20 of the best places to stay in central and southern Scotland

A leisurely drive through the old estate with splendid mature woods to this spacious mansion, refurbished completely in 2023 with elegant comfortable public rooms and calm contemporary bedrooms. This is the Murray family’s hotel, owned by Sir Andy and his wife, Kim. The revamp and the art curation are impressive (some from Andy’s collection), some from Edinburgh’s Royal Scottish Academy — it’s the best hotel picture hang in central Scotland. No leisure facilities (except, of course, tennis) but there are woods to walk and 3,000 acres of meadows and fishing lochs. House Loch is serenity itself with a private chapel and a fab upstairs billiard room. The chef Darin Campbell’s mod-Brit menu has a hint of the classics about it in the airy conservatory-style