Culdearn House

‘Probably the best small hotel we’ve visited,’ a guest says this year. Next to woodland, William and Sonia Marshall’s Victorian country hotel is ‘a well-run and caring operation’. ‘The hands-on hosts gave us a very warm welcome.’ Fans like the traditional atmosphere. There are plenty of books and ornaments; an open fire burns in the marble fireplace; original features have been retained. From first- and second-floor bedrooms, look out over greenery and local woodland. ‘Our spacious bedroom was extremely comfortable and very well appointed’; bathrooms are ‘immaculate’. Guests gather in the ‘well-decorated’ lounge for amuse-bouche and drinks before dinner. In the dining room, Sonia Marshall’s ‘superb’ daily-changing four-course dinner might include game terrine, home-made onion marmalade, sweet poached pear; fillet of sea bream, orange and ginger glaze. Wake up to ‘generous’ servings of coffee at breakfast; an ‘excellent’ poached egg and kipper are cooked to order. The hotel is on the Speyside Malt Whisky Trail: whisky aficionados have an ‘extensive and impressive’ list of fine malts and rare single-barrel casks to choose from.