The Credentials:
Owned by The Duke of Roxburghe and situated in the Scottish Borders on the banks of River Teviot, this elegant and unique country house hotel is a one-hour drive from both Edinburgh and Newcastle airports.
Full of history and grandeur, the library and drawing room are brimming with artefacts, photography and many original features including the fireplaces, doors and ceilings, while the drawing room is idyllic for after dinner chess or social time. The library is a perfect setting (and predictability stocked with many fascinating reads ranging from almanacs to fashion magazines) for a relaxed Belhaven Black or a pot of herbal tea (all served with homemade biscuits) amid daytime activities.
Dine:
The food at The Roxburghe was delectable and some dishes could be described as exceptional. Most produce is locally sourced or grown on-site. Breakfast was a generous feast offering great variety and hot dishes cooked to order. Dinner was slightly formal and had a sense of occasion. Orders were taken while enjoying an aperitif in the library.
The bar stocks an impressive range of over 60 drams from different Scottish regions and worldwide. We were treated to a whisky tasting session, the 12-year-old Glenkinchie from the East Lothian area was a favourite for its fresh taste with notes of lemon.
We enjoyed salmon mi-cuit, with beetroot and saffron and scallop, apple and black pudding to start, followed by main courses of Pollock, pak choi and prawn wonton; and a rack of lamb with cauliflower mash and olive jus. The desserts were a little disappointing in comparison to the other wonderful dishes but I did enjoy a cheese board of local Scottish cheeses.
Sleep:
The hotel offers 22 (uniquely designed by The Duchess) rooms including two suites. Our Woodland Suite was spacious and comfortable but never seemed warm enough even with the extra heater and hot water bottle.
The suite was split-level, featuring a lounge on the ground floor. An oak four-poster bed, widescreen TV and iPod dock were in the larger upstairs area and the considerable bathroom stocked Arran Aromatics products.
Who Goes There?
Groups of sporty Americans and Scandinavians; foodies and outdoorsy types from the UK.
Out & About:
We were fortunate to have a lesson in fly-fishing and clay pigeon shooting by a former gamekeeper, Ghillie Alastair Ferguson (CPSA Senior Instructor). I was a complete beginner to both activities but my friend had dabbled previously. Alastair was able to tailor the session to suit our individual levels while still offering progression and a challenge.
The hotel’s trout lake was still partially frozen but Alastair taught, with much enthusiasm, how to set up the rod and cast complete with appropriate Mark Twain quotes. All fishing is from the bank with a catch and release policy.
After safety brief and practice, my friend was challenged to, and almost conquered, The Roxburghe Challenge. Designed by Alastair – you start with 50 cartridges and shoot from a variety of stands differing in complexity. The aim is to have as few cartridges left as possible after 40 targets have been hit. Only seven people have completed the challenge so far without running out of ammunition. Private lessons or groups of up to 20 can be catered for.
Situated in the courtyard, the spa was a compact oasis with charming attention to detail. I had the ‘touch of tranquillity’ full body steam treatment, back massage, 30-minute facial and 30-minute manicure using Decleor and Jessica products. Being a spa aficionado, I was particularly impressed by the facial. This spa offered the perfect antidote to the harsh Scottish temperatures that Southerners simply aren’t used to.
There are two recommended woodland walks; we opted for the longer (90 minutes) taking in the Japanese ponds, a rare monkey tail tree, the Monument (built by the 6th Marquis of Lothian) and the Hermit’s Grotto (fashionable in Victorian times).
The Best Thing:
The welcoming and knowledgeable staff, the vast grounds and location and the fantastic cuisine and range of dram available.
The Worst Thing:
I initially couldn’t find the loo in the bathroom. It was only when exploring that I lifted what looked like an Ottoman and realised it was a Victorian commode-style loo. Although it was a nice feature complementing the room I dreaded using it for fear of falling in!
