The SCHLOSS Roxburghe has a protracted and fascinating life and will inform many a story of romance, conflict and uprisings because the twelfth Century, which embody Bonny Prince Charlie and a white rose bush stated to nonetheless bloom in the present day. The fantastic thing about the environment coupled with the heritage that surrounds the realm make this a pleasant place to recharge one’s batteries. Owned by the 12.18 group, a small group of lodges offering “grand lodges in miniature”, Roxburghe is now additionally a part of Vacation spot by Hyatt.
There have lately been in depth refurbishments and alterations offering an additional 58 bedrooms and 12 luxurious Scottish cottages, a brand new restaurant and spa amenities. The lodge is well discovered, being roughly 1 hour’s drive from Newcastle or Edinburgh, each with wonderful airports.
The welcome
There’s a nice welcome on arrival – reasonably like greeting previous buddies – with loads of workers readily available to unload the automotive and take circumstances to our rooms which had been prepared and ready.
The room
The brand new bedrooms are within the annexe which has been very tastefully linked to the unique property – so effectively achieved, in actual fact, that it isn’t noticeable. They’re superbly appointed and cater for each want and extra.
I stayed in an Property suite (room 231) with comfortable, muted tones and a up to date, very snug four-poster mattress, full with studying materials on the bedside desk. My suite included a separate panelled lounge with a herring-bone wood-effect flooring, a toilet and extra visitor bathroom amenities. It additionally loved a full balcony overlooking the golf course and the lounge has its personal Juliet balcony with the identical view.
The room is well-equipped with a Lavazza espresso machine and each common and decaffeinated espresso pods, a kettle with a big number of completely different teas, complimentary biscuits and a well-stocked fridge and choice of glasses. Free WiFi is offered, in addition to a wise TV in each the bed room and the livng space. A secure and hairdryer may very well be discovered within the wardrobe.
The lavatory
The lavatory is well-equipped with a big bathtub with a handheld bathe attachment, a separate rainfall bathe, double vainness unit, an enclosed cubicle for the WC with a frosted glass door, and the posh of underfloor heating.
There was a full vary of Molton Brown toiletries, together with hair conditioner which is sometimes missed in lodge bogs. Fluffy towels and bathrobes are prepared and ready on your consolation. Necessities are additionally provided for these all-important gadgets that guests may neglect or want reminiscent of dental, vainness and shaving kits, in addition to bathe cap, lip balm and exfoliating mitt.
The amenities
Wining and eating are absolutely catered for whether or not it’s the Sunlaws restaurant within the Mansion, Fairways on the Golf Clubhouse or Charlies within the annexe. Fairways serves mild snacks both earlier than or after your spherical from breakfast to lunch to the essential reviving drink on the finish of a difficult spherical. The Sunlaws restaurant serves tremendous meals and wine in a extra conventional setting and atmosphere however nonetheless utilizing native produce from native suppliers. Charlie’s within the annexe is the newest addition to the culinary expertise at SCHLOSS Roxburghe, the place the ambiance, decor and atmosphere is fashionable with educated and sort workers.
Charlies is billed as “the house of Scottish Bistronomy” and is located in a contemporary-styled eating room that appears by way of large home windows to the gorgeous gardens and grounds. The time period ‘Scottish Bistronomy’ refers to meals made with elements that come straight from the Property to the plate, and showcases the best native produce and elements discovered within the space. It caters for worldwide and native palates with a respect for nature and the encompassing countryside. The world has a profusion of first-class meat, fish and sport and that is used to scrumptious impact. Native classics are blended with worldwide delicacies.
On our first night time we had been lucky to dine on the ‘Langoustine Veloute Prawn Mono’ and the ‘Burnside Wooden Pigeon Dodine’, adopted by our principal programs which included ‘”Cotelette” Confit Stomach with Potato and Masala Harissa Lamb Jus’ and ‘Pork “Gents Lower” with Textures of Parsley Root, Portobello and Yellow Wine Condiment and Amaranth Shoots’ – all of which was scrumptious and superbly introduced.
One of many lodge’s biggest belongings and focus of consideration is the Championship golf course that’s a part of the property. There isn’t any doubt that it’s a Championship course because it offers any golfer a problem and but it isn’t too overwhelming for a membership golfer. The course was designed by Dave Thomas utilizing the pure undulating lie of the land. The par 5 14th gap alongside the River Teviot with the view of the viaduct within the distance, clearly seen from the elevated tee, is the signature gap. There are, nonetheless, many different pleasant conditions requiring ability and course administration with deep bunkers, shallow bunkers by swimming pools and likewise prolonged par fours. In some locations there are lengthy walks from the inexperienced to the subsequent tee mattress however the fantastic thing about the timber, the flowers and the wildlife make them a delight. The course is stored in immaculate situation – all credit score to the inexperienced workers.
