Fabulous Cringletie House is the perfect

ONE of the joys of Scotland is how quickly you can find yourself in the countryside from a city centre.

Another delight is the high standard of hotels that inhabit some of the country’s most historic and grandest buildings.

In the midst of a long, cold March, we escaped to Cringletie House near Peebles for a midweek pick-me-up and our mood was immediately brightened by the mass of snowdrops that tracked the long driveway up to the hotel.

By now the daffodils will be in bloom, but regardless of the time of year, the care given to Cringletie’s gardens ensures they will always be full of colour. Located just 15 miles south of Edinburgh and two miles north of the Royal Burgh of Peebles, the hotel consists of 12 unique bedrooms and one suite, as well as two bedrooms in Ardean spa cottage.

Winner of the AA Hotel of the Year 2013-14 and awarded a four-star rating from the Scottish Tourist Board, the building’s history can be traced back to 1666, when Sir Alexander Murray of Black Barony built a house for one of his sons.

That version was knocked down 200 years later and replaced in 1863 with the version still with us today.

Relaxation was the order of the day and a relaxed approach – but no less efficient – is Cringletie’s policy, too.

After a friendly check-in, we made our way to our room, Melrose, which boasted bay windows with views over the garden, a four-poster bed and lots of Charles Rennie Mackintosh furnishings.

It was spacious, homely and the complimentary mini decanter of whisky was a nice touch.

After a drink in the snug bar, it was time for dinner.

The dining room is one of the most lavish parts of the house. There is a huge mural on the ceiling of the former drawing room and paintings decorate the walls.

Near a roaring fire, the three-course meal was beautiful.

There are plenty of woodland walks around the 28-acre estate, as well as croquet and pitch and putt. There is also a walled garden, which dates back to 1660. In the summer, vegetables grown there are used by the kitchen.

After exploring the grounds the next morning, we took