The Perfect Winter Escapes – Sponsored
Indulge in winter spa treatments and award-winning food with Crerar Hotels
As the cold winter months fast approach, thoughts of parties and presents for the festive period are likely to be lingering in the back of everyone’s minds.
With five luxury hotels and two charming inns scattered across Scotland’s beautiful countryside, Crerar Hotels are perfect for all wintry and autumnal activities.
Whether for dinner parties, gift ideas or a tranquil winter getaway, their spas, hot tubs and authentic restaurants are rich in seasonal potential – come wind, rain or snow.
Buying for a friend? Gift vouchers are available here >>
Golf View Hotel and Spa, Nairn
With breath-taking views of the shimmering Moray Firth and a variety of both indoor and outdoor leisure activities, this seaside hotel is the perfect location for a couple’s retreat or a relaxing family holiday.
The hotel’s AA-Rosette-awarded restaurant, Hickory, has been recently modernised, with intimate booths and crushed velvet furnishings offering a cosy yet luxurious space in which to sample best of the locally-landed seafood and meat from pedigree herds.
Guest rooms have also been decorated to the highest standard, and their warm tones are complimented by dark wood furnishing and elegant gold trimmings.
If you enjoy a game of golf, why not have a round on one of Nairn’s two championship courses, both located close to the hotel.
Or, if sampling some of Scotland’s finest produce is more up your street, local distillery Benromach is open all year, whilst nearby Dallas Dhu offers tours.
Loch Fyne Hotel and Spa, Inveraray
This hotel is the pearl in Inveraray’s oyster. A full re-design across the reception area, restaurant and guestrooms means every stay is even more memorable, whether it’s your first visit or you’ve been coming for decades.
Bedrooms are decorated in neutral shades, with cool blue linens, dark wood furnishings and soft lighting, while the AA-Rosette-awarded restaurant features an open-plan kitchen, allowing guests to catch a glimpse of the chef at work.
A stay at Loch Fyne Hotel & Spa is the perfect end of year gift, as the use of all leisure facilities – including the indoor pool and Jacuzzi overlooking the loch, sauna, steam room and outdoor hot tub – are open to all guests.
There are also spa treatments available, including organic seaweed facials and hot stone massages.
Pony trekking, quad biking and walking are just some of the outdoor activities to try, and Inveraray is ideally located for day trips to Kintyre, Oban, and Loch Lomond, not forgetting the Trossachs National Park and the Arrochar Alps.
Thainstone House, Inverurie
This grand and elegant 18th century Palladian country mansion in rural Aberdeenshire is set in 44 acres of beautiful private parkland.
With links by both rail and road, and only ten miles from Aberdeen Airport, it is easily accessible for guests. It’s also perfectly placed for those keen on golf, with a choice of three courses close by.
2AA-Rosette-awarded restaurant, The Green Lady, serves a fine selection of local produce while Stockman’s Bar is perfect for snacks and hearty pub grub – popular with residents and locals alike.
Treat yourself or loved ones to a wide range of luxury ishga spa and beauty treatments, or visit the leisure club which includes a heated indoor pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room and well-equipped gym.
Oban Bay Hotel, Oban
Oban is the heart of Argyll, making it the ideal starting point from which to explore Scotland’s gorgeous West Coast and mesmerising islands.
As it sits on the town’s picturesque esplanade – a peaceful spot to gaze across the water – Oban Bay Hotel is the perfect home away from home.
The Grill Room restaurant showcases the very best of Oban’s local produce and the stylish Atlantic Bar also serves filling meals throughout the day – perfect after a morning out on the water, either fishing with a skippered charter, or on a sea cruise, from which you may spot dolphins, seals, otters or even a whale.
Whether Oban Bay Hotel marks the start of your Highland adventure, the end, or merely a point along the way, it welcomes you with open arms.
Isle of Mull Hotel and Spa, Craignure
Located on one of Scotland’s most beautiful islands, this hotel is near to the ferry terminal, making it both easy to find and close enough to the ocean to gaze at the spectacular waves.
Indeed, many guest rooms enjoy a view across to the mainland, as does the Observatory Lounge and restaurant, Shellach-na-Mara.
Mull is an ideal holiday destination for families, as the famous Tobermory (or perhaps more famously Balamory) is just a 40 minute drive from the hotel. And a stroll along the white beaches is likely to be rewarded with sightings of dolphins, whales and basking sharks.
A stay here would also make an excellent rest and recuperation holiday – the hotel’s garden stretches right to the water’s edge and is home to local wildlife, including red deer.
Its leisure and spa facilities – which include a 17-metre indoor pool, gym, sauna, steam room, Rasul mud room and outdoor hot tub – have stunning panoramic views of the island – enough to make anyone feel totally and completely relaxed.
Deeside Inn, Ballater
Full of home comforts, you’ll find Deeside Inn at the edge of Ballater, a beautiful village in the Grampian Highlands.
With the building’s original log fires, wooden panelling and beams still on show, there is a friendly and relaxing atmosphere throughout the inn.
Royal Deeside’s many attractions include Balmoral Castle, Crathie Kirk, Royal Lochnager Distillery and Ballater’s Old Railway Station. Cairngorms National Park is nearby, where you’ll find all kinds of hiking and climbing trails ranging from easy to seriously challenging.
If you’re with family, the Deeside Way cycle path is perfect for children, and the River Dee is also famous for its excellent salmon fishing.
The Glencoe Inn, Glencoe
Glencoe Village is one of the most spectacular places in Scotland, and The Glencoe Inn encapsulates its essence perfectly.
This comfy and rustic inn is the perfect dwelling for those exploring the surrounding area, the views of which will take your breath away. And the Glencoe Gathering bistro, next door, serves exactly the sort of filling meals needed before or after a day out and about.
The nearby mountains are ideal for walking and skiing, and many also feature purpose-built trails for mountain bikes.
There are also opportunities for white water kayaking, canyoning, golfing, segwaying and more.
Or, if you’d like to learn about Highland history and culture, the Glencoe Visitor Centre is an interesting and eye-opening way to spend an afternoon.
However you choose to pass the time, The Glencoe Inn offers a warm and welcoming base during your stay.
