Scotland’s five-star scene spans grand city landmarks and remote Highland castles, so I picked five that show that range — one in each of Edinburgh, Perthshire, Glasgow, the Highlands, and Fife.
Here’s the text-only version:
Top Five-Star Hotels in Scotland
1. The Balmoral, Edinburgh A grand Edwardian landmark at the east end of Princes Street, instantly recognisable by its clock tower. Rooms blend tartan touches with contemporary luxury, and the hotel is home to Michelin-starred dining, a destination spa, and the famous Palm Court for afternoon tea. It’s the classic choice for travellers who want to be in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns, within walking distance of the Royal Mile, Waverley Station, and Princes Street Gardens.
2. Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire An Art Deco country estate set on 850 acres of Perthshire countryside, built originally for golfers and still home to three championship courses. Beyond golf, guests can shoot, fish, fly falcons, or unwind in the spa. Its restaurant, Andrew Fairlie, held two Michelin stars and was one of Scotland’s most celebrated tables. Gleneagles suits travellers after a house-party-style stay — somewhere to settle in for a few days rather than pass through, roughly an hour’s drive from both Edinburgh and Glasgow.
3. Kimpton Blythswood Square, Glasgow The only AA Five Star hotel in Glasgow city centre, set in a grand Georgian townhouse overlooking leafy Blythswood Square gardens. It pairs nearly two centuries of heritage with a warm, contemporary style, an underground destination spa, and a signature restaurant, iasg, championing seasonal Scottish seafood. A relaxed daily wine hour adds a sociable touch. It’s a strong base for exploring Glasgow’s art and music scene, or as a stopover before heading toward the Highlands or Loch Lomond.
4. Inverlochy Castle, Fort William A 19th-century baronial mansion beneath Ben Nevis, widely regarded as one of Scotland’s most romantic country house hotels. Antique-filled rooms, roll-top baths, and views over its own loch and mountains create a quintessential Highland castle experience, while the restaurant serves refined modern Scottish cuisine. Queen Victoria herself once stayed nearby and admired the setting. This is the pick for a genuine remote-Highlands stay — worth building a few days around, given the driving distances to reach it.
5. Fairmont St Andrews, Fife A modern five-star resort on the Fife coastline, close to the historic town of St Andrews, home of golf. Two championship courses sit alongside sweeping North Sea views, a full spa, and several restaurants. It suits travellers who want resort-style comfort with easy access to golf history, coastal walks, and St Andrews’ cobbled streets and university town.
A quick note on choosing between them: The Balmoral and Kimpton Blythswood Square work best if your trip centres on Edinburgh and Glasgow, with day trips into the countryside. Gleneagles and Fairmont St Andrews are the two to pick if golf — or simply a resort base with plenty of activities — is part of the plan. Inverlochy Castle is for travellers prioritising remote Highland scenery over city convenience.
Our private group tours take up to four people to three Outlander filming locations. We also offer bespoke private tours. This tour visits Falkland ( Inverness ) , Doune Castle ( Castle Leoch ) and Blackness Castle ( Fort William ) .
The Kelpies sculptures are the largest works of art in Scotland, and the largest equine sculptures in the world.
Sculptor Andy Scott was on hand for the opening, along with Duke, a Clydesdale horse which was one of the models for the 30m (100ft) works.
More than 1 million people have visited the Kelpies since they were completed in April 2014.
The Kelpies, the centrepiece of the 350-hectare, £43m Helix parkland project, have boosted the local economy by £1.5m per year.
They have won a number of design awards, and were named “Scotland’s national treasure” by the National Lottery.
A £1.8m visitor centre has opened at the attraction .
The pair of sculptures are made from 600 tonnes of steel and more than 10,000 special fixings, and tower over the nearby M9 motorway.
The Kelpies sculptures in Falkirk were open to the public in April 2014 . An exhibition of local schools kids artwork celebrating The Kelpies and The John Muir Way was unveiled by Kelpie artist Andy Scott. The artwork was on display inside The Kelpies for three weeks afterwards for tour guests to admire.
The completion of the £5 million venture marked a significant stage in the £43 million Helix project, which has transformed 865 acres of land between Falkirk and Grangemouth.
Game of thrones castle tour
visit the Game of Thrones castle – Doune Castle – on our unique tour. Visit Doune Castle on a unique private tour of the Game of Thrones Castle in Scotland – Winterfell .
Doune Castle is Winterfell in Game of Thrones and Monty Python’s Holy Grail. Visit Doune Castle on a unique private tour of the Game of Thrones Castle in Scotland – Winterfell . Check availability by phoning us now on 07305-294773 or contact us online . Toll free number 1-866-233-2644
Doune is one of the best preserved medieval castles in Scotland.
