The Highlands are bonny but so are the Borders in bloom.
As summer begins to blossom, the Borders come into their own and, whisper it, they are often rather less busy than some of the Highland hot spots.
Escape the city and enjoy a breath of fresh air in the Borders with today’s Big Deal on an overnight stay for two at the Mercure Peebles Barony Castle Hotel.
Located near Peebles, just seventeen miles south of Edinburgh and within easy reach of Glasgow, the hotel is very convenient for a relaxing break.
With this offer valid to the end of October 2017, it could be used for a relaxing summer getaway or, as the leaves start to turn, a romantic autumn break.
Nothing beats a castle for that frisson of romance and this hotel provides a great base from which to explore one of Scotland’s most colourful regions.
A la carte dinner
Option one is for two people to have one night in a double or twin room with a full Scottish breakfast in the morning.
Option two is for two people to have an overnight stay in a double or twin room with a full Scottish breakfast the next morning. This option also includes a £28 per person food spend to be used in the hotel’s restaurant, Thomson’s at the Castle.
Both offers are available seven days a week and include a late check out to 11am. All guests can look forward to making full use of the hotel’s thermal spa experience and leisure facilities.
This offer also includes a bespoke watermelon cocktail and canapés for all guests.
There is a £20 supplements for Friday night stays and £30 for Saturday nights.
16th century tower house
Now privately owned, Mercure Peebles Barony Castle Hotel was originally a 16th century tower house built by the Murrays of Blackbarony.
Sitting pretty in 25 acres of lush gardens, the grand exterior still looks like a fairytale castle but the Barony has been considerably altered since then.
Not least in the introduction of all the modern comforts which you would expect to find in a 21st century hotel.
There is free WiFi in all of the hotel’s 78 ensuite rooms along with satellite TV, a hair drier and a hot drinks tray.
A continuing refurbishment program keeps the premises looking their best.
Thermal Spa
Guests can enjoy full use of the hotel’s leisure facilities including the thermal spa.
Featuring a ten metre swimming pool, heated loungers, experience showers, swan necks, sauna and a spa bath, it’s the perfect place to melt away the stress of everyday life.
From body polishes to facials and massages, the hotel’s team of spa therapists also offers a relaxing range of spa treatments using top quality skincare products.
Local produce, seasonal menus
The kitchens at Mercure Peebles Barony Castle Hotel are run by Chef William Thomson, a man with a good track record of winning AA Rosettes for the restaurants he works in.
The menu in Thomson’s at the Castle, is seasonal and makes the best use of local produce. All dishes are cooked to order from fresh ingredients.
Typical starters might be the West Coast moules marinière or the goat cheese mousse with beetroot popcorn and snippets of fruit toast.
Popular main courses include the saddle of Lowland roasted with garlic and herbs or the marinated breast of tandoori chicken.
After eating, guests can enjoy a nightcap in the welcoming bar.
A new addition to Barony Castle, the Murray Lounge has three 58” flat screen TVs – perfect for viewing multiple sporting events – and use of a PlayStation 4 and Xbox. Food and beverages are served from the Blue Dug Bar.
Happy guests
Previous guests have been very enthusiastic with the hotel staff often receiving special mention for the warmth of their welcome. This is what a couple of recent guests had to say on TripAdvisor:
‘Lovely break. Spent a very enjoyable overnight stay at the Barony Castle. Food, staff and accommodation were excellent. The hotel was being refurbished while we were there but this did not detract from the enjoyment of the stay.’
‘Excellent stay. We had a very pleasant stay here. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The breakfast was a true Scottish breakfast that was absolutely delicious. The hotel is in need of renovations but they are actively making efforts to improve. There was some construction going on during our visit but nothing to detract from having a nice stay.’
These are from the hotel’s Facebook page:
‘Excellent location… good leisure facilities and first class dinner last night. Good wine choices. All staff were very helpful. Will definitely return and recommend to anyone to stay there.’
‘Lovely hotel, quiet and tranquil. Food is excellent.’
‘Lovely, friendly staff. Beautiful grounds . Very peaceful.’
Summer in the Borders
Take up today’s Big Deal with the Mercure Peebles Barony Castle Hotel and pretend that you are the Lord and Lady of this enchanting Borders castle.
At least for one summer’s night.