Balbirnie House

Dreamy and romantic hotel

With its 18th century elegance, dreamy rooms and 400 acres of parkland, it is safe to say that Balbirnie House is one of Europe’s most romantic hotels. And what’s more, it’s got the awards to prove it. Named Scotland’s Wedding Hotel of the Year a record breaking 12 times in a row, it also won the title of Europe’s Best Romantic Hotel at the Haute Grandeur Global Awards in 2017. Maybe that’s why it has become a pilgrimage destination for couples wanting to pin special “forever locks” to the hotel’s very own lover’s fence.

Situated in Lomond Hills Regional Park with 400 acres of gardens and parkland to explore, this lovely country house escape also offers a fine dining restaurant, brasserie, drawing room and original library bar. If you are a golf enthusiast, then the Balbirnie Park course is just a five-minute walk away.

The hotel is around an hour’s drive from both Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Elegant rooms

Each of Balbirnie House’s 31 guest rooms and suites is individually decorated in delicate pastel and neutral shades. All share the same airy charm of contemporary comforts blended with 18th century flourishes.

Every room is ensuite with a TV, phone, broadband internet and tea & coffee making facilities. Deluxe and four-poster rooms offer the added perks of king sized beds, parkland views and complimentary mineral water.

Choice of fine or casual dining

You have a choice of two restaurants at Balbirnie House. For a fine dining experience, head to The Orangery, voted one of Scotland’s five most romantic restaurants by The Scotsman. This gorgeous glass ceilinged space is decorated in shades of copper, silver and chocolate and has become one of Fife’s special destination restaurants. Offering classic and contemporary Scottish cuisine, the relaxed, informal service means that you can sit back and unwind over your meal.

Menus shift with the seasons, but sample starters include the goat’s cheese cheesecake, the wood pigeon with spelt & roasted onion risotto and the smoked salmon roulade. Mains might feature the pan-seared fillet of sea trout, the piri piri chicken breast and the cheese & roasted butternut squash ravioli, as well as a selection of steaks from the grill. For dessert, expect temptations such as the caramelised banana tart, the Baileys crème brûlée and the strawberry prosecco cheesecake verrine.

For casual dining, head to the stylishly rustic Balbirnie Brasserie, which serves many of the same dishes as The Orangery.

Fabulous Fife

Balbirnie House is situated in Lomond Hills Regional Park in Glenrothes, just a ten-minute drive from Fife. Nearby attractions include the Scottish Deer Centre, Dunfermline Abbey and Deep Sea World. You might also want to explore Falkland Palace, home of the Stuart Monarchs, or take a vintage steam train ride on the Fife Heritage Railway.