The 8 Best Luxury Hotels In Scotland | Couples Getaway edition
Looking for the best luxury hotels in Scotland? You’ve come to the right place. These are some of the best and most beautiful hotels in Scotland.
By: Lesley Stewart | Updated January 2025 | Handpicked Scotland
When it comes to Scotland, you can easily plan an entire itinerary based around staying in luxury hotels. These boutique stays offer travellers a taste of Scotland’s wilder places and prettiest villages, all wrapped perfectly in an indulgent and chic experience.
Trust me, from design-led interiors and crackling fires to exceptional food and immaculate rooms, these noteworthy Scottish hotels are all worth travelling for. And if, like us, you love staycations, weekend breaks, or unique road trips to stylish stays in breathtaking locations, then I think you’ll agree that the luxury stays listed below are must-stays.
Quick Book | My Top Picks of the Best Luxury Scotland Hotels
Links House at Royal Dornoch, Dornoch: best luxury Highlands stay
Marmalade Hotel, Portree: best luxury island stay
Righ Residences, Edinburgh: best luxury city break stay
Most of our favourite Scottish stays are what we call relaxed luxury: small stays with thoughtful touches, stylish design, and a low-key, cosy vibe that encourages you to sink into relaxation - without the formalities that often accompany the luxury tag.
Most of the hotels I’ve personally visited and loved, though a few remain high on my Scotland bucket list. What each has in common are design-led rooms, beautiful decor, and extra special touches, whether a spa, fine dining restaurant or exceptional facilities.
Ready to book a luxury Scotland escape? Let’s go.
The Best Luxury Hotels In Scotland
Here are our favourite luxury hotels across Scotland, from boltholes in the Highlands to city breaks in Edinburgh:
1. Links House, Dornoch
Links House by Royal Dornoch is a gorgeous luxury hotel in the charming town of Dornoch on Scotland’s East Coast. Scotland’s most northerly luxury hotel, this is the perfect place for a weekend getaway or stayover on the NC500.
We had the pleasure of experiencing Links House at Royal Dornoch on our latest NC500 road trip. The charming and serene Highland oasis truly set a benchmark for an unforgettable experience in the Scottish Highlands. Perched beside the coast, it offers easy access to golden sands and coastal walks, plus the postcard-perfect town with its cafes, bars, and stores.
We instantly fell in love with the cosy-lux rooms at Links House, the immaculate decor, the whisky lounge, and the exceptional dining in the onsite restaurant MARA. When it comes to visiting Scotland’s East Coast, Links House at Royal Dornoch is an incredible option.
With only 34 luxurious rooms across the entire property, Marmalade Hotel offers a very intimate and luxe experience in an idyllic location near Portree. An alluring combination of contemporary architecture and traditional manor house, rooms are beautiful with stunning countryside views and decorated with the cosiest furnishings.
The on-site Chargrill is an incredible eatery focusing on local Skye produce, and the food is some of the best we’ve eaten on our travels around Scotland. Choose a main from the grill (highly recommend the corn-fed chicken) alongside a range of accompanying side dishes like heritage carrots, fermented carrot top pesto, hot honey yoghurt and broccoli with Isle of Mull cheddar espuma and almonds.
Downstairs, the relaxation/spa room is surrounded by lounge chairs with herbal teas, and the outdoor wood-fired sauna offers a relaxing treat.
Check availability and book here.
3. Righ Residences, Edinburgh
If you’re looking for a grown-up city break in the Capital, put this stunning aparthotel at the top of your list. Situated on prestigious George Street, Righ Residences offers contemporary design with a focus on comfort, sumptuous decor, and thoughtful extras.
The location provides a peaceful retreat in the city’s bustling centre, with shopping, historic old town, museums, and dining options on your doorstep. Perfect for those looking for a home-from-home after a day of exploring, all rooms come with mod-cons, fully-equipped kitchens, and exceptional bathrooms with lux toiletries, robes and rainfall showers (I could’ve stayed in the shower for hours!), but if you’re looking for a treat, book one of the suites; complete with balcony, bath tub, and lounge.