Our private group visits five castles used as Outlander film locations. This tour visits Midhope Castle ( Lallybroch ) , Doune Castle ( Castle Leoch ) , Linlithgow Palace (Wentworth Prison ) , Aberdour Castle and Blackness Castle.
the Outlander TV series has filmed in Scotland . One of Outlander’s first scenes was filmed in the picturesque town of Falkland, which stands in for Inverness in the 1940s . The show is based on American author Diana Gabaldon’s series of historical novels, which sees nurse Claire Beauchamp Randell mysteriously swept back from 1945 to 1743 Highland Scotland . Falkland features some familiar sights from the TV series , including Mrs Baird’s Guesthouses (actually the Covenanter Hotel), the Bruce Fountain where Claire comes across the ghost of Jamie, and the building that doubles as Farrell’s Hardware and Furniture Store. Most of the filming will take place in Scotland, according to the show’s executive producer Ron Moore . Scotland’s stunning landscape, with its rolling hills, rugged mountains, picturesque towns and villages, castles and sprawling beaches has provided the perfect backdrop for the world of cinema. The show is based on American author Diana Gabaldon’s series of historical novels, which sees nurse Claire Beauchamp Randell mysteriously swept back from 1945 to 1743 Highland Scotland where rebellion and romance are afoot. Executive Producer Ron Moore has commented on Scotland : “The landscape itself is a character in the show. There’s a particular quality to the light in Scotland, even to the grass and the trees.” Outlander season 2 is expected to premiere sometime in the first half of 2016
The Outlander TV series continues to be a smash hit in the UK and America . Five Scottish castles in particular feature heavily in the story lines – Midhope Castle ( Lallybroch ) , Doune Castle ( Castle Leoch ) , Linlithgow Palace (Wentworth Prison ) , Aberdour Castle ( Sainte Anne de Beaupré’s monastery ) and Blackness Castle ( Fort William army headquarters ) .
1 Midhope Castle – Lallybroch
Those seeking a glimpse of the ancestral home of Jamie Fraser won’t find the real Lallybroch deep in the Highlands.
Scenes were shot at Midhope Castle on the fringes of the Hopetoun Estate near South Queensferry.
Midhope was built in the 15th Century and was built by John Martyne, laird of Medhope. It was rebuilt in the mid 1600s and remains much the same today.
Visitors are asked to admire Midhope from a distance as the interior remains largely derelict.
Our private group visits four unique Scottish castles. This tour visits Drummond Castle and Gardens , Stirling Castle , Doune Castle and Linlithgow Palace
Four ancient Scottish castles feature in this tour – Drummond Castle and Gardens , Stirling Castle , Doune Castle and Linlithgow Palace
1 Drummond Castle and Gardens
Drummond Castle Gardens, near Crieff, Perthshire, doubles as the French royal Palace of Versailles in TV drama Outlander.The grounds, which date back to 1630, are considered “the best example of formal terraced gardens in Scotland”.
Drummond Castle Gardens, which are protected as a category A listed building — in contrast to the B listed castle — already attract thousands of visitors per year, and are included on the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland.The gardens — complete with peacocks — feature ancient yew hedges and the remaining beech tree planted by Queen Victoria in 1842.
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Doune Castle
Originally dating to the 13th Century, Doune Castle near Stirling plays Castle Leoch, home to Colum MacKenzie and his clan in Outlander TV series .
It also features in the 20th century episode when Claire and Frank Randall visit the castle on a day trip.
Once a Royal residence, Doune Castle was rebuilt by Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany in the late 14th Century.
Doune has appeared several times on screen and was widely used in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It also represented the castle Winterfell in Game of Thrones.
Private tours of the Highlands including a visit to Glencoe, Black Mount and Buachaille Etive Mor . Your guide will take you to the best spots for taking pictures of the beautiful scenery of Glencoe and the Highlands .
This photo tour is ideal for beginners/ intermediate photographers . Your photo guide will offer assistance as required with taking pictures.
Our promise – your guide will always be friendly , helpful and informative .
Glencoe – see the stunning scenery of the paps of Glencoe , one of the most impressive peaks in Scotland. Glencoe is a beautiful rocky landscape featuring the Paps of Glencoe – giant mountains of solid rock. In the summer you might hear the piper in the car park playing a lament . When it goes quiet the silence is quite eery . Listen carefully and you might hear the wailing of ghosts from the Massacre of Glencoe. Your guide will take to the two best viewing points in Glencoe . One of the viewing points involves a short walk up the hillside facing the paps of Glencoe .
