Kiki, the Pet Inspector visits a luxurious hotel which is nestled in the Scottish Borders – less than two hours drive from Edinburgh and Newcastle.
The Low Down
Dating back to 12c and once owned by the Duke of Roxburghe, dog-friendly SCHLOSS Roxburghe hotel has a fairytale feel about it with turrets, big windows and lots of fabulous Arts and Crafts touches that wouldn’t look out of place at a William Morris exhibit. The luxurious hotel is set in a 300-acre country estate in the heart of the Scottish Borders and is perfect for long walks with your best furry friend, with plenty of space for them to roam.
Ideal for golf-loving dog owners, it features the only championship layout in the Scottish Borders designed by the world-renown golf architect, Dave Thomas. One of the most picturesque courses, it winds and meanders around peaceful rivers, streams and enchanting woodland.
For the slightly more adventurous, SCHLOSS Roxburghe is the perfect place to don your Le Chameau’s and enjoy the many country sports available including fishing, stalking, clay pigeon shooting and archery.
There are 78 elegant bedrooms and suites within this historic house as well as new cottages, plus a myriad of traditional features including impossibly grand open fireplaces in the lobby and numerous cosy bars to enjoy a fine wine or nightcap with your furry friend by your side.
The cuisine is exceptional and they are known for their ‘Estate to Plate’ approach. Charlie’s, a fabulous bistro-style restaurant, welcomes your dog to dine with you.
The newly opened spa is incredibly impressive. An idyllic retreat focused on relaxation and rejuvenation, their tailored treatments simply melt the stresses of your day away. Using luxurious Aromatherapy Associates and The Refinery products, their experts will provide dreamy treatments such as a deep tissue golfer’s massage or specialised reflexology.
The Welcome
Our Norfolk Terrier, Kiki, received a wonderful welcome from the reception team and immediately rubbed noses with another canine – which made a fabulous first impression. We were to realise that almost everyone we met had a dog and we would have lovely chats with other dog owners and their furry friends whilst we navigated our way around the extensive grounds.
The Bedrooms
Our bedroom was simply divine! As usual, Kiki was full of excitement as she led the way up the tartan-carpeted stairs to our gorgeous room. The room was very ‘WOW’, modern with lots of traditional touches and a luxurious kingsize four-poster bed. Bright and airy, the lovely windows had glorious views of the grounds, a super large TV, a lounge chair and a writing desk. All of the bedrooms at the hotel are dog-friendly with water bowls, as well as rugs or blankets provided.
The Food
As Kiki had had a very busy day walking around the grounds, we decided to leave her in our room and dine at their newly refurbished gourmet restaurant. Sunlaws offers ingredients sourced wherever possible from the local Kelso area, Scottish Borders or the Estate itself. Executive Head Chef Olivier Borja trained in Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris for 20 years and it certainly shows. We started with a delicious rabbit and pheasant ballotine, devoured pan-seared monkfish for the main course and rounded the meal with a seasonal confit rhubarb – all of which was fabulous. You can dine at the Sunlaws restaurant or Charlie’s dog-friendly bistro which is proving very popular with dog owners. Other options include the charming dog-friendly Bar 1745 – a library bar with a roaring fire where you can enjoy a wee dram of Scottish malt or two.
Pet Perks
SCHLOSS Hotel and Golf is truly dog-welcoming and the staff thoughtfully provide water bowls and blankets. The grounds are a doggy paradise. With 300 acres for your dog to explore and the Spa to visit after a busy day of dog walking, there really is no need to leave this heavenly hotel.
We can’t wait to return!
