Our pick of the top 10 best luxury hotels in Scotland includes Greywalls Hotel, Cringletie House, Dalhousie Castle, Duchray Castle, Fonab Castle Hotel & Spa, Inverlochy Castle, Knockinaam Lodge, Scotland, The Fife Arms, and The Gleneagles Hotel.
Whether you want to explore the windswept Scottish highlands, the coastlines which bristle with delightful towns and beaches, the phenomenal golf courses, or the stunning Scottish cities packed with history, make sure you base yourself in one of the best luxury hotels in Scotland.
1. Greywalls Hotel
Greywalls Hotel is uniquely situated on the edge of Muirfield championship golf course with stunning views over East Lothian and the Firth of Forth. While it overlooks the world-famous greens of the 9th & 18th holes, you don’t have to love golf to adore this classy hotel.
The building, originating in the Edwardian period, offers a lavish setting and is simply charming. It encompasses one of Scotland’s best country house hotels and comes complete with a walled garden, a Chez Roux restaurant, and incredible service.
Designed by the celebrated Edwardian architect Sir Edwin Lutyens as a ‘dignified holiday home’, Greywalls was built in 1901 and still retains the charm and character for which it is renowned. As well as the elegant drawing rooms and delightful dining areas, the house has 23 en suite bedrooms, including “Golfers’ Rooms” with terraces overlooking the links.
Start the day with a Scottish breakfast. Try the hotel specialty of whiskey, brown sugar, and cream porridge. In the evenings, there are cozy fires in the paneled library and drawing room, and for fine dining, this hotel hosts the first Chez Roux Restaurant in Scotland, which offers classics using Scottish ingredients.
Outside, the delightful walled gardens are attributed to Gertrude Jekyll and contain a grass tennis court, croquet lawn, and putting green as well as borders filled with herbaceous plants. Locally, you can discover 10 golf courses, clay pigeon shooting, and bicycles can be arranged. If the sun shines, why not indulge in a delicious afternoon tea in the private summer house.
2. The Airds
As far as beautiful locations go, few can rival that of The Airds, a luxury country house hotel set in a converted ferry inn on the West Coast of Scotland. This part of the world is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque travel destinations in Scotland, and The Airds provides the perfect base from which to explore it. Located in Argyll in the Scottish Highlands, about 160 km from Glasgow Airport, the dramatic scenery of the local area is second to none.
With eleven bedrooms and one self-catering cottage located on the grounds, two tastefully decorated lounges, complete with fireplaces and a generous supply of newspapers and magazines, guests can make themselves at home. One of The Airds’ biggest attractions has to be its food and drink, with an award-winning restaurant, custom-built whiskey bar, and superb afternoon teas.
While there is no onsite spa, guests can enjoy a full range of treatments, including massages and aromatherapy, in their rooms. Croquet and putting green can be found in the hotel grounds, but the biggest draw here as far as activities are concerned is the spectacular scenery. Walking and cycling are very popular, as are boat trips and scuba diving. Children will love the nearby Scottish Seal Sanctuary and the Jacobite steam train, which passes through scenery made famous by its use in the Harry Potter films.
3. Cringletie House
For a true “Monarch of the Glen” experience in Scotland, how about trying a luxury castle hotel? Cringletie House near Edinburgh used to be a Scottish Baronial Castle. It features 28 acres of gorgeous grounds plus stunning views of the surrounding Scottish countryside.
The grounds are perfect for a stroll. They are made up of partially wooded and partially grassy expanses, and there is also a river with a waterfall. They also include a walled garden with a large chessboard, a pitch and putt course, a croquet lawn, and there’s even a children’s play area should you have any little people with you.
Communal areas include a bar and a spacious conservatory offering views of those amazing grounds, plus a cozy lounge and two dining areas, including the fine dining restaurant, which is an elegant dining room with s historic fireplace, and hand-painted ceiling. There are 12 bedrooms, a luxurious suite, and a cottage on the grounds. All are unique and individually designed, with some including turrets and others containing huge fireplaces. The 2 bedroom Ardean Cottage lies on the grounds of the castle with a private decked area offering sun loungers and a large hot tub. The decking overlooks the house, gardens, and countryside beyond. Who doesn’t like fabulous views while they soak in the hot tub after a busy day exploring rural Scotland!
4. Knockinaam Lodge
Knockinaam Lodge is located in its own secret beach cove with a lawn that stretches from the hotel itself to the seashore. This luxury boutique hotel can be discovered at the most Southern point of Scotland, surrounded by farmland and at the bottom of a windy, country road that overlooks the Irish Sea.
Knockinaam Lodge is Michelin listed and a Member of Connoisseurs Scotland. It boasts three AA Rosettes for food and 3 AA Red Stars. The hotel is situated in one of the most unspoiled parts of Scotland’s coastline, near delightful towns, villages, beaches, and headlands. Inland the more dramatic mountain scenes of the Galloway Hills dominate a large part of this region.
