With the
Edinburgh International Film Festival, nearing an end, the much anticipated European Premier of Brave from Disney Pixar is coming soon and there is plenty of other things happening in Scotland to look forward to this year. The largest art festival in the world,
Edinburgh Fringe Festival, shall be taking place between the 3
rd & 27
th of August. The Aberdeen Asset Management
Scottish Open will host some of the very best talent that golf has at on the breathtaking course at Castle Stuart 12
th – 15
th July. Across the country, there will be numerous music festivals, including the legendary T in The Park, in addition to celebrations of our culture and all the fabulous food and drink that our wonderful country has to offer. Taste of Edinburgh will highlight the talent and genius that exist throughout Scotland with chefs from Michelin Starred restaurants to small boutique seafood eateries. All year round whisky distilleries offer the opportunity to sample their beautiful malts and see the loving process that is involved in making them.
Here at the Little’s team we enjoy the finer things in life; if you do also and are thinking of visiting Scotland this summary, of some of our favourite hotels and activities, is an essential guide!
Charming, cosy and discreetly luxurious Kinloch Lodge is a hotel and restaurant like no other. It holds a truly unique magical setting, on the wildly romantic Isle of Skye. Recognised internationally, Kinloch was cited as one of the world’s top 25 small hotels in Conde Naste Traveller Magazine. Head Chef Marcello Tully provides food demonstrations throughout the year to hotel guests. Marcello caught the eye of Albert Roux working in Le Gavroche, Rouxl Britannia restaurant and La Boucherie Lamartine, moving on to be Albert’s head-chef at Home Roux. Lady Claire MacDonald, Kinloch Lodge’s proprietor, is an Award-winning cook and food writer. Claire’s recipes are easy-to-follow, straightforward, and realistic – quintessentially Scottish in taste, but international in appeal and if lucky enough to secure a place, you can enjoy her relaxed and informal yet informative and hugely empowering style with her cookery courses. 23/24/25 November (inclusive) & 30 Nov/1/2 Dec (inclusive)
For lovers of the outdoors there is deer Stalking and Shooting available on the stunning
Clan Donald Estate, Or very experienced climbers, on hand, to take you into the Cuillins – Skye’s breathtaking mountain range. The Isle of Skye’s Coral beaches are perfect for a romantic stroll. A tasting and tour at the
Talisker whisky distillery is just as enjoyable. With a plethora of things to do you will leave feeling completely revived and refreshed
Set in 58 acres of parkland at the end of a magnificent sea loch, The Torridon has one of the most spectacular and idyllic locations in the country. If you yearn for a reviving outdoor escape or simply a relaxing holiday, being pampered in a luxury hotel. The Torridon is the prefect hotel for you. It is pure luxury and the staff promise to pamper and spoil you. It is no surprise that they Scottish Hotel of the Year. They have adventure specialists to introduce you to the mountains, lochs and stunning outdoor beauty of the Highlands. With activities including Clay Pigeon Shooting, climbing & abseiling, dawn & sunset walks, kayaking, mountain biking and free activities such as guided walks, gorge scrambling, loch kayaking, archery & rock climbing and The Torridon
Walking Festival on 8 – 10 September 2012 you are destined to return home feeling re-energised!
Inverlochy Castle exudes luxury and glamour; it is also a foodies haven hosting a restaurant by the Chef Albert Roux OBE head of the famous cooking dynasty behind such establishments as Le Gavroche. The Menu features modern British cuisine, which is internationally recognised by all major guides. Having been awarded AA 3 Red Rosettes and 1 Michelin Star. It combines excellent food with the very best personal service; they offer guests and visitors a unique experience in unrivaled surroundings. During the wine tasting weekends, Friday 9th and Saturday 10th November 2012, you can enjoy a cookery demonstration given by Chef Albert Roux OBE, KFO, followed in the evening by a formal 5 course dinner with wines. Beforehand Julien from Baron de Rothschild and Chef Albert Roux OBE, KFO will go through the menu and wines chosen.
While in the area, you could enjoy some shopping at the
House of Bruar. In Highland surroundings, it boasts a delicatessen, food hall and restaurant where you can taste and take home some of the delicious local produce Scotland has to offer. With an array of items available including high quality items such as knitwear, Scottish tweeds and pure wool worsted plaids available you can take a little piece of Scotland home.
