HOTELS across Scotland have been recognised in The Michelin Guide's first-ever Key Hotels distinction in the UK and Ireland.

The iconic hotels were named alongside spots across the British Isles, including The Savoy in London and The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa in Bath.

In the same way Michelin recognises "outstanding" restaurants, the organisation is rewarding hotels using a new keys scale.

One key means a "very special stay", two means an "exceptional stay" and three keys means an "extraordinary stay".

 

See the Scottish hotels named in The Michelin Guide's first-ever Key Hotels distinction

These are all the Scottish hotels named in The Michelin Guide list alongside the number of keys achieved by each.

Three Keys

  • Auchterarder, Scotland: The Gleneagles Hotel

The Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder was the only Scottish hotel to achieve three keys, the highest distinction at the honours.

Discussing the location, the guide said: "Though its grand scale and its strong sense of tradition may seem imposing, Gleneagles is really no more formal than any private country club, and the staff's particular brand of Scottish hospitality is more warm and hearty than gruff. The guest rooms are decorated in the prevailing Scottish hotel style, with minimal, muted colours and rich antiques and fabrics creating a strange contrast, a blend of old-world opulence and modern Zen."

Visitors were equally impressed by the hotel with one user writing on Tripadvisor: "I’ve been fortunate to have stayed at this hotel on numerous occasions over the past 25 years. It never ceases to amaze me that it actually gets better each time. The level of detail & courtesy by every member of staff is just amazing.

"I’ve stayed in a number of very good hotels around the world however nothing comes close to Gleneagles."

Two keys

  • Braemar, Scotland: The Fife Arms
  • Edinburgh, Scotland: The Balmoral

Recommended Reading: 

Why Gleneagles is considered one of the world's most 'incredible' hotels

Hotel in 'enchanting' part of Scotland named one of the best in the world 

One Key

  • Ballantrae: Glenapp Castle
  • Cumnock: Dumfries House Lodge
  • Dornoch: Links House at Royal Dornoch
  • Edinburgh: 100 Princes Street
  • Edinburgh: Gleneagles Townhouse
  • Edinburgh: Prestonfield Edinburgh
  • Foyers: Foyers Lodge Loch Ness
  • Grandtully: The Grandtully Hotel by Ballintaggart
  • Isle of Skye – Sleat: Kinloch Lodge
  • Kinbuck: Cromlix Hotel
  • Resolis: Newhall Mains Dingwall
  • Tain: Glenmorangie House

The Michelin Guide released its Key Hotels list on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.