Getting out of town for a luxurious and peaceful Scottish break doesn’t necessarily involve a long journey. Just a short trip from Edinburgh, award-winning Gilmerton House, in East Lothian, could be the perfect place to relax and recharge. The house, which was built in the 1600s, has been in the Kinloch family for 13 generations. It sits on six landscaped acres, featuring a croquet lawn and a sunken botanic garden with rare, centuries-old trees and rose beds. Inside, the

For fans of cycling, who also love France as a holiday destination, Domaine de la Vène could be the ideal accommodation, this July. Located near Carcassonne, in the picturesque Languedoc-Roussillon region, Domaine de la Vène offers a blend of tranquillity, comfort and accessibility, making it an ideal retreat for spectators following one of the world’s most iconic sporting events – stage four of the Tour de France, from Carcassonne to Foix, takes place on 7 July. The estate

Finding a venue that offers elegant, historic accommodation in the Scottish countryside for a large group, might feel like a daunting task – but there’s a country house in Fife that could hit the spot. The Erskine family’s home since 1670, Cambo House, on the Cambo Estate is set in ancient woodlands, close to a two-mile stretch of sandy beach. A distillery and golf course are nearby too. The house is available to hire, for up to 37 guests, across 18 bedrooms, comprising fiv

Dabton House, in Dumfries and Galloway, has announced the completion of the renovation of Dabton Lodge, a beautifully restored, one-bedroom, self-catering property, designed as the perfect cosy retreat and base for exploring the area. Located at the main entrance gateway of Dabton House, formerly the family home of the 10th Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, the Lodge has been thoughtfully renovated to reflect the refined interior style of the main house, which itself underwent a

Scotland’s leading distilleries will gather on the Angus coast on Saturday 6 June, when award-winning Arbikie Highland Estate Distillery hosts ‘A Dram Good Whisky Festival’. Whisky enthusiasts, trade professionals and other visitors will be welcomed to the Arbikie Estate for a day of tastings, masterclasses and distillery experiences. Distilleries already confirmed for the festival include Bladnoch Distillery, Glencadam Distillery, InchDairnie Distillery, Kingsbarns Distille

Ferniehirst Castle, which sits among the ancient woodland above the Jed Water, near Jedburgh, in the Scottish Borders, has announced it will be open to visitors throughout July. They will have a rare chance to step inside this beautifully restored 16th-century stronghold, for guided tours. The Castle, which has been the ancestral seat of the Kerr family for over 500 years, is usually only available for exclusive-use accommodation, wedding and events. Behind its formidable w

The history, mystery and sheer beauty of Scottish castles places them at the top of the sightseeing list for many travellers. Scotland is home to a few thousand or so, spread across the country – and while some offer the chance of a guided tour – other provide a picturesque and unforgettable setting for a holiday or celebratory occasion – including one in the far northeast of the country. Around four hours’ drive from Edinburgh, 17th century Innes House, in the beautiful Mora

Acclaimed international pastry chef, Maxine Scheckter, is joining Sam Heeney-Governo, owner and chef at cookery school and bakery, Love to Cook, in Crieff, for an evening devoted to the artistry of modern pâtisserie. The event, which takes place on Saturday 16 May from 5-7pm, will include demonstrations of two of Maxine’s creations – her strawberry shortcake and Speculoos caramel petits gâteaux. With a career spanning some of the world’s most celebrated kitchens, including Th

El Santo bar and restaurant in Glasgow’s Merchant City has launched a new summer menu, with Brazilian head chef, Juliana Kipper, digging deep into her family-heritage cookbook to create more authentic South American dishes, with a modern twist. With Scotland playing Brazil in Miami, in the FIFA World Cup, on 24 June, Juliana is confident that there will be even more interest than normal in the vibrant cuisine of her homeland. She is planning a special dish and cocktail to be

Dumfries and Galloway may be one of Scotland’s less-visited areas, but it has much to offer, with over 200 miles of coastline, rolling hills, ancient woodlands and the biggest forest park in the UK – a major draw for stargazers. Visitors will find plenty of choice for accommodation, from guest houses and hotels, through to camping sites, to name a few options. But if you’re looking for something special, how about a holiday in the grounds of a 17th-century castle? Drumlanrig