All ten bedrooms and suites are individually designed, combining modern facilities with the ambiance of a traditional Victorian country house. Most of the rooms have spectacular sea views looking across the Irish Sea to Northern Ireland, and the others offer views of their wonderful garden.
5. Fonab Castle Hotel & Spa
Nestled in the heart of Highland Perthshire, Fonab Castle Hotel & Spa is a truly unique five-star hotel. Lovingly restored, it draws inspiration from its historic past and breath-taking surroundings whilst adding the odd contemporary twist. It really is ‘beyond the ordinary’.
This five-star Scottish castle is set in woodland and is located on a headland overlooking Loch Faskaly, with a backdrop of wooded hills. Built-in 1892 for Lt Col George Sandeman of the wine, sherry, and port importing family. This privileged Victorian lifestyle resonates in the wood-paneled walls, discreet lighting, and thick carpets of the mansion. Modern extensions include a lounge bar and brasserie offering views of the loch. A spa offers a heated pool, sauna, steam room, and a range of treatments.
6. The Gleneagles Hotel
The iconic country estate of Gleneagles has been a luxury destination for nearly a century. Located just an hour’s drive from Glasgow and Edinburgh airports, it offers the perfect five-star retreat for those looking for relaxation and adventure in every season.
The 850-acre estate epitomizes Scotland’s rugged natural beauty with a glorious playground of pursuits. Whether you visit to play three championship golf courses, try falconry with a Harris hawk, ride horses, play tennis, go off-roading, train gundogs, enjoy Michelin-starred dining, or relax in an award-winning spa, Gleneagles offers a world of unforgettable experiences.
7. Inverlochy Castle
Inverlochy Castle was built in 1873. Now a luxury hotel and restaurant, it is uniquely located amongst the glens, lochs, and mountains of the West Highlands of Scotland. This castle offers the highest level of luxury with waterfall showers, Bang & Olufsen stereos and televisions, and stylish furnishings.
Lying at the foot of Ben Nevis, this is a place of peaceful beauty, yet it is not far (just 1 mile away) from the bustling tourist town of Fort William. Albert and Michel Roux Jr are in charge of the kitchen so the food alone is a reason to visit.
8. Duchray Castle
Duchray Castle, Loch Lomond is nestled in the heart of Queen Elizabeth Forest. Duchray Castle, is a 500-year-old tower house linked with Rob Roy. It offers luxury accommodation in a stunning location.
This picture-perfect 500-year-old castle has been carefully restored. The dark paneling, stone walls, and wide-planked floors are complemented by a luxurious mix of contemporary and antique furnishings. With stunning scenery and a river at the bottom of the garden, what more could you want?
9. Dalhousie Castle
Dalhousie Castle is Scotland’s oldest inhabited castle and is just 10 miles from Edinburgh. It was a stronghold of the chieftains of Clan Ramsay, it withstood a siege by Henry IV in 1400, and it was captured by Cromwell two centuries later. In between, Mary, Queen of Scots, spent the night, so when staying here, you are sleeping in a royal bed.
The grand entrance hall has a vaulted faux-Gothic ceiling and a mini-Imperial staircase. There is a small spa with a laconium and hydro pool, and guests can fly a Russian Steppe Eagle or a Turkmanian Eagle Owl from a falconry on the grounds. The grounds meander down to the banks of the South Esk River, which offer views of the Border hills.
10. Blackaddie Hotel
Blackaddie Country House is an award-winning restaurant with rooms set on the banks of the beautiful river Nith in the idyllic countryside of Dumfries & Galloway. One of the best hotels on the South West Coastal 300, from the moment you turn onto the private driveway of this 16th-century country house, you can tell you are somewhere very special.
Owned by former Michelin Star Chef Ian McAndrew and his wife Jane, this small luxury hotel with holiday cottages is home to one of the best gourmet restaurants in Scotland. Blackaddie is Ian and Jane’s latest venture. They have already won 2 AA rosettes for their exquisite food putting them in the top 5% of restaurants in the UK, and they have been designated a 4 Star Restaurant with Rooms by the AA and Visit Scotland.
Set in two acres of gardens, surrounded by green fields and overlooking the River Nith (where you can spend the day fishing), Blackaddie House Hotel is a beautifully restored 16th-century rectory. The centerpiece is the elegant dining room with windows on two sides. The main hall is adorned with antlers leading into a lounge and bar and is home to a welcoming fire. Beyond the lounge is the library, which is full of comfy sofas and books. There is more comfy seating in the conservatory, offering views over part of the garden and along the river. Beyond the hotel itself are two acres of beautifully kept gardens.
This utterly enchanting country retreat is a gourmet paradise and is a must-stay if you are close to this underrated region of Scotland.
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