A 5 Star Hotel in Kelso, Scotland for all the Family

Originally owned by the Duke of Roxburghe, who now lives in nearby Floors Castle, the hotel was given a multi-million pound refit two years ago by Düsseldorf-based investment group 12.18 and is the only UK representative of the luxurious Destination by Hyatt collection.

Strict Historic Scotland rules ensured the pink tinged former royal castle frontage remained untouched and it’s a stunning sight when driving up the tree lined road from the nearby market town of Kelso. Cleverly, the hotel itself is a mixture of the old and the new, but designed so it can’t be seen at first glance, making it even more impressive. An old-fashioned welcome at the door and then into the well staffed reception with every whim catered for, giving a glimpse of the neighbouring Bar 1745, crammed with the finest whiskies and gins and a wonderful roaring fire for a cosy night in.

The grand hallway is fancily decorated with beautiful fabric wallpaper and period furniture and from here the elegant staircase leads to 20 rooms and suites individually decorated and with four poster beds, in the old part of the house to 58 more modern, but equally tasteful options in the new estate house. Outside the huge grounds have been put to good use with 51 self-catering cottages including one traditional Gardener’s stone house, complete with a private sauna, dotted around the golf course and woodland.

The cottages are great for a home from home experience and feature a well-stocked kitchen area, with all the cooking aids needed, tea and coffee making facilities and beautifully decorated lounge with a big television and ensuite bedrooms with top toiletries and huge comfy beds.

Guests are given £25 to spend on breakfast items each day in the well-stocked estate shop, which also sells locally made products and sporting clothing. Each has its own private garden and seating, plus parking space, bedding and towels and as in the hotel, pets are welcomed.

There’s no need too venture far for food and drink, with the hotel offering options for all budgets. The most impressive is  the Sunlaws Restaurant, subtly tucked away from the main hallway and with fine views of the hotel’s grounds.

Here for £85 per person, with an option for wine pairing for an extra £55, the menu is pure class, with six courses including such gems as stuffed quail with black truffle purée and salsify, hand dived Orkney scallops in an onion and kombu broth, with buttermilk grains and N25 caviar to borders lamb with Inman Bavildi, pastille and apricot ketchup, brown butter poached turbot served with wild garlic, morels and asparagus. Desserts from Yorkshire forced rhubarb, white chocolate and cardamom bavoise, lemon sponge, custard to peat smoked Valrhona Jivara chocolate, salted caramel, vanilla and whisky ice cream, round off a fabulous menu.

It’s also the venue for afternoon tea (from £42 per person) and is crammed with artisan finger sandwiches with delicious fillings including smoked salmon, lime and Nori powder, free range egg, watercress and smoked paprika and served with such savoury delights of haggis bon bons and green mayonnaise chickpea falafel, yoghurt and  lime dressing. For the sweet toothed, there’s plain and raisin scones served with jam and clotted cream and a selection of petit gateaux including lemon cake and very berries choux mango posset.

Charlie’s Scottish Bistronomy is named after the famous Bonnie Prince and the 11^th Duke of Roxburghe and is where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served, with the night time menu including delights including Lindisfarne oysters and Scottish asparagus with duck egg and wild garlic, for starters, treacle cured pork chop, apricot ketchup and cavolo nero, venison loin, potato rosti and celeriac puree for mains, along with pink grapefruit mousse and caramelised white chocolate crémeaux to round off the meal. Plans are ahead to build a special al fresco food area outside Charlie’s to offer more relaxed dining. And the State Room lounge is the place for lighter bites from Roxburghe fishcakes to 8oz rump and fries with peppercorn sauce.

The beautiful town of Kelso is blessed with lots of places to go and see, from the historic Floors Castle, built in 1721 and crammed with history as well as beautifully kept gardens, to Kelso Abbey and the River Tweed salmon fishing museum. The small racecourse is officially Britain’s friendliest and holds races over steeplechases and hurdles from September to May.

Close by are the equally stunning and historic towns of Melrose, Peebles, Jedburgh, Duns, Eyemouth, Lauder, Hawick and Selkirk.

Easily accessible with excellent transport links, the nearby railway stations of Berwick-upon-Tweed and Galashiels are around 40 minutes away by taxi from the hotel. The A68 and A697 roads link up with the main motorway network from Edinburgh and Newcastle, allowing easy links to the rest of the UK.