Dalhousie Castle ★★★★

As far as the eye can reach is a sea of green tree tops, with occasionally a deep rift where there is a chasm…

Unlike the Transylvanian fortress of Dracula, the Dalhousie Castle is easily accessible by road, yet does offer an uncanny feel of being cut off from civilisation once you are inside the grounds. These are vast and wooded, situated on the banks of the River Esk that rushes by offering up some of Scotland’s finest sea trout and salmon during the right seasons, which you can try your hand at catching on a fishing trip provided by the hotel.

…Here and there are silver threads where the rivers wind in deep gorges through the forests…

For fishing is just one of the traditional country pursuits you can partake in during your time here. Scotland is ever proud of its gorgeous outdoors, and indulges in it as much as possible, with Dalhousie Castle combining ancient sports like archery or falconry with more modern aristocratic activities like clay-pigeon shooting. You can even go horse riding at the nearby stables and, trust me, there is nothing quite like sinking into a steaming Jacuzzi or sweating it out in a sauna after an hour’s hard riding in the brisk Scottish air. Here, both are possible, with the castle’s own fantastic spa always there to soothe away your aches and pains.

…There are many odd things to put down, and, lest who reads them may fancy that I dined too well…

Here, you risk dining extremely well, and in the most unique of settings. While the castle is thoroughly modern, warm and comfortable, it does retain an ancient charm. In the bedrooms, the sumptuous tapestries and rugs carry tartan themes and the bare stone walls make you feel like a princess waking up in her fairytale castle. The restaurant, though, is even more spectacular. As you leave the carpeted corridor, you descend an ancient twisting stone stairway down to an atmospheric dungeon, all candlelit and filed with suits of armour. The food is heavenly and the wine ever-flowing, though, transforming this once dark gloomy space into a jolly, festive banquet hall!

With all this on offer at the hotel, you would be forgiven for never venturing out of its grounds, yet Edinburgh is just 20 minutes away, incredibly, with its fantastic sights, shopping and music all waiting to give you a different vision of Scotland.