The world-renowned bonnie banks of Loch Lomond conjure images of a majestic world of heather-dappled glens and roaring open fires. What better place to watch the theatre of the Highlands unfold than from Cameron House. Find your true love here. Whether it be fine dining, loch cruises, championship standard golf, spa breaks or simply chilling out with your new favourite 20-year-old single malt you will not be disappointed. The
spa, one of my personal favourites, has Vishi shower beds and a Rasul mud chamber. However, my favourite feature is the roof top infinity pool with gives breathtaking views across Loch Lomond.
On the west coast of Scotland, the Crinan Hotel is renowned for its fantastic location, the
Crinan Seafood Bar and the
Westward Restaurant serving Scottish seafood, the freshest of shellfish and the best of Scotland’s meat and seasonal produce. Located on the Crinan Canal in Argyll this Scottish hotel has an excellent wine list and a well deserved reputation for warm hospitality and good food. The main restaurant at Crinan has won many awards and top reviews for its outstanding cuisine and the newly opened Crinan Seafood Bar is already attracting a lot of attention and reviews.
Set in a tree-lined Victorian terrace in the fashionable West End of Glasgow and only 30 minutes from the Loch Lomond, Hotel du Vin Glasgow at One Devonshire Gardens is a luxury boutique hotel – Hotel du Vin with that little bit more. This luxurious hotel has an enviable reputation for service and style, with stunning bedrooms and suites, bistro, bar, cigar shack and whisky room, there is only One Devonshire Gardens for escapes, weddings, golf and field sports. Within Glasgow, you can enjoy famous art collections, the best shopping in the United Kingdom outside London, and the most vibrant and exciting nightlife in Scotland. A must see is the splendour of Scotland’s best-known architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh at House for an Art Lover.
Having recently undergone a multi-million pound restoration the five red star Turnberry resort is even more beautiful than before. Particularly the ocean view rooms where you look across The Ailsa Golf Course to the Atlantic Ocean; as the sun sinks slowly behind the Ailsa Craig, you fall into a dream. It has many accolades including Condé Nast Traveller Top 20 Europe Resorts.
The Ailsa golf course is currently ranked as Britain’s number one golf course by two leading golf publications. Set in 800 acres of grounds including the championship Ailsa and Kintyre courses, as well as the
Colin Montgomerie Link’s Golf Academy, one of the world’s premier teaching and practice facilities for links golf. The TMP Lab offers golfers a custom fitting process to design and build clubs tailored to an individuals personal swing characteristics. If you are not a golf enthusiast or for the rest of the family there is off road 4×4, quad biking, horse riding , mountain biking, fishing, archery, falconry, shooting and lots more for children. You can also walk in the footsteps of some of golf’s legendary players, like Tom Watson, Greg Norman and Nick Price, who will play the Senior Open Championship just a few days before this exclusive invitational event. Between 1st – 3rd August 2012
At Kinloch House, Perthshire, you can experience 5 star luxury, character and traditional comforts at the stunning Kinloch House Hotel in Blairgowrie. The Allen family offer a warm welcome and the very best customer service and Scottish hospitality with a bespoke personal touch. One of the very finest authentic country house hotels in the heart of Scotland, surrounded by 25 acres of peaceful countryside it is a luxury retreat. Kinloch House is a glorious venue for luxury leisure breaks and short breaks in Scotland, it is a magical wedding venue – and a wonderful celebration party or conference venue in Perthshire.
Located in the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town, The Atholl is Edinburgh‘s most exclusive luxury hotel, comprising four spectacular suites. Each suite has its own state of the art kitchen facilities and extensive and elegant living and dining rooms, with original Georgian features. It is the ultimate in classical contemporary chic and unique discretion, with 24-hour service. With both the resident and private dining experiences catered for by the legendary Albert Roux OBE, KFO of Le Gavroche, The Atholl offers a bespoke menu service with unparalleled in suite dining prepared by your own personal chef, combined with in-room wine cellars featuring some of the world’s greatest wines. Perfectly situated within minutes of Edinburgh Castle, the Parliament, Princes Street and George Street, and 20 minutes from the airport it is perfection for both business and leisure travelers. Boutique Hotels in Edinburgh all benefit from a truly beautiful location and some great things to see and do in town. Behind the façade of the 150 year old Lady Glenorchy church, you will find the clean, modern lines of The Glasshouse with floor-to-ceiling windows, beds so big you will slumber sweet, the crispest Egyptian cotton bed linen, and baths built to soak in long and deep. My favourite feature, which makes it totally unique, is the lavender-scented roof garden with acres of sun-splashed patios and cool, shady verandas. Holding a prime position situated directly next to the Edinburgh Playhouse and a few minutes from the Royal Mile & Holyrood Palace. This is a 5 star boutique hotel in Edinburgh definitely worth visiting.