Plus, the hotel’s lounge facilities and beautifully designed shared space add an extra touch of relaxation.
4.Glencoe House, Glencoe
A wonderful stay in the heart of the Highlands, luxury Glencoe House is one of the best high-end hotels in Scotland.
Tucked away on a hillside overlooking Loch Leven, the panoramic views are sensational. There are eight suites available, all beautifully decorated and thoroughly elegant. Inside, it is plush and perhaps a little more formal than others on our list - yet Glencoe House is a cosy stay, and its shared lounges allow guests to unwind after exploring. Choose a suite for a five-star hotel experience, including in-room candlelit dining and breakfast. Or a luxurious lodge with a woodburning stove, fully equipped kitchen, private walled garden, hot tubs, and alfresco dining.
If you want to get out and about, there are plenty of opportunities for walks nearby, including the most beautiful hikes, Pap of Glencoe and the West Highland Way trail.
With a history stretching back to the 1600s, Foyers Lodge has been lovingly refurbished and given a luxury upgrade by owners Anna and Philip. This boutique guest house promises guests a stylish escape where they can ‘forget about the hustle and bustle of city living’ and is the perfect base for a peaceful Scottish Highlands break.
Overlooking the quiet south side of Loch Ness and surrounded by stunning mountain scenery, Foyers Lodge delivers big on Highlands luxury. Eight individually styled rooms feature luxuriously cosy beds, rainfall showers and the most gorgeous décor.
Plus, a chic self-catering serviced apartment is ideal for those looking for more space and privacy. Whilst the exquisitely designed public rooms (hello cosy snug) and roaring fires offer a real opportunity to kick back and relax after a day of walking.
This dreamy Highland hideaway is a firm favourite on my staycation wish list!
6. The Torridon, Wester Ross
Tucked away in remote Wester Ross, near the NC500 route, is The Torridon. This high-end hotel boasts seclusion, privacy, and a stunning location. Though family-friendly, I personally think the Torridon is better suited for couples seeking a romantic getaway with touches of relaxed luxury.
This stunning hotel is situated on the shores of Loch Torridon and the surrounding area is true wilderness and mountains, allowing you to really unwind and immerse yourself in the Highland landscape.
Another luxury Highland hotel, though located much further north this time. Lundies House is situated in the Kyle of Tongue, Lairg - just about as far north as it’s possible to go on the Scottish mainland. Here, the landscape is wild, unspoilt and ruled by nature.
Once an old manse, this stylish hotel is perfect for anyone looking to escape to both the countryside and the coast. Featuring a mix of unique loft spaces, studios (I’m obsessed with The Flora) and cosy apartments, the decor is minimalist but luxurious, featuring roll-top bathtubs, vintage velvet chairs, marble showers, and never-ending views across those impressive When it comes to eating, the menu is wonderfully local, with ingredients and produce sourced from the surrounding area.
Lundies House - the perfect basecamp for an adventure on Scotland’s iconic NC500.
8. The Fife Arms, Braemar
The Fife Arms needs little introduction - this boutique, luxury Highlands hotel has become a bucket list destination in its own right. Tucked away in the Cairngorms National Park, it’s the perfect hotel for days spent outdoors - and evenings by a roaring fire, glass of whisky firmly in hand.
There are 46 rooms and suites, each individually decorated and inspired by the surrounding Highland. Rooms are plush, luxe, and grand, with big, comfortable beds. Packed full of art, cosy textiles, and striking decor - this is not a place for minimalists! Onsite, there’s an exceptionally well-stocked whisky bar, a cosy pub serving delicious food, and a dining room showcasing the best in Scottish produce.
Check availability and book here.
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Images kindly provided by Wildland and Emily Sandifer for Foyers Lodge.