Kelpies tours, visit the amazing 30 metre high Kelpies in Falkirk
Falkirk tours and transfers, visit the Kelpies and the Falkirk Wheel, two unique attractions connected by the Union Canal
Private tours Edinburgh offer a wide range of tours of Scotland’s castles , film locations and landscapes , visit Outlander , Monty Python and Outlander film locations
Lallybroch castle is the ancestral home of Outlander star Jamie fraser , real life Midhope Castle is just 25 minutes from Edinburgh. Our private group tours take up to four people to three Outlander filming locations. This tour visits Lallybroch – Midhope Castle, Blackness Castle ( Fort William ) and Linlithgow Palace ( Wentworth Prison )
Tours start at 10 am . We also offer bespoke private tours with the option of choosing your own itinerary .
Tours start from locations in Edinburgh or Glasgow .
Normal pickup point is Edinburgh/ Glasgow city centre , your hotel or the airport .
Other pickup points can be arranged .
Lallybroch – Midhope Castle, ancestral home of Jamie Fraser
Linlithgow Palace – Wentworth Prison
Blackness Castle
half day Outlander tour
Take in unique views of three historic castles featured in Outlander
Small private group tour with up to of four people
SCOTLAND’S capital city has been revealed as the number one ‘hot spot’ for hotel development in the UK in a report by property firm Colliers International.
“The continuing growth in passenger numbers at Edinburgh Airport, alongside the ongoing worldwide popularity of Edinburgh as a ‘festival city’, is a further indicator of its strength.”
Edinburgh came out on top in the company’s UK Hotels Market Index, a study of 34 locations across the UK which ascertains the best performing towns and cities for hotel growth and acquisitions across the country.
Up four places from the previous year, Edinburgh placed first due to robust occupancy levels and average daily rate growth, causing a fourth straight year of rising revenue per available room.
According to the report, the average daily rate in the capital rose from £94 in 2016 to £103 in 2017, while 2111 new rooms are expected to enter the city’s hotel market over the next two years.
Alistair Letham, a director in the UK hotels agency team at Colliers International in Scotland, said: “Apart from London, Edinburgh is the most popular city for visitors in the UK. “It is therefore of little surprise that this is reflected in the popularity of Edinburgh as a hot-spot for hotel development.
“This is further augmented by Edinburgh’s role as an important commercial, financial and political centre, which helps drive demand.
The report also demonstrated consistent year-on-year growth for the UK sector with revenue per available room increasing by 3.8%.
Glasgow was the only other Scottish location to feature in the report’s top ten hot spots for hotel development and investment.
Scotland’s largest city was named fifth in the market for hotel performance in relation to the costs of development.
a taxi from Edinburgh to St Andrews costs from £80 daytime.
Save 25% on transfers from Edinburgh to St Andrews
Transfers from Edinburgh Airport to St Andrews can be booked on 07576-127097 or contact us online . Airport taxis offers a professional transfer service from Edinburgh to St Andrews . Our fares are 25% below standard local Edinburgh tariffs. Call us now on freephone 0800-6190575 for a fixed price quote or to make a booking. International customers can contact us online to make an enquiry or a booking .
Airport Taxis Edinburgh transfers customers throughout Scotland with a reliable 24 hour service. Business customers can prepay by credit card. For more information and bookings phone 07576-127097 24 hours.
Taxi fares can be prepaid by credit card.
Edinburgh Airport taxis from Edinburgh to St Andrews
Professional transfer service to all the major cities of Scotland. Call us now on freephone 0800-6190575 for a fixed price quote or to make a booking. We accept bookings from international customers contact us online .
Transfers from Edinburgh to Glasgow Airport
Transfers from Edinburgh to Glasgow Airport can be booked on 07576-127097. Airport taxis offers a professional transfer service from Glasgow to Edinburgh . Our fares are 25% below standard local Edinburgh tariffs. Call us now on freephone 0800-6190575 for a fixed price quote or to make a booking. International customers can contact us online to make an enquiry or a booking .
Airport Taxis
The company transfers customers throughout Scotland with a reliable 24 hour service. Business customers can prepay by credit card. For more information and bookings phone 07576-127097 24 hours.
Transfers to all the major cities of Scotland including Glasgow, Perth, Linlithgow , Stirling, Falkirk , Dundee and St Andrews. Taxi fares can be prepaid by credit card.
