Scotland's 'best family friendly' hotels named for summer getaway with the kids
Scotland's "best family friendly hotels" have been named. From the Scottish Borders to the Highlands, hotels up and down the country were singled out.
On Thursday, July 24, Condé Nast Traveller published a list of the top hotels in the country for a family getaway. In total, eight accommodation options are featured on the roundup.
Among the hotels that were singled out by the experts is The Balmoral Hotel on Princes Street in Edinburgh. Owned by Rocco Forte Hotels, the hotel is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the Scottish capital.
The Balmoral features a number of rooms and suites specifically catered towards families. According to the Rocco Forte Hotels website, it also offers personalised children's passports at check-in, welcome treats, child-sized bathrobes, slippers and animal cuddly toys.
The hotel is also home to the Four AA Rosette restaurant Number One, which specialises in modern Scottish cuisine. Additionally, The Balmoral has a spa where parents can enjoy a wide selection of treatments.
Condé Nast Traveller wrote: "Rocco Forte's flagship sits inside an aptly big-boned Victorian building with Gothic accents, putting an elegantly modern take on tradition. Despite the grandeur and Palm Court afternoon tea antics, little ones are welcome to clamber the dramatic staircase, jump on the sumptuous beds in the family rooms and suites and press their noses up against arched Victorian windows for views of the castle.
"There's no need to hassle reception for cot sheets, bibs or slip-proof bathmats; true to Rocco Forte form, the Balmoral drums up the necessary (swishy) kit according to age groups before you've even tumbled into your room. Parents can expect all the tot accoutrements (0-3), including cots, bottle warmers, highchairs and monitors."
Elsewhere, the experts also selected the Schloss Roxburghe in the Scottish Borders as one of the country's top destinations for a family getaway. Situated a short distance from the market town of Kelso, the historic estate is home to both a luxury hotel and a number of self-catering cottages.
The hotel accommodation at the Schloss Roxburghe is comprised of 78 rooms and suites, 20 of which are housed in the historic manor house and have been individually designed. In addition, more than 51 cottages are dotted throughout the extensive estate.
The experts stated: "Lairding over the Scottish Borders' watercolour countryside, Schloss Roxburgh draws in as many families as it does golfers, a wee hour-and-a-half drive from Edinburgh airport. They come for the privacy of the self-catered cottages, with all the hotel facilities back at Baronial base, but also for ex-Norland Nanny-run 4-12 Kio Kids club (open Wednesday to Sunday), as well as the reams of estate activities (fly fishing, archery, mountain biking, clay shooting).
"What it lacks for in design pitch, (Scottish hotels have a habit of losing themselves in a bright, brassy hinterland between traditional and contemporary) it makes up for with a stellar spa with two family-swim windows in the morning and afternoon and a new driving range with Toptracer facilities for supervised children, where they can master their golf swing."
Moving further north, another of the best family-friendly hotels in Scotland, according to Condé Nast Traveller, is The Torridon in the Scottish Highlands. The five-star boutique resort is located in Wester Ross, around a 90-minute drive from the city of Inverness.
The Torridon's hotel rooms honour Scottish heritage and feature opulent textiles and bright colours, while activities on offer include falconry, stargazing, and sea kayaking. The resort was applauded by Condé Nast Traveller for its various family-friendly walks and the kids menu at its on-site Bo & Muc Brasserie restaurant.
Other hotels featured on Condé Nast Traveller's roundup include The Fife Arms in Braemar and Cameron House by Loch Lomond. The former was noted for its welcoming atmosphere and activities such as pony trekking and wildlife walks, while Cameron House was praised for its castle visits and loch water sports.
The full list of the best family-friendly hotels in Scotland can be found on the Condé Nast Traveller website.
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