Words by Mary Isokariari
When life gets hectic, escaping for a weekend getaway is a much-needed remedy, and that’s where SCHLOSS Roxburghe steps in. LLM contributor Mary Isokariari checks in to find out more about this Scottish countryside escape.
Hotel
A little more than an hour’s drive from Edinburgh and Newcastle, SCHLOSS Roxburghe was formerly owned by the Duke of Roxburghe. The historic estate is set on 300 acres of land with beautiful parkland and estate gardens and blends the old with the new due to a recent refurbishment. It features 58 contemporary bedrooms and suites and a new restaurant. However, the outdoor spa is the main highlight that I was keen to try out.
Room
The cosy rooms combine tradition and modernity, with luxuriously big bathrooms, dark-wood furniture, open fires, four poster beds and majestic nooks. The rooms either face the cobbled courtyard or the serene golf course overlooking the hotel’s lush grounds.
Nestled in the grounds of the SCHLOSS Roxburghe, set apart from the main house, are one- and two-bedroom self-catering cottages – some have their own saunas and are perfect for large groups, families and hen parties who require the extra privacy.
Food and drink
Food offerings can make or break a trip for me, and that’s before taking my allergies and dietary requirements on board, but SCHLOSS Roxburghe didn’t disappoint.
Guests can eat in Charlie’s Restaurant, which offers ‘Scottish bistronomy’ using the highest quality ingredients sourced sustainably and locally and gourmet cooking techniques.
Where possible, the hotel sources from its very own estate, and it’s clear that fresh, home-grown produce takes priority here. I was ecstatic to see gluten-free fish and chips on the menu, which is a rarity in most restaurants in England. Served with mushy peas and a side of tartar sauce, I ate every bite.
Breakfast is an impressive feast of everything your heart could desire, from made-to-order omelettes, platters of croissants and pastries and fresh fruit medleys to a salad bar featuring salmon, olives, sundried tomatoes, and so much more.
And if you fancy an extra treat, the afternoon tea here is a grand affair and takes place in the Drawing Room. It includes typical artisan finger sandwiches – including watercress and smoked paprika to smoked salmon lime and nori powder cream cheese. Savoury delights are on offer such as haggis bonbon, herbed crumb rabbit rillette espelette and green mayonnaise chickpea falafel.
I couldn’t get enough of the freshly baked plain and raisin scones served with blueberry jam and Rodda clotted cream, as well as the Petit gateaux selection, topped with free-flowing champagne, of course.
The pumpkin houmous was incredible! I asked for the recipe and the chef wrote it down for me on a piece of paper, which I accidentally left behind in the Drawing Room. And to my surprise, a staff member kindly left the recipe on my dressing table in my bedroom alongside a fresh pot of houmous and some crackers, which was a lovely touch.
The hotel takes pride in its ethos from ‘farm to plate’, reflected in the seven-course fine dining menu, which is served at Sunlaws Restaurant. The tasting menu was divine and included dishes such as a rainbow trout caught during our fishing trip that afternoon. Other dishes include Estate Deer with wild nettle, courgette, and hazelnut, and paired with either wine, whisky, or gin.
Spa and wellness
With superb surroundings, the outdoor spa is exquisite and unique, boasting a heated infinity pool of 29-30ºC and illuminated by colour-changing LEDs. The marble-tiled hot tub is located outdoors and heated to approximately 36ºC. The heated swimming pool is a delight and rarely empty, while the freezing plunge pool remained uninhabited.
Spoilt for choice, the two saunas offer something different – one is an atmospherically illuminated aroma sauna made of larch wood and heated to 75ºC. The other is a dry Finnish sauna with floor-to-ceiling windows, partly embedded into the earth and heated to 85ºC, making you instantly feel more connected to nature.
To do
If a weekend of doing nothing makes you shudder, then guests have the option of participating in various outdoor activities such as the Championship Golf Course, set in 200 acres of parkland; clay-pigeon shooting; fly-fishing and archery. To make it even more special, Eoin Fairgrieve, a former world team Spey Casting champion, is one of the guides, and a star attraction.
In a nutshell
The hotel offers a chance to unwind and escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. The service is impeccable with a young and friendly staff, eager to make your stay an enjoyable one. Whether it’s a solo treat, a couples’ romantic weekend, a girls’ trip, or a hen party, it’s well worth the trip.
Factbox
Address: Heiton, Kelso TD5 8JZ
Phone: +44 (0) 1573 450331
Email: info@schlossroxburghe.com
Website: schlosshotel-roxburghe.com
Getting there – The nearest train station is Berwick Upon Tweed, and then it’s a 30-minute drive. The nearest airport is Edinburgh, followed by a 90-minute drive.
Photography courtesy of SCHLOSS Roxburghe.