Edinburgh Airport taxis
Professional transfer service to all the major cities of Scotland. Low cost transfers. Call us now on freephone 0800-6190575 for a fixed price quote or to make a booking. We accept bookings from international customers
Book a taxi from Falkirk to Edinburgh Airport
The Moxy hotel is a brand new hotel which has just opened at Edinburgh Airport.
Moxy Hotels brand celebrates its third Scottish launch in two years.
The hotel chain, a Marriott International brand , the 230-room Moxy Edinburgh Airport opened on 23 January and will create 36 jobs.The hotel’s design will be book-themed, inspired by the Scottish capital’s Unesco’s Cities of Literature status.
This will be the brand’s sixth UK site and is set to be followed by a second Edinburgh hotel in the Fountainbridge area in 2020. The chain’s first city-centre location in the UK was launched last month, when it opened the doors to Moxy Glasgow Merchant City and there is also a Moxy Aberdeen Airport.
The Edinburgh Airport hotel will be led by Fiona Mackenzie, who was recently been appointed to the role of “captain”, the brand’s take on a general manager position.
Ayrshire-born Mackenzie has more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, including at prominent sites such as Turnberry, One Devonshire, Inverlochy Castle and Cromlix.
Mackenzie said: “Edinburgh Airport is the perfect location to launch Moxy’s playful spirit and bring something different to the plethora of hotels that are here. The brand has quickly gained a reputation for offering something edgy and distinct. We intend to stand out from the crowd.”
En suite rooms at the Moxy (there are 230 of them in total) have everything you could need of an airport hotel, sleek lighting, clean lines, free wifi and most importantly, supremely comfortable beds. All of which could be experienced later. Now it was time to dump the bags and get back to the blossoming party, in part being fuelled by Copperhead Gin. Named after a notorious alchemist in search of the elixir of life, the ‘alchemist’s gin’ as it’s labelled is based on five essential botanicals – angelica, juniper, cardamom, orange peel and coriander seed. Those subtle flavours make for a nicely refreshing Gin and Tonic. Already available in a number of hotels in the Capital, watch for Copperhead popping up in more venues around the city quite soon. “Anything can happen at Moxy…” was the reply when I asked about the ethos of the place. Within reason obviously. The millennial-focused boutique hotel brand, designed for ‘today’s hyper-connected, techy global traveller’ ensures a great atmosphere and fun vibe. That said, Bowie, Conan Doyle, James Bond as well as a whole host of famous faces from across the decades feature in the books and LPs randomly scattered around the shelves.
Read more at: https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/entertainment/liam-rudden-moxy-hotel-is-cool-for-cats-just-avoid-the-freaky-dogs-1-4862751
Transfers from Edinburgh to Glasgow Airport
Transfers from Edinburgh to Glasgow Airport can be booked on 07576-127097. Airport taxis offers a professional transfer service from Glasgow to Edinburgh . Our fares are 25% below standard local Edinburgh tariffs. Call us now on freephone 0800-6190575 for a fixed price quote or to make a booking. International customers can contact us online to make an enquiry or a booking .
Airport Taxis
The company transfers customers throughout Scotland with a reliable 24 hour service. Business customers can prepay by credit card. For more information and bookings phone 07576-127097 24 hours.
Transfers to all the major cities of Scotland including Glasgow, Perth, Linlithgow , Stirling, Falkirk , Dundee and St Andrews. Taxi fares can be prepaid by credit card.
Edinburgh Airport taxis
Professional transfer service to all the major cities of Scotland. Low cost transfers. Call us now on freephone 0800-6190575 for a fixed price quote or to make a booking. We accept bookings from international customers contact us online .
St Andrews , Scotland is a great place for a vacation , not least because of the range of top quality hotels in the town . There are many cheap hotel deals available in a wide range of hotels .
The hotels in St Andrews , Scotland are just as good as establishmenst in capital cities such as London, Paris, Berlin , Madrid and Edinburgh.
Europe is a great place for a vacation , not least because of the range of world class hotels available to the visitor . There are many cheap hotel deals available in a wide range of hotels .
Capital cities London, Paris, Berlin , Madrid and Edinburgh feature a wide range of hotels from 2 star to 5 star .
hobbycations is the latest buzz word in travel trends, it’s a combination of a hobby and a vacation , sounds like fun
hobbycations flip the usual travel question from “where should I go?” to “what do I want to get better at?” — and that shift appears to be picking up real momentum.
The UK is a great place for a vacation , not least because of the range of world class hotels available to the visitor . There are many cheap hotels discounts available in a wide range of hotels .
Capital cities London and Edinburgh feature a wide range of hotels from 2 star to 5 star .
