A SCOTTISH hotel has been named the best in Britain by one of the world’s top travel mags.
The Fife Arms in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, walked off with the top gong in the prestigious Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards, for the second time in three years.
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The Royal Deeside grand dame was crowned this week in the acclaimed awards, in the section which span the width and breadth of the UK, from iconic hotels in London, to stunning country house spas and a flurry of new places to stay Edinburgh.
And that’s where the only other Scottish entry in the Top 10 in the UK is based – The Gleneagles Townhouse on the city’s St Andrew Square in the city’s New Town, which came in at an impressive number seven.
The Fife Arms, a former Victorian hunting lodge, is described by Conde Nast as ‘flamboyantly cool’ and owned by Swiss art-loving couple Manuela and Iwan Wirth.
It overlooks the Clunie Water in the popular ski town and features a pub, the Flying Stag which comes complete with a taxidermy one with massive swan’s wings, bar and restaurant.
It has even served members of the Royal Family, including her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth, during their annual summer stay at nearby Balmoral Castle and their visits to the town for the famous Braemar Games.
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Three other Scottish hotels also made the 35 best in the UK list, (which excluded London) with The Witchery by the Castle in Edinburgh coming in at number 19 and historic Glenapp Castle Hotel listed at number 27.
It’s reputed to be where Churchill and Eisenhower met in secret in 1944 to plan the D-Day landings which turned the tide in the Allies’ favour in World War II.
The Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel & Spa at number 34.
Sarah Allard, Digital Director at Condé Nast Traveller said: “For anyone who has ever visited Scotland it should come as no surprise that it continues to rank highly as one of our readers’ top destinations and for those that haven’t, well, consider it high on their bucket list for 2025.
“From checking out some of the best hotels in the UK (including this year’s winner – The Fife Arms) it’s impossible to have a bad time in Scotland.”
The Readers’ Choice Awards 2024 is the 27th edition of the globetrotting annual event, which honours the best in the travel industry, recognising the finest hotels, cruises, countries, cities, resorts, trains, airlines, airports, spas, islands, luggage, villas, and tour operators, worldwide.
This year’s awards were based entirely on the votes of readers from across the UK, who rated their travel experiences across the globe.
Jersey claimed the title of the best island in the UK, also for the second year, and Claridge’s in London was crowned the best hotel in Europe.
Lucknam Park in Wiltshire voted as the top spa destination in the UK for the second year in a row and for those looking to get away by train, British Pullman chugged ahead as the best train experience.
Japan was voted the luxury travel mag’s reader’s favourite country for the second year running, with other long-haul destinations such as New Zealand, Australia and Thailand being highly placed.
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The Greek islands, particularly their villas, continue to shine, and the healthy interest in wellness escapes, authentic experiences and transformational travel continues to grow.
CN Traveller said: Beyond all the trends (coolcationing and astro-tourism, anyone?) is the simple desire to explore, relax and escape – to that palm-fringed island beach or wilderness safari camp; that urban hotel with a rooftop bar that does a mean dirty martini.
“Together, the names here form a special gazetteer of the places pinned to your travel dreams – the hotels, spas and resorts, the countries, cities and islands you return to again and again, and the tour operators, villa experts and airlines that take you there.”
THE UK’S TEN BEST HOTELS (excluding London)
1 The Fife Arms, Braemar
2 Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons, a Belmond Hotel, Oxforshire.
3 Grantley Hall, Yorkshire
4 The Pig, Hampshire
5 University Arms Hotel, Autograph Collection, Cambridge.
6 Cliveden House, Berkshire.
7 Gleneagles Townhouse, Edinburgh
8 The Grove, Hertfordshire
9 Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, Wiltshire
10 The Newt in Somerset
Read more on the Scottish Sun
Meanwhile a Scottish city was named the friendliest in the UK.
The full list of winners, including the online exclusive top ski resorts and beaches, can be found online at cntraveller.com and in the issue of Condé Nast Traveller, on newsstands in the UK now.
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