Travel Notes: Stylish New Stays In Scotland
There is no better time to plan a visit to Scotland, where a flurry of new luxury hotel openings have caught our attention …
If plaid, tartan, and checkerboard prints are trending this season, particularly when worn together (Chemena Kamali’s AW26 collection for Chloé is a favourite), so too is Scotland, where a flurry of luxury hotel openings beckon. In lieu of OTT Highland kitsch, and heavy tartan accents, these properties lean into understated elegance towards a Scandi-Scot aesthetic, seen in Glasgow’s new Arthouse Hotel, where pocket rooms and sleek suites feature mid-century furniture, reupholstered with Bute Fabrics, the historic Scottish textile mill founded in 1947. www.arthouseglasgow.com.
Aberfeldy in Perthshire may not be as famous as its neighbours Pitlochry and Dunkeld, yet it’s every bit as charming, surrounded by cinematic scenery – Glen Lyon has been described as Scotland’s longest, loneliest, and loveliest glen by poet Walter Scott. Stay at the Irish-owned Dun Aluinn. Previously an exclusive use venue, its nine rooms can now be booked individually. Architectural designer Susie Whyte and husband John Burke have decorated the Victorian house with stunning statement pieces, from Patricia Urquiola sofas to B&B Italia furniture and Japanese cedar ofuro bathtubs. For so-called “scran” or foodie travellers, a highlight is its communal dining experiences led by chef John Christie. www.dunalluinn.com.
Superior dining and minimalist tranquil rooms are a forte at Killiecrankie House, which received a Michelin star this year – a reward for co-owner and chef Tom Tsappis and his wife Matilda. ‑their menus fuse homegrown produce with Japanese techniques. www.killiecrankiehouse.com. Guided hikes, salmon shing and safaris, spotting roe deer and golden eagle’s nests, can all be arranged if staying at The Fortingall, a refined yet homely bolthole redolent with quirky details and design inspo. Guests can even scan QR codes in their rooms to buy pieces they like, from lamps to crockery and furniture, created by owner Annabelle Holland of Anbôise interiors brand. www.fortingall.com.
Damson Madder’s playful checked raincoats are just the thing to pack for a stay at Hope, once a hunting lodge, now an intimate retreat with a collection of restored, unfussy cottages set on a 100,000-acre estate in Sutherland. Regenerative, conservation-led hospitality is the ethos of its full-board stays which include paddle boarding, waterfall swims, boat rides to Rabbit Island, trout fishing and chef-led foraging walks. www.wildland.scot.
For island hoppers and whiskey enthusiasts, Islay is the place to be, boasting nine distilleries and the underrated Machrie golf course. Stay at the LVMH-owned, Russell Sage-designed Ardbeg House in Port Ellen or Islay House, which opens this month. www islayhouse.co.uk. For a special celebration with friends, Loch na Bo is on my wish list. The secluded six-bedroom rental on an historic estate between Aberdeen and Inverness has hosted royalty. Guests can spot the resident swans, herons, osprey and otters on the loch from its pretty breakfast room – Scotland at its most serene. www.lochnabo.co.uk.
