Cringletie House Hotel

Cringletie House Hotel

, Edinburgh Road, Peebles.

Standing like a mini-Balmoral in immaculate grounds just outside Peebles, Cringletie House is the very essence of a Scottish country house hotel. The hotel has a hill-top location at the centre of a 28 acre estate with panoramic views of the surrounding country.

There is a short nature trail winding through the estate passing through the woodlands it loops around showing historic features of the estate along the way. The heart of the Cringletie grounds is the walled garden that dates back to 1666. The yew tree hedges are said to be among the oldest in Scotland. As well as floral displays and fruit trees, the kitchen garden provides produce for use in the hotel’s kitchen. A boules pitch and outdoor chess board are also featured.

The bar and lounges are places for an informal get-together just as welcoming if you’re travelling alone or with family. There is a selection of house wines, Scottish gins and whiskies, and a special feature are the locally brewed beers and lager.

The hotel's Sutherland Restaurant serves lunch and dinner daily featuring locally sourced produce. The Scottish Borders have a wide and fantastic range of food which are incorporated into all menus and, where possible, ingredients come from the walled garden and other parts of the estate. The aim is to create dishes that not only look good and taste delicious but will also satisfy the most discerning palate. The restaurant is in the house's original dining room, complete with painted ceiling.

There are guest rooms to suit all requirements starting from the perfectly formed Classic Rooms which include a choice of double, twin and super king beds. For a little extra space and comfort, there are the Luxury Rooms which include king and super king beds. All rooms have a seating area and en-suite bathrooms with a shower or shower/tub combination. Even more specious are the two suites and these certainly have the wow factor. These rooms offer super king four-poster or two super kings, that can be twinned, along with spacious seating areas and luxurious en-suite bathrooms. Finally, Ardean Cottage in the grounds of the hotel features two double or twin bedrooms, both with en-suite. One bathroom has a bath and separate shower, the other a shower only. The cottage has a spacious living room with a double sofa bed, kitchen and dining area. Outside, the private terrace has a private jacuzzi with views to the surrounding hills.

When there is the amazing Scottish scenery all around, it's difficult to pick out any special highlights. For walkers, everything is here. If you want the car to take the strain, waft gently around the minor roads or follow the Four Abbeys Drive.  There's also horse-riding, mountain-biking, golf, fishing in the River Tweed, and so much more besides.

Cringletie is notably wheelchair-friendly and includes a range of accessibility facilities quite exceptional for a historic building.