famous Swilcan Bridge and has the added bonus of views of the Fife coastline. The hotel is conveniently located alongside the course’s 17th hole, which is the world’s most difficult par four.
Rise up to the challenge with a little pampering at the Kohler Waters Spa, the only one outside of the US, or work your way through the six eateries and bars, which include seafood and steak on at the Road Hole Restaurant, and the handily placed Jigger Inn at the 19th hole.
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5The Balmoral Hotel

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One of Edinburgh’s finest addresses, the brings 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.
Michelin-starred Number One is where to head for fine dining, or try Brasserie Prince, which mixes 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.
6Glenapp Castle

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A rambling estate in Ayrshire,is surrounded by gardens, forests and the neighbouring puffin-inhabited seascapes. The interiors preserve the period details of the Scottish Baronial building’s original style, with its turrets, 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.
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7Isle of Eriska Hotel

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Four-poster beds, tended fireplaces and roll-top bath tubs: the 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. Dining options include Michelin-starred meals and the Deck, the more relaxed bistro with a view over the water.
8Glencoe House

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Amid the volcano-formed valleys and mountains of Glencoe, this historic Highland house was once the home of Lord Strathcona. The Pap of Glencoe is visible from some of ‘s bedroom windows for those who want to admire 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 dram of delicious whisky.
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9Monachyle Mhor Hotel

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may be one of the more modern of Scotland’s luxury hotels, but like the rest of them, it enjoys a breathtaking backdrop on the banks of a loch and at the base of some mountains. Along with the sleek contemporary suites in the Courtyard and Farmhouse, there’s a Fifties wagon to stay in for the glamping obsessives, and the hotel has its own fish and chip van, bakery and tearoom, too.
Unsurprisingly for Scotland, there are regular rowdy knees-ups, including at Hogmanay and Burns Night, and, for the more clean-living among us, cross-country-running events.
10Cromlix Hotel

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Andy Murray loved coming toso much, he bought 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.
There’s a Chez Roux restaurant, presided over by Michel Roux Junior, 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.