STYLE AND SUBSTANCE
Steeped in tradition, Stobo is more than just a hotel. A rabbit warren of a venue, it sits near the town of Peebles surrounded by wildlife, gentle landscapes and agriculture. The grade-A listed manor was commissioned in 1806 by the son of former Lord Advocate James Montgomery, who inherited the estate following his death. It has gone through various incarnations over the last two centuries including reopening in 1978 as a health farm – a theme which has continued to the present day. Guests mingle wearing white fluffy towelling robes and slippers as they wander between the spa and their rooms, sipping cocktails and coffee in the brightly lit reception area or in one of the comfy lounges. Nods of the hotel’s history are prominently displayed throughout, from paintings and sculptures to the traditional décor.
SLEEPING MATTERS
The Cashmere Suite, arguably the most opulent room in hotel, comes with its own terrace, a huge marble bath, two four-poster beds and a spacious lounge with outdoor access. While the luxurious lounge might not be to everyone’s tastes (or budgets) the hotel also offers classic, standard and deluxe rooms and lodges. Each room has an ensuite, with optional extras such as luxury skincare, wine, chocolate and fresh fruit available to add to the booking. Regardless of which room guests choose, a quiet and comfortable night sleep is likely after spending any time in the spa – complete with whirlpools, Jacuzzis, outdoor hot tubs, and all manner of sauna and steam rooms.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Eating at Stobo castle is not entirely an exciting experience, with the grand yet stuffy dining room hosting guests for their evening meal during a two-hour window. The menu options, while well-cooked, are a bit bland and those looking for a ‘foodie’ experience or something unusual may struggle here. The hotel is sticking with tradition in its offerings of steak, lamb chops, fish and a token vegetarian option – pasta on this occasion – with sides of potatoes and vegetables. The wine list is excellent however and dessert options were more varied, with cheeses, chocolate, ice creams and fruit-based puds on the menu. Lunch options are along a similar, traditional vein, while breakfast was a choice of cooked breakfasts, yogurt and granola, pastries, cereals and toast.
DRINK IN THE SIGHTS
While the hotel has several drinking lounges and a cocktail bar, with such stunning scenery it is worth a wander round the grounds. A seat on the terrace overlooking rolling fields and bleating lambs is enough to relax any stress. On a driech day take shelter in the cocktail lounge overlooking the spa, and sample one or two of the 30 drinks on offer.
NICE TOUCH
The spa has a specific set of relaxation areas for women only, while the changing rooms come complete with a whole range of
skincare, allowing guests to simply turn up without having to bring their own toiletries from their rooms.
ABOUT THE AREA
Nearby town of Peebles offers horse riding and golf experiences, while Stobo loch is a chance for avid fisherman to try out their skills. A mile away lies Dawyck Botanic Garden and arboretum, with a spectacular display of wild flowers and renowned seasonal spreads. It is in the Upper Tweed Valley.
Rooms from £125 per night. Visit www.stobocastle.co.uk for details
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here