The workers on the clubhouse are educated and prepared to assist. They’ve an excellent and tempting inventory of kit and the nineteenth has pleasant snacks and drinks out there for anybody needing refreshment after their spherical. It’s a lengthy course so, while many will take pleasure in this size, some might really feel the necessity for a buggy and there are various out there to help you. You additionally want to permit time for the opposite delights that the lodge has to supply!
For instance, the property is the house of every kind of area sports activities inside the Scottish borders. Each newcomers and consultants can take pleasure in a day trip fly fishing with a totally certified fly caster. Clay goal taking pictures gives a problem of coordination between hand and eye with one-to-one coaching from a certified teacher, while the favored leisure sport of archery can also be out there with instruction in a surprising riverside location inside the grounds of the lodge.
Rides on horseback or bicycle can be found, and jogging and mountaineering will be achieved straight from the lodge. There may be even a map out there for the lodge’s personal woodland stroll which runs alongside a fern-filled path, with thoughtfully positioned water faucets to revive parched throats. And for individuals who take pleasure in a extra leisurely sport, there’s a croquet garden on the entrance of the lodge with mallets out there at reception.
One of many highlights of the spa is the large leisure room with snug beds and chairs the place one can benefit from the atmosphere with buddies or simply chill. The room overlooks the heated outside infinity pool which is heated to 30 levels Centigrade and might subsequently be used all 12 months spherical. Along side the pool is a scorching tub, a plunge pool, an aroma sauna and a Finnish dry sauna giving guests a full spa experince.
The spa teatments are in depth, starting from full massages to stress-free facials. Kim, my magnificence therapist whom I can totally suggest, gave me a really calming rose facial beginning with the inhalaion of frankincense and a head therapeutic massage earlier than she used the great rose scented merchandise which left me feeling fully relaxed and glowing.
There may be additionally a full health suite on supply in addition to a private coach readily available must you want.
Location
Roxburgh is located within the elegant countryside of the Scottish Borders, simply over an hour’s drive from each Edinburgh and Newcastle. There’s a magnificence to the rolling panorama of this area that’s distinctive. Right here you will discover the quaint, fairly market city of Kelso whereby lies the ruined Kelso Abbey, a racecourse and likewise the late 18th Century Flooring Fort – the seat of the Duke of Roxburghe. This has Victorian walled gardens and hosts numerous concert events and occasions. The famed tremendous salmon fishing rivers of the Tweed and Cheviot even have their confluence at Kelso.
SCHLOSS Roxburghe Lodge has a ardour not just for the native Scottish panorama and surroundings but additionally for the area people and its suppliers together with a respect for the tradition of the realm. That is evident in every part in regards to the lodge from the welcome to the departure, guaranteeing that you’re made to really feel very particular.
Different good touches
Throughout our keep, we had been lucky to have the ability to pattern a Burns Evening supper – a really big day for the Scots once they have fun the delivery of their favorite poet when each whisky and the haggis are revered and piped into the restaurant by a piper in full Highland costume. The haggis is handled to its personal tackle each in Gaelic and English.
The meal that night time was conventional with “neeps” (turnips) and “tatties” (potatoes) however there have been loads of fashionable touches with the flavours and presentation – a feast for each the eyes and the abdomen. The complete meal consisted of canapes, cock-a-leekie soup, cullen skink, roast loin of venison with haggis, neeps, tatties and whisky jus. This was adopted by cranachan and petit fours – a pleasant stability of flavours and a real delight of Scottish cooking and elements at their finest.
The lodge is “a particular place for particular moments” the place a staff of workers will take care of every part anybody needs or wants. This may be for a personal perform, enterprise occasion or, in fact, a marriage.
Price
Courtyard rooms begin from £162 per night time.
Property suites begin from £399 per night time.
One of the best bit
While there have been many and assorted highlights to our keep, from the golf to the swimming within the pool and the facial, no doubt that I can’t neglect the Burns Evening supper – the meals, the traditions and the entire atmosphere of the night might be one thing I bear in mind for a very long time. Judging by the variety of very joyful individuals sitting within the eating room that night time, I can’t be the one one.
The ultimate verdict
SCHLOSS Roxburghe actually is a particular place to recharge your batteries – to chill out and be pampered, to participate in pleasurable sports activities, to attempt completely different meals and flavours, and to marvel at and benefit from the stunning untouched nature of the rolling panorama and fascinating historic locations close by. Their mission is to “make you’re feeling good” and every part at SCHLOSS Roxburghe is designed to do exactly that, however above all of the workers absolutely perceive the wants of friends and exit of their approach to make everybody joyful. It’s no marvel that it has change into a resort retreat.
Disclosure: Our keep was sponsored by SCHLOSS Roxburghe, Kelso, Scotland, UK.
