Frommer's Review
This is one of the great country houses of Scotland, the ancestral home of the Smollets. Its most distinguished son was Tobias Smollet, the 18th-century novelist whose humorous works have been read around the world. Over the years the house has been visited by such illustrious guests as the emperor of Brazil, Sir Winston Churchill, Princess Margaret, and Earl Mountbatten. Literary celebrities have also shown up at the doorstep, none more famous than Dr. Samuel Johnson and his indefatigable biographer, James Boswell. Dr. Johnson later wrote, "We have had more solid talk in this house than in any other place where we have been."
Today this house has been converted into top-rated accommodations, with one of the best spas in this part of Scotland. The resort also contains some of the finest indoor leisure facilities in the area. The smallest rooms are called "house rooms," with standard rooms being slightly larger and better. Best of all are the spacious suites, furnished with four-poster beds. All rooms are nonsmoking. Many of the furnishings are in the traditional Georgian style, with dark mahogany pieces set against floral bathrooms, some of which have tub/shower combinations, others either a tub or a shower.
Children are warmly welcomed and the hotel has a supervised playroom where parents can leave kids for a couple of hours while they relax in the gorgeous lagoon pool or the spa. The Scottish and French cuisine served in the Georgian Room is among the most refined in this part of Scotland. You can also dine informally in two other restaurants. Many sporting adventures, ranging from golf to fishing to private yacht parties, can be arranged.
Facilities:
3 restaurants; bar; indoor heated pool; golf course; health club; spa; marina; watersports equipment/rentals; children's center; room service; babysitting; laundry service; dry cleaning; steam room; Turkish bath; nonsmoking rooms
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
