A HOTEL which purportedly once sheltered Mary Queen of Scots as she fled captivity from Loch Leven Castle has been re-opened with the keys she supposedly used to make her escape.
Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club, near Edinburgh, has undergone a £2m refurbishment during the past two months as part of a two-year major upgrade of the resort.
It was officially re-opened on Tuesday using historic keys belonging to the 22nd Earl of Morton, who lives on the Dalmahoy estate.
Unveiling the modernisation at the independently-branded hotel, Alistair Kinchin, General Manager of Dalmahoy said: “It’s very apt that Mary, Queen of Scots’ keys are officially unlocking the doors to our restyled hotel – a refurbishment which carefully blends modernity, whilst helping us celebrate the building’s incredible past.
“We’re excited to welcome our guests to the new-look Dalmahoy today, which marks almost three years since we began operating as an independent property. We’ve received really positive feedback from our guests so far.”
Dalmahoy Hotel
Mary was imprisoned in Loch Leven castle in 1567 after losing the support of the nobles over her - possibly forced - marriage to Lord Bothwell.
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The story goes that on 2nd May 1568, two teenage members of the Douglas clan, George and Willie, came to her aid by plotting a daring escapade - which involved drugging half the island with hearty doses of wine - so Mary could flee in disguise.
Willie had stolen the castle keys from his father and replaced them with a fake copy. He then rowed Queen Mary to safety across Loch Leven and reputedly threw the keys of the castle into the loch - where they lay for 200 years.
The keys were discovered in 1791 when the loch’s water levels were lowered and they were returned to the Dalmahoy estate, where they have remained to this day.
READ MORE: Childhood letters by Mary, Queen of Scots to go on display
Mary is said to have visited Dalmahoy after she was temporarily saved from her imprisonment.
Located within one of Scotland’s most prestigious estates, Dalmahoy is a leisure resort with two 18-hole golf courses, swimming pool and nature walks on site.
The keys
The recent three-month refurbishment project was led by Scottish design firm 10 Design, owned by Liz McNeill.
Ms McNeill said: “The brief was to create a design that delivered modernity - right down to details such as USB charging points - whilst keeping the traditional feel of the country house.
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"I think we have achieved this by utilising some iconic Scottish touches such as the artwork featuring Scottish wildlife and cushions containing classic paisley pattern designs whilst ensuring that all modern conveniences are thoughtfully installed."
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