Greywalls

Greywalls Hotel

Overlooking the world famous greens of the ninth and eighteenth holes at Muirfield championship golf course, it is no surprise that the five star Greywalls Hotel has earned a reputation as a golfers’ paradise. Designed by the celebrated Edwardian architect Sir Edwin Lutyens and built in 1901, it was originally a holiday home for the Hon. Alfred Lyttelton.

A keen golfer, Lyttelton insisted that the house be built ‘within a mashie niblick shot of the eighteenth green at Muirfield’. In fact, Muirfield is just one of several nearby courses. This East Lothian hotel is within five miles of ten golf courses.

As well as the elegant drawing rooms and delightful dining areas, the house has 23 en suite bedrooms. The secluded property retains all of its considerable period charm while offering the mod cons which the 21st century traveller expects.

The beautiful walled gardens are attributed to Gertrude Jekyll and contain a hard and grass tennis court, croquet lawn and putting green as well as borders filled with herbaceous plants.

Chez Roux, the award-winning restaurant at Greywalls Hotel is the brainchild of super chef Albert Roux. He describes his dishes as ‘French classical cuisine with a flair and lightness, using local product as much as possible.’

Greywalls is a member of The Collection, a group of small, luxury hotels under the management of ICMI. Put simply, this Scottish Edwardian country house is an enchanting spot from which to enjoy the East Coast.

Beautifully proportioned rooms

All 23 of the ensuite bedrooms at Greywalls are unique and each has its own décor and antique furnishings.

Most rooms enjoy uninterrupted views either over Muirfield and the Firth of Forth, or over the gardens and the gentle rolling farmland to the Lammermuir Hills.

In addition to the rooms in the main house, there are four large and two small double rooms in the Greywalls cottages, located approximately 100 yards from the main building.

Dining

Spread across four rooms, including a Whisky room and Sunroom, Chez Roux can offer menus and settings to suit the occasion, season or time-of day.

The menus change with the seasons. Typical main courses might be the roast tournedos of Skrie cod and North Berwick crab salad with cauliflower and winter truffle or the roasted Perthshire squab pigeon with pigeon leg Bolognaise, diamond vegetables and liquorice broth.

The service matches that of the hotel; welcoming yet refined, attentive yet unobtrusive.

See and do

We have mentioned that Greywalls Hotel has much to offer the golfer. Of course, being familiar with a mashie niblick is not a cast iron requirement for enjoying Greywall’s charms. The area round the hotel is fantastic for coastal walks, wildlife watching and exploring castles such as Tantallon. The capital city of Edinburgh is a 30 minute drive.

Or you could just stay at the hotel and enjoy the gardens. An early evening drink on the lawns is always popular in the summer. As is afternoon tea in the Summer House Tea Room. A game of tennis on the private tennis court, croquet on the lawn or a friendly game of putting, overlooking the Firth of Forth, are all included when making a reservation for afternoon tea.

For the ultimate in relaxation, it is possible to book a private therapist who will come to the hotel to deliver complementary therapies.