Sometimes everyone just needs to get away, whether it’s for a night, a weekend or longer.
Christmas is just around the corner and the nights are drawing in earlier and earlier, making the need to escape for a few days even stronger. So why not pack a bag and head off?
At this time of year, Scotland has some of the most attractive places to visit, with lochs, mountains, forests, historical sites and towns to explore.
So if you are looking for somewhere to relax in luxury, a picturesque location and plenty to see and do, why not book into one of these fantastic places this winter.
Enjoy a relaxing break at Keavil House Hotel
Keavil House Hotel is a leading country house and leisure spa hotel in a beautiful rural setting. Nestling in 12 acres of stunning landscaped gardens, it’s the perfect venue for a relaxing winter break.
The impressive Picture of Health Club and Spa features an indoor pool, hot tub, sauna and steam room, and there is also a modern gym. Exercise classes and spa treatments are also available.
The restaurant serves a modern Scottish menu and a varied wine list.
Just a short drive from Edinburgh city centre and airport, the hotel provides a gateway to the pretty coastal villages and historical sites in Fife, which you can explore during the hotel’s special offer winter breaks – just £99 per night for two people.
This incredible offer – available from Thursdays to Sundays until March 25, 2018 (excluding Saturdays in December, December 23 to January 3, and February 9 to 12, 2018) and based on two people sharing a standard double room – is the perfect short escape for two people at the end of a busy week. Arrive just after lunch and you will have time to enjoy the extensive leisure club facilities before dinner.
The winter break includes a two course dinner (main and dessert), breakfast and unlimited access to the Picture of Health Club and Spa.
To make a reservation call 01383 736258 or email reservations@keavilhouse.co.uk
For more information visit the Keavil House Hotel website.
Soak up winter attractions in Orkney and Shetland
The Orkney and Shetland Islands offer an array of things to see and do during winter, from striking natural beauty to stunning historic sites of interest.
Visitors to Orkney will find that a trip to the archaeological treasure of Maeshowe offers more in winter than at any other time of the year. During midwinter, the 5,000 year-old tomb comes to life when rays from the setting sun align with Maeshowe’s entrance tunnel to light up the back wall of the central chamber.
For those visiting Shetland this winter, be sure to take in Lerwick’s Up Helly Aa fire festival in January. One of Europe’s largest fire festivals designed to celebrate the island’s Viking heritage, the festival features a world-famous torch-lit procession behind a Viking longship. The event finishes when 1,000 flaming torches are thrown into the longship, setting it ablaze!
Winter is also the time when you may catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) or the Mirrie Dancers as they are known in Orkney or Shetland. Wrap up warm and head out on a cold, clear and starry night. Remember to take your camera!
With regular comfortable crossings from Scrabster and Aberdeen, the beauty and wonder of Orkney and Shetland is just a sailing away.
Visit the NorthLink Ferries website to plan your winter break to the Northern Isles.
Warm up your winter at Scotland’s most romantic hotel
Scotland’s most romantic hotel is warming up winter with cosy weekend packages.
Ardanaiseig is offering the opportunity to escape to some of the UK’s most spectacular scenery and stay in one of its finest rooms overlooking Loch Awe in Argyll.
The package includes accommodation in a Master Loch or Master Garden View Suite, breakfast, a hearty three course dinner, and afternoon tea in its sumptuous drawing room which gazes out on Scotland’s third largest freshwater loch and the hotel’s private island.
Ardanaiseig, a 20 minute drive from the main road between Glasgow and Oban (gateway to the Hebrides), is a listed Grade 2 building which showcases oil paintings and quirky antique furnishings.
Located on a 120 acre woodland estate, it was named by the editors of the 2017 edition of the UK Good Hotel Guide as Scotland’s top romantic and country house hotel.
It recently became the first hotel in Scotland to ban mobile phones in its dining room.
The inclusive Winter Warmer package, priced at £295 per room per night, is available between Thursdays and Mondays to 5 March 2018.
For more information or to make a reservation call 01866-833333 or email hello@ardanaiseig.com.
Visit the Ardaniseig website to find out more.
Enjoy a break at one of Perthshire’s most picturesque resorts
Moness House hotel is a former shooting lodge dating back to 1758 and the oldest dwelling in Aberfeldy. It has been lovingly refurbished to retain the integrity of the original while introducing the of modern day comfort.
The accommodation in this unique house been individually styled and offers a range of Deluxe and Superior rooms, graded according to size and location. All are furnished to an exceptional standard that will leave guests feeling truly pampered.
Alternatively, guests can choose to stay in one of the 106 holiday cottages and lodges. They range from traditional to beautiful four star cottages that make the perfect gathering place for a family break in Scotland.
The swimming pool offers the perfect environment for a leisurely swim, laze in the poolside area or take the opportunity to sit and unwind in our hot tub, Jacuzzi, sauna or steam room. Alternatively, a visit to one of the four Spa Therapy rooms where you can enjoy complete relaxation and indulgence with a wonderful range of beauty and complementary therapies.
The Head Chef and his team create menus that are traditional and quite simple, offering an excellent choice of fresh meat, fish and game locally sourced from around Perthshire and the knowledgeable and friendly staff are on hand to attend to all diners’ needs and assist in their wine and menu choices.
Find out more about the special autumn offer at the Moness resort website.
Enjoy peace and quiet in a beautiful setting
In a quiet place of tranquillity and natural beauty, with views of Lochletter Wood, Carn Macsna and Loch Meiklie, sits Glenurquhart House and Lodges.
With delightful accommodation, mouth-watering cuisine and attentive service in a relaxing haven far from the hustle and bustle of the modern world.
Return from a bracing country walk to warm yourself beside a crackling open fire with a dram of fine malt whisky. Dine on delicious food prepared from the freshest local ingredients. Retire to your comfortable en-suite bedroom or spacious lodge and be lulled to sleep by the sound of silence.
Glenurquhart House and Lodges has flexible short breaks available outside of the main season which offer savings on their normal rates so you can grab a relaxing break and explore this wonderful area.
For more details, call 01456 476234 or email info@glenurquharthouseandlodges.co.uk
Find out more at the Glenurquhart House and Lodges website.
Spend some time in the foothills of the Ross-shire mountains
Just 17 miles northwest of Inverness, Coul House Hotel continues to build a reputation for great food and hospitality. Set in mature woodlands with miles of forest trails, with unique architecture, log fires, quiet lounges and magnificent mountain views it is a great place to relax and unwind.
Contin is located on the Conon River at the foothills of the grand mountains of Ross-shire, centrally located between the east and west coas,ts making it a popular location to base oneself for touring all the iconic attractions of the north.
Chef Garry Kenley provides excellent Scottish cuisine complete with homemade breads and delicious desserts. Rather than offering a limited table d’hote style menu at a fixed price, they have a seasonally changing a la carte menu, with nightly specials and catch of the day all individually priced, which allows you to eat as much or as little as you wish.
Being a traditional chef, Garry chooses to make his own breads, pastries, desserts and stocks for all his sauces. He also cures and smokes on site using traditional Highland methods which adds not only a substantial amount to the daily workload but also a significant amount of extra washing up!
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