Blair Castle in Perthshire reopens to the public from 1 April, with a ‘dramatic’ exhibition. Visitors to the castle will have the chance to view a selection of costumes from some of the UK’s most popular TV programmes and films, including a gown worn by actress Jenna Coleman in Victoria ; a gown from Wolf Hall; outfits worn in Downton Abbey ; dresses worn by ladies in waiting in the Bridgerton spin-off, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story; and the wedding dress worn by Kiera

Fauchon L’Hôtel Kyoto, the French brand’s first gourmet hotel in Japan, is celebrating its fifth anniversary this month. To mark this milestone, it is offering special anniversary ‘experiences’, including an exclusive accommodation package, a commemorative ‘hommage à Kyoto’ menu and themed cocktails. The exclusive accommodation package, available until 31 August, for a limited number of people, includes a suite with access to the Fauchon Lounge, as well as a rickshaw tour

Chef Dhaneshwar Prasad, of award-winning Dhoom Indian Streatery & Bar in Dunfermline has unveiled his latest menu, named ‘Chef Prasad’s Desi Eats’. The new, 10-course tasting menu features a range of his favourite dishes from his travels through 12 different regions of India. He said: “When I travel the streets of India, I’m looking for something different – something unique and authentic. It’s all about bringing colour, flavour and a culinary sensation to our customers.

Scotland’s former national chef of the year has announced plans to open his first restaurant at an Aberdeenshire beauty spot this summer. Orry Shand is updating the former Falls of Feugh restaurant, near Banchory, which closed its doors at the end of 2025. A major half a million-pound interior makeover of the venue is now underway, which will create a venue with views towards the river and surrounding woodland. The development of the restaurant will create 10 local hospitali

A new, all-day restaurant is due to open in St Andrews this spring, when Clarets takes up residence in The R&A World Golf Museum, overlooking the world-famous Old Course. Clarets, part of the The Rocca Group, will seat 50 diners, offering a breakfast and lunch menu initially, to be followed with a dinner service at a later stage. Morning and daytime dishes will include classics such as avocado on sourdough, a full Scottish breakfast, eggs Benedict and haggis toasties. Stefano

Sometimes you just can’t get far enough away from the hustle and bustle of city life. That’s when you might jump on a plane and head for a different country. But if you’d rather find your respite closer to home, you could head for Skye. The island has plenty of beauty to offer, whether you prefer dramatic sights or a gentler, peaceful backdrop in your quest to forget about work and unwind. If tranquility is top of your list, Coruisk House could be the ideal base for your Sk

When you’ve had enough of city life, where do you go, to recharge the batteries? Scotland has a wealth of beautiful and remote locations, that are perfect for getting away from it all. Some may involve a bit of a trek to reach your destination, but Newhall Mains, on the northern edge of the Black Isle, is just 20 miles from Inverness airport. And if you’d like to arrive in style, you might like to note that Newhall Mains has its own airfield, exclusively for use by hotel r

It may be a long way south of Edinburgh, but for a restorative weekend break, there’s a hotel in West Sussex that could be well worth the journey. The Woodcote, in the village of Graffham, is set within the South Downs National Park. Most of its rooms have uninterrupted views over the local landscape, of rolling downland and ancient woodlands. The restaurant focuses on seasonal produce, sourced from local gamekeepers, farms, fisheries, cheesemakers and foragers. Its exec

Angus-based, independent distillery, Arbikie Highland Estate Distillery, has opened pre orders for The Arbikie single malt, following a series of private tastings held during the World Economic Forum in Davos. The invitation-only tastings were presented to a small audience of global leaders, innovators and decision-makers, providing a taste of Arbikie’s first-ever single-malt Scotch whisky ahead of its launch. Produced entirely on the Arbikie Estate, the single malt has been

A new Sri Lankan restaurant has opened in Glasgow’s West End. KOCHCHI first came to diners’ attention at Edinburgh’s Bonnie & Wild food hall and aims to build on its success in the capital, in its location on Ruthven Lane. The Glasgow restaurant has a dining capacity of 80 covers, over two floors, an external, heated balcony area and a bar. At the heart of the menu is koththu, Sri Lanka’s street food. Fresh flatbread is hand-chopped and seared on a hot griddle with vege