Mercure Peebles Barony Castle Hotel

The Highlands are bonny but so are the Borders in bloom.

As the seasons change, 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.

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 large glass of house wine per person (selected from Tempranillo, Shiraz, Merlot, Rioja, Viura, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Zinfandel) 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 (not included in offer).

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 chicken liver and Madeira pâté with onion marmalade and toasted brioche or the king prawn cocktail with cucumber spaghetti and a bloody Mary mayonnaise.

Popular main courses include the pan-fried duck with rosemary polenta and balsamic pickled shallots or the seared escalope of Scottish salmon, served with wilted samphire, sweetcorn blini and parsley Hollandaise.

After eating, guests can enjoy a nightcap in the welcoming Blue Dug 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.

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:

‘From the moment we arrived, we received friendly and efficient service. We had requested a quiet room and that was what we had on the third floor. The room was a bit “tired” but the facilities were excellent and everything was very clean plus we had a lovely view over the drive… Everything was freshly cooked and always served with a smile. Spa facilities are available and the grounds are a delight to explore…’

‘Romantic break. Been here a few times now and its lovely staff are very friendly and helpful . Rooms are very clean, modern and comfortable. Good food menu to suit all. Peaceful surroundings and lovely grounds if you fancy a walk…’

Cosy Borders break

Take up today’s Big Deal with the Mercure Peebles Barony Castle Hotel and you can pretend that you are the Lord and Lady of this enchanting Borders castle.

Just don’t let the other guests overhear you referring to one another as Cinderella and my Prince.