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Castle Venlaw Hotel ****
Edinburgh Road,
Peebles
EH44 6PW
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Recommended by Condé Nast Johansens
Castle Venlaw is a splendid 18th century baronial-style castle set in four acres of beautiful grounds near Peebles, within easy access of Edinburgh. There are only 12 rooms, but they all have magnificent views and are extremely spacious, combining traditional elegance with modern convenience. All are named after malt whiskies and guests may sample the malt after which their room is named.
The award-winning restaurant is non-smoking and has a very good reputation, having won two AA rosettes for the past four years. Guests may choose anything from a snack to a three-course meal for lunch in the restaurant or library; dinner is served in the restaurant, which is a superb room. All meals are freshly prepared and, whenever possible, with good-quality local produce.
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Cardrona Hotel Golf & Country Club ****
Cardrona,
Peebles,
EH45 9HX
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Situated on the edge of the first village to be built in the Borders for over 200 years, this lovely new hotel is set in a wide wooded glen with magnificent views of the hills in the peaceful Tweed Valley. It is only half an hour from the centre of Edinburgh and lies at the heart of a superb 18-hole, par 72 championship golf course, designed by former Ryder Cup player, Dave Thomas.
The public rooms are open-plan with plush modern furniture, and display the airy feel of the contemporary design and there are three different
bedroom styles to choose from, including the Feature Rooms which have patio doors opening out on to the golf course. Please see our feature for further information.
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Cringletie House****
Off Edinburgh Road
Peebles
EH45 8PL
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Fewer than 200 hotels in the whole of Great Britain and Ireland have AA four red stars. Cringletie House is one of this elite brand, and the only such hotel in the Scottish Borders.
The romantic baronial mansion is set in 28 acres of gardens and situated in the heart of the Scottish Borders only 40 minutes drive from the city of Edinburgh. The hotel has 14 individually decorated en-suite bedrooms, charming public rooms with welcoming log-fires and service buttons which act as they did in the old days to summon the butler, good conference facilities, and an award-winning restaurant, with its hand-painted ceiling (1903) and original wood carved fire surround and oak flooring. The chef was himself awarded hotel Chef of the Year 2006. All bedrooms have flat screen TV and free, high-speed Internet access, and a PC with Internet access is available in the library The grounds contain a 17th century walled garden, reputed to be the oldest in Scotland and still producing vegetables for the kitchen, a 400-year-old yew hedge, and gentle activities such as croquet, putting, boules and chess on a giant set.
The hotel is fully wheelchair accessible and offers a dedicated disabled room.
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Dryburgh Abbey****
St Boswells
Melrose
TD6 ORQ
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A delightful 19th century baronial hall, the Dryburgh Abbey Hotel has up-to-date modern comforts one would expect in a four-star hotel. It is set in ten acres of lovely grounds on the banks of the River Tweed, and is centrally placed in the Scottish borders, an hour away from Edinburgh. It has 38 bedrooms and an amazing Roman-looking indoor swimming pool and sauna. The views from the public rooms and many of the bedrooms are either of the Tweed or the historic ruins of the Abbey (some have both), which is where Sir Walter Scott is buried.
The Tweed restaurant, with its elegant décor and wonderful long views of the river, is said to serve some of the finest food in the country. The menu changes daily, and features the 'Art Cuisine' of the hotel chefs, who use quality local produce.
The hotel offers great salmon and trout fishing, shooting, stalking, riding, golf, and off-road driving, by arrangement.
Dryburgh has good quality conference facilities.
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Peebles Hotel Hydro****
Innerleithen Road
Peebles
EH45 8LX
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Amongst the top 40 AA hotels in Scotland, Peebles Hotel Hydro is set in 30 acres of beautiful grounds in a commanding position on the edge of Glentress Forest and the outskirts of Peebles. This popular 100 year-old, recently refurbished hotel offers guests a memorable stay, whether they be there on business or for leisure. It is privately-owned, with 128 very comfortable bedrooms and six business meeting rooms. It also has a wonderful theatrical ballroom for up to 450 guests, and is a major conference centre.
The excellent leisure facilities include a spacious heated indoor swimming pool with a steam room, sauna, spa bath and sun-loungers, and a fully-equipped gymnasium. Outdoor facilities include tennis courts, pitch and putt, horse-riding, and mountain-biking, as well as a wide range of activities for children.
The award-winning restaurant in the splendid dining room has a continental style atmosphere.
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Ednam House Hotel***
Bridge Street
Kelso
TD5 7HT
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This family-owned Georgian mansion is highly recommended as a superb place to stay, offering very high standards of comfortable accommodation and efficient, friendly, unpretentious service. It has 32 individually decorated bedrooms and elegant public rooms. The restaurant overlooking the river offers freshly cooked traditional dishes ‘with a twist’, and is reasonably inexpensive.
Standing in a perfect location on the banks of the Tweed amid three acres of landscaped gardens, it is the ideal base from which to explore the Borders or to indulge in the first-rate local fishing. The hotel itself offers golf, salmon fishing, walking, hiking, cycling, clay & game shooting. It also caters for weddings.
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The Roxburghe Hotel and Golf Course****
Kelso
TD5 8JZ.
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An hour from Edinburgh and Newcastle, the Roxburghe is one of Scotland’s finest country hotels, a claim vindicated by the award for the Best Country House Hotel of the Year in 2005. It is owned the Duke of Roxburghe and is situated in private woodland grounds on the banks of the River Teviot, a tributary of the Tweed. If you are looking for upmarket accommodation with character, you will want to stay in one of the 22 beautiful bedrooms, some of which have four-poster beds and log fires, and many of which were individually designed by the Duchess.
The chef has won awards for his excellent cuisine, and uses fine quality local fish, meat and game. The hotel’s wine list includes vintages from the Duke's own cellar, and, of course, there is a great selection of whisky.
The Championship Roxburghe Golf Course hosts the Charles Church Scottish Seniors Open, and is the fifth top inland course in Scotland, designed by Dave Thomas and fast becoming well recognised around the world. Colin Montgomerie recommends it for both professionals and amateurs.
As well as golf, visitors may enjoy a number of other leisure activities at Roxburghe: for sport there is clay pigeon shooting, grouse, pheasant and partridge shooting, private salmon fishing and fly-fishing (trout), croquet and mountain biking, and for gentler pursuits there are woodland walks and a Health and Beauty Suite. You may also like to visit the Duke’s home, Floors Castle, the largest inhabited house in Scotland and the home of the Roxburghes since 1721.
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