Ideal for those who enjoy taking advantage of spa facilities The Sheraton Grand Edinburgh is the Starwood hotels flagship hotel having recently gone under major refurbishment. You can soothe aching muscles in the unique Thermal Suite, from the penetrating heat of the Rock and Bio saunas to the warmth of the Laconium and comfort of the Tepidarium’s heated couches. Allow the enveloping steam of the Hammam and Aroma Grotto to cleanse the body, while the scented tropical rain and cold fog showers invigorate. Situated in the dramatic shadows of Edinburgh Castle, is holds a prime position in the city centre. After a busy day spent exploring Edinburgh, or shopping at Harvey Nichols, Mulberry, Louis Vuitton or one of the other many luxury shops available you can enjoy cocktails in the restaurant & bar. Blending contemporary comfort and cutting edge technology, it is a lovely place to stay while visiting Edinburgh.
Described as ‘a Riviera in the Highlands’ and ‘the eighth wonder of the world’ this truly is a beautiful resort Set in an 850 acre resort of beautiful countryside in the heart of Scotland. Having won more than 40 awards there is no question about the quality of service you can expect. Playing host to Ryder Cup 2014 it boasts the PGA Centenary Course, created by Jack Nicklaus, which complements the world renowned King’s and Queen’s courses. The Gleneagles Hotel is the perfect setting for one of the most luxurious spa destinations in the world. Every aspect of the unique and tranquil space enhances the therapeutic ESPA treatments. At Gleneagles you can enjoy some of the finest golf break facilities in Scotland. Play a round of golf on some of the leading golf courses in Scotland: The King’s, Queen’s or PGA Centenary Courses. Or you prefer a little retail therapy with shopping with Dunhill London, Escada, Hawick Cashmere, Impromptu, Mappin & Webb and the still room with stocks some of Scotland’s finest whiskies. This prestigious five-star resort is recognised as one of Europe’s leading resorts by Conde Nast’s Gold List. Bordering the renowned 17th ‘Road Hole’ of the Old Course in the Home of Golf, the Old Course Hotel enjoys a The hotel offers quietly confident service, luxurious facilities and a array of bars and restaurants the Sands Grill, Road Hole Fine Dining Restaurant (3 AA rosettes) which will feature at this years Taste of Edinburgh 6 th – 8 th July. The Duke’s Bar & Grill offers a traditional Scottish golfers’ menu. The award winning Road Hole Bar offers Scotland’s finest malt whiskies from over 200 distilleries. Relax and unwind at the Kohler Waters Spa at the Old Course Hotel – the first KOHLER spa experience outside the USA. The kohler water experiences transport you to a sanctuary of relaxation, balance and rejuvenation. Alternatively Take in the culture of historic university town of St Andrews, just a short stroll from the resort. Although to visit, the home of golf, you really must plat the famous ‘The Dukes’ course with breathtaking view across St Andrews and west sands beach. If you are short of time & wish to see as much of Scotland’s Breathtaking scenery the Royal Scotsman, from Orient-Express Hotels, is the epitome of luxury train travel. The Royal Scotsman has all the intimacy and style of an Edwardian country house hotel – on rails. Luxury cabins with en-suite facilities are lavishly decorated in polished wood and tartans. You can indulge in fine cuisine created from the best of Scottish seasonal produce while traveling through stops including Edinburgh, Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen, and Inverness on the east coast of Scotland. On the west, you can explore the Highlands passing through Plockton, Mallaig & Glasgow. With exclusive packages, you can stay in the Stunning Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh & Cameron House on Loch Lomond. There are also special offers of 4 nights for the price of 3 available. |
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