Scotland Now’s Alexander Smail recently headed to Thainstone House in Aberdeenshire.
Scotland is home to countless hotels, which vary massively in quality and amenities. While some lower-cost options provide little more than a place to sleep, others are geared towards luxurious stays and feature a wider range of facilities.
Scotland Now’s Alexander Smail recently spent two nights at Thainstone House in Aberdeenshire, just outside of the town of Inverurie. The 18th century building is set within 44 acres of grounds, and is home to 48 guest rooms, an AA Rosette-awarded restaurant, and a spa and fitness centre.
Alexander spent two nights in total at the hotel, during which he was able to sample many of its amenities. He enjoyed breakfast and dinner at its two dining venues, took a dip in its swimming pool, and sampled both its indoor and outdoor hot tubs.
Continue reading to find out how Alexander got on at Thainstone House in Aberdeenshire. More information about the hotel and its facilities can be found on Booking.com.
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Earlier this month, I had some time off from work and wanted to spend the break visiting somewhere new in Scotland. There are no shortage of destinations around the country I want to head to, but living in Edinburgh I was keen to go somewhere up north.
There were a few places in the north of Scotland that I was deciding between, but I eventually settled on Thainstone House just outside of Inverurie in Aberdeenshire. It looked like the perfect rural spot for a Christmassy getaway this winter.
When it came time to head off, me and my partner made the long journey from Edinburgh up to Aberdeenshire. The weather was grey for most of the trip, but we were treated to some great views out across the North Sea as we drove up along the coast.
When we finally reached Thainstone House, my first thoughts were very positive. Hidden away up a long driveway, the small-but-magnificent hotel was exactly what I was picturing in my mind for a relaxing staycation up north.
Arriving at around 4pm, the winter sun was starting to set but I still managed to get a good look around the grounds before heading inside. The hotel is surrounded by lovely rolling lawns and tranquil woodland, and I can imagine it’s a popular destination over the summer.
My initial impressions of Thainstone House’s interior were maybe even more positive than the outside. Stepping inside, I was greeted with a luxurious front hall with a grand stairway leading up to the lobby—with antlers and old photographs sitting on the walls alongside festive decor.
While it was bone-chillingly cold outside, it wasn’t long before I warmed up thanks to the toasty fires and homey furniture. After a quick check-in with a friendly receptionist, we were given our keys and guided upstairs to our bedroom.
It was on the way to the room that I came across perhaps my favourite part of Thainstone House’s interiors. Sitting in the cosy lounge next to the grand staircase up to the guest rooms was a huge Christmas tree with dazzling lights that instantly put me in the festive mood.
Walking up the staircase, we soon reached our room—and my first impression was once again highly positive. We paid for a deluxe king room, and I’m glad we did because it was perfect.
Obviously, the star of the show was the huge king-sized bed that I still miss since returning home to my double. There was also a spacious seating area and a TV, while the bathroom included a shower over bath and complimentary toiletries.
By the time we settled in, it was too dark and wet to do much sightseeing so we headed straight for Thainstone House’s leisure centre. The hotel is home to a heated indoor swimming pool, as well as a steam room, a sauna, and both indoor and outdoor hot tubs.
When I stepped into the pool, I was taken aback by how beautiful it was—from the blue tiles that adorned the walls to the huge skylight on the roof. I will say though that it is one of the shallower pools that I have been in, which didn’t bother me but is something to bear in mind.
I was able to sample both the poolside jacuzzi and the hot tub and while both had their advantages, the latter really blew me away. From the customisable lights and jet settings to the lovely contrast of the hot water to the chilly outdoor weather, I could have stayed in there all day.
After spending some time in the sauna and steam room, we made our way back to our room feeling relaxed and refreshed. By this point, I was definitely feeling a bit peckish so we headed down to the Stockman’s Bar for dinner.
The venue was perfectly nice, but it did feel like a bit of step down from how lovely everything else in the hotel was. It was a bit dark in my opinion, and the TVs on the walls playing sports and game shows felt a bit at odds with the opulent vibe of the rest of the hotel.
Thankfully, the food on the first night of our stay more than made up for it. My gnocchi with sun blushed tomatoes and toasted almonds was warming and pillowy, albeit a bit small in size, while my partner’s fish and chips were—and I quote—”five out of five”.
However, jumping ahead to the second night, we both thought there was a slight drop in quality when it came to the food. We shared a bowl of broth for the starter and ordered the house burger and the roast chicken supreme and while none of it was bad at all, it didn’t quite wow us.
My burger was definitely good and I couldn’t find a major fault, but I would be lying if I said it was one of the better burgers I’ve ever had. I also tried my partner’s chicken dish, and while the mash was perfectly creamy the meat itself was just okay.
What I also found a bit of a shame come morning is that only breakfast was served in the hotel’s Green Lady Restaurant, which no exaggeration is one of the most beautiful restaurants I have ever seen. From its tasteful pistachio green walls and historic artwork to the incredible views out over the grounds, it made me feel like I was in a Jane Austen novel.
It was only after I returned home that I learned that dinner is only served in the Green Lady on weekends, while I visited during the week. It is a real shame that I wasn’t able to dine in the venue in the evening, as I think it would have looked even more opulent after dark.
The food itself was perfectly pleasant, though I’m admittedly not much of a breakfast eater. I enjoyed some pancakes and berries while my partner ordered a full Scottish that was apparently very tasty.
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Overall, my slight niggles with the dining aside, I can’t recommend Thainstone House highly enough. The room and spa facilities were amazing and if you stay during the weekend you are bound to love eating dinner in the Green Lady Restaurant.
As I walked out of Thainstone House for the final time, I was frustrated to see clear skies for the first time during the trip. While I would have liked to have visited the hotel when the sun was shining, it did let me capture some lovely photos of the 18th century building before heading home.
My visit to Thainstone House was my first stay at a hotel in as long as I can remember. All in all, I couldn’t have asked for a better two nights, and would definitely return.
