Scotland -
Bagpipe festival
What makes the Royal
Mile so attractive for sightseeing is its vitality and bustle, the colorful
stores, kilt makers, and many inviting cafes and pubs. It is quite different
than a walk through the classical New Town that has won Edinburgh the title
of "the Athens of the north."
But what would Edinburgh
be today without its Festival started in 1947? More than two million visitors
come to the city between mid August and early September for the biggest
cultural event in the world with its definite high point being the Military
Tattoo with its Last Post played on the Scottish bagpipes. An other specialty
is "The Fringe", an alternative festival with both organized and spontaneous
performances in the street, in parks, and small theaters in cellars by
creative people from throughout the world.
The festival has also
changed the culinary scene because for some time now one can eat better
in the university and port city of Edinburgh than virtually anywhere else
in this island kingdom. It is certainly so that the pubs are still as sociable
as they have always been with a guarantee of the Scottish sense of tradition.
For centuries the inhabitants
of Scotland have been building fortifications and strongholds of one kind
or another. It wasn't long before magnificent castles sprung up, their
glorious towers reaching for the heavens. It seems that anyone who could
afford this sort of protection for their families and forces made sure
that they had it. It has been estimated that there were once about 3 000
castles Scotland. Of course, these buildings differed in size, condition
and purpose, yet they all served a very real purpose. Many of these have
disappeared over time and others have become crumbling ruins, but whatever
their condition they stand as a silent witness to times gone by.
Scotland Hotels
Archiestown Hotel and
Bistro
Speyside. South-East
of Inverness in the heart of the Highlands, surrounded by malt whisky distilleries
on the Malt Whisky Trail. Superb bistro restaurant.
The Boat Hotel and Restaurant
Boat of Garten. Also
South-East of Inverness in the heart of the Highlands, near Loch Garten
Osprey nature reserve, and Aviemore. Excellent golf, and a superb restaurant.
The Caddon View Hotel
A warmly welcoming and
comfortable small hotel with an emphasis on good food. In Innerleithen,
near Peebles, 32 miles south of Edinburgh.
Cavens Country House Hotel
Country house dating
from 1752, secluded in 6 acres of gardens south of Dumfries in South West
Scotland. Bed and breakfast, optional dinner, also house parties and shooting
parties. Good food.
The Cross Keys Hotel
In one of the prettiest
squares in Scotland, this-family run Georgian Coaching Inn in Kelso, south
of Edinburgh, has excellent accommodation and also conference facilities.
Culzean Castle - Scotland
The Eisenhower Apartment
- Top floor accommodation of this storybook cliff-edge castle given to
President Eisenhower on behalf of the people of Scotland. An exclusive
hotel of 6 bedrooms for discerning travellers.
Dunalastair Hotel
The Dunalstair Hotel
at Loch Rannoch is a genuine Highland hotel with Scottish Highlands hospitality;
warm, friendly and informal, with comfortable accommodation and excellent
food. Trout fishing.
The Horse and Hound Country
Inn
In the small village
of Bonchester Bridge near Hawick and Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders south
of Edinburgh. A cosy 300 year old 10 bedroom Inn with good traditional
pub food and atmosphere.
The Inn at Lathones
near St Andrews, Fife
Traditional small hotel
of 14 bedrooms originally a Coaching Inn dating from the 16th century.
Only 5 miles from St Andrews. Real ales, fine restaurant with award winning
chef.
Kinloch Lodge
Isle of Skye
Romantically situated
on the edge of the sea, a perfect small hotel owned and run by world renowned
cookery writer Claire Macdonald and Lord Macdonald of Macdonald. Voted
one of the top 100 hotels in the world.
Knockomie Hotel
A mile from Forres, four
miles from the Moray Coast and the village of Findhorn, near Inverness.
An Arts and Crafts style hotel with traditional Highland Scottish hospitallity
and contemporary flair. Excellent 2 AA rosette restaurant, bistro. Ideal
for touring castles, golf, whisky, meetings or pampered relaxation.
Lerags House
Just South of Oban, a
small Georgian hotel set among trees with garden and grounds going down
to the water's edge of Loch Feochan a few mile south of Oban on the West
coast of Scotland. Good food.
Muckrach Lodge Hotel and
Restaurant
Former Highland sporting
lodge near Grantown on Spey, now a relaxed and informal hotel with excellent
service, and a renowned restaurant specialising in fish, game and fresh
natural produce from "the finest natural larder in Europe."
Old Pines, Small Hotel
and Restaurant
Near Spean Bridge, Ben
Nevis and Fort William, West coast Highlands.
Fine Scottish cuisine,
A small relaxed family-run hotel in a beautiful Highland setting sheltered
by pines and surrounded by moorland.
The Peat Inn, Restaurant
with Rooms
near St Andrews, Fife.
One of the finest restaurants
in Scotland. The atmosphere is refined but friendly and relaxed. All is
dedicated to the unhurried and unpretentious enjoyment of good food and
wine. 5 star luxury accommodation.
The Royal at Tighnabruaich
On the seashore at Tighnabruaich,
overlooking the Kyles of Bute, 1.5 hours west of Glasgow. 11 bedroom boutique
hotel with a growing reputation for good food. Seafood locally caught.
Bed and breakfast, optional highly recommended dinner; Restaurant or Brasserie.
The Sandford Country House
Hotel
Arts and Crafts Hotel
secluded in 7 acres of lush gardens on top of a wooded hill with views
over rural Fife to the River Dee, about 5 miles from Dundee and 10 from
St Andrews. Excellent food.
Trigony House Hotel
Edwardian Country House
Hotel 12 miles north of Dumfries, South West Scotland. Family run hotel
with a growing reputation for good food. Emphasis on game, fish and organically
grown ingredients. Country sports arranged.
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