The moment you approach the entrance of the 240-acre estate, you feel like you’re in a dream. Driving along its long private road, your eyes will instantly gravitate to the the well-manicured golf course and at the end, you’ll find a grand 13th century baronial country house hotel tucked within the picturesque Aberdeenshire Countryside.
Meldrum House offers a variety of accommodations for guests to select from, all with Scottish interior design at heart. I was curious to experience a variety of them and so for a few nights, I stayed in The Manor House.
My last couple of nights, I stayed in The New Wing with golf course views from the floor to ceiling windows. Both of the rooms were wonderful and unique in their own ways!
The high teas at Meldrum House are legendary. I enjoyed sipping on fine tea while indulging in homemade sweet and savory bites. The atmospheric outdoor domes added a futuristic ambiance to the old world estate. They are quite high tech and luxurious with wooden flooring, tailor-made furniture, and a Bluetooth music system. It was especially nice to have a Jet Focus Control, allowing one to warm or cool the domes dependent on the Scottish season.
When it comes to cuisine, Meldrum House has a variety of options. Each morning, I looked forward to the breakfast that was included in our stay. The menu included fine items like Scottish smoked salmon with scrambled eggs, as well as classic items like a Scottish breakfast plate with all of the fixings.
The lunch and dinner options were wonderful as well. There’s an award-winning restaurant, Pineapple, that brings together the very best fresh seafood from Portsoy and Peterhead as well as locally produced meats from three renowned butchers from Aberdeenshire. It was fun to sample Presly’s Haggis Bon Bons – an iconic Scottish dish that features Founder’s Reserve whisky mayo and a bourbon glaze. In non-Covid times, guests can have a casual lunch or dinner in the estate’s 800-year old Cave Bar. Don’t miss its fine whisky selection!
If you’re a golf lover, be sure to check out the estate’s course and book a golf reservation well in advance. The course was designed by Graeme Webster with the highest attention to detail and is regarded as one of the most beautiful parkland golf courses in the country.
About 45 minutes away from Meldrum House is The Malt Whisky Trail that spans the Speyside Moray region. It’s made up of historic distilleries and wold-renowned brands – there’s so much to discover that it could be a trip in itself.
Our first stop was the iconic Glenfiddich Distillery that’s been around since 1886. Founder, William Grant named it Glenfiddich, Gaelic for Valley of the Deer.
We enjoyed al fresco dining on Glenfiddich’s Robbie Dhu Terrace and sipped on a couple of flights. Since Glenfiddich is owned by William Grant & Sons, who also owns Hendrick’s Gin, it was fun to sample a variety of Hendrick’s limited release and edition gins, as well as Glenfiddich’s reserve whiskies.
Full of history and romance, Meldrum House is the perfect place for so many occasions! The service was attentive and friendly. A special memory that won’t escape from my mind is the bottle of whisky waiting for me in my room upon checking in.
Meldrum House is no ordinary place and look forward to visiting again next time I’m in Scotland!
Beautiful photos of you in a magical setting.