Tag Archives: Connoisseurs Scotland

A Highlands fling at Inverlochy

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Robert Burns was a romantic, pouring his heart into verse and Scotch whisky into his glass.

Open_Hmoon_InverlochyCastle_DB_FW13The poet’s beloved Scotland and its wild, beautiful and remote Highlands offer honeymooners the warm kiss of history, hospitality and natural wonders—with the bliss of fine food, drink and accommodations.

For a true Highlands fling, book a room at Inverlochy Castle, where Queen Victoria came to sketch in 1873. Located near Fort William, the manor house is sited a caber toss from the ruins of the original 13th-century castle and is an easy drive from Inverness, the largest city in the Highlands. Or take the Caledonian Sleeper, the iconic overnight train from London. To travel in style from the station, reserve the hotel’s chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce Phantom, stocked with two bottles of ice-cold champagne.

It’s a splendid place for a honeymoon, as reported in Delaware Bride magazine, one of a number of luxury accommodations in Scotland.

Guests are greeted with bubbly on arrival, no matter how they get to Inverlochy. The extravagant bouquets in the great hall are imported from Holland. The glittering chandelier is from Venice. Sink into sumptuous, down-filled seating in front of the coal fire and listen to the pianist who plays each evening. Equally sigh-inducing rooms are equipped with laptops, high thread-count sheets and marshmallow-soft pillows.

164500_Text 24If the $500-per-night entry point is too rich for your blood, book at a local bed-and-breakfast for about $100 a night, breakfast included. Then make a reservation for lunch, afternoon tea or dinner at Inverlochy Castle’s restaurant, which has held a coveted Michelin star for more than 20 years. The heavily carved sideboards in the hushed, posh dining room were a gift to the lord of the manor from the King of Norway.

A lavish three-course dinner featuring such delights as the hotel’s signature baked quail with foie gras is an attainable splurge, priced at the equivalent of $104, tax included. Lunch is $59 for three courses. Sommelier William Birch expertly pairs wines with dishes.

After your repast, stroll velvety moss walking trails on the 500-acre grounds. The estate also offers fishing, tennis and falconry for outdoors enthusiasts, as well as a clubby billiards room for the indoor set. Nearby activities include monster-watching cruises on Loch Ness and hiking on towering Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in the United Kingdom.

Extra! Extra! The Scotsman delivers good news for guests

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The Scotsman, a luxury hotel sited in a Victorian era newspaper building, is good news for travelers to Edinburgh.

It’s so close to the Royal Mile of museums, shops and restaurants that a newsboy could easily hurl a Sunday paper there.

Extra! Extra! In addition to location, The Scotsman offers friendly, efficient service and such vintage charms as a coal fire glowing in the lobby grate. The magnificent Italian marble staircase, which the brass used to climb to the executive offices, remains in place.

I am upgraded to an editor’s suite, which features a bay window and an antique desk that might have been around when The Scotsman published its first newspaper at the site in 1905. Closets and the TV are behind raised-panel doors crafted from the deep, rich wood you would expect to find in the library of a country house in an Agatha Christie mystery novel. The windows are dressed with heavy, tweed curtains. The bathroom is large and well-appointed with a huge tub, heated towel rack and a radiator so efficient it will dry hastily rinsed socks in an hour flat.

The Scotsman also stocks Highland Aromatics, the best darn shampoos, lotions and soaps I have ever enjoyed on my travels. (More on the line in a future post.)

The hotel is part of Connoisseurs Scotland, an association for unique luxury properties throughout the country. Like a daily newspaper delivered to your doorstep, The Scotsman focuses on every-day courtesies. There is a chute in the entry way to the suite, where room service can deliver food and drink. I place my shoes in the chute for a complimentary shine. The next morning I find what appear to be new shoes. But, no! They are the same, serviceable Mary Janes, splendidly cleaned and polished.

There’s also the North Bridge Brasserie, the hotel restaurant, which focuses on traditional Scottish fare and locally sourced produce, meats and fish. A few nibbles from a recent menu: roasted North Sea squid with smoked Shetland mussel fritters; Loch Lomond Arctic char with a warm salad of Ayrshire new potatoes and grilled leeks; and Chef Paul Hart’s twist on traditional Scottish haggis, topped with Glenfiddich single malt whisky jelly.

With his piercing blue eyes and bristle of white hair, Ivor, the affable and efficient doorman, looks a lot like my grandfather, Allan Sinclair II, whose father hailed from Scotland. Ivor, who donned his kilt when the hotel opened in 2001, is grandfatherly in his helpfulness, patiently giving directions to the spa through The Scotsman’s warren of corridors.

The cavernous space that once accommodated the presses is now home to a stainless steel swimming pool. The pool is surrounded by other aquatic amenities, including a steam room, hot and cold shower heads and a whirlpool spa.

Both the pool and fitness center are open to local members, which gives guests an opportunity to mingle with Edinburgh natives. Chatting with the locals in a bubbling whirlpool is a decidedly civilized way to gather shopping tips.

Prices start at around $250 for a studio room, including VAT, full Scottish breakfast and spa access. Expect a copy of The Scotsman at your door, bright and early.