On my most recent visit to Aberdeen I stayed at the recently opened Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel for 2 nights and it is the kind of accommodation the modern traveller to Scotland expects and that the city has been crying out for.  

Sitting in the heart of the city centre it is conveniently located for visiting most of the main city attractions and I found exploring on foot really easy with the occasional bus ride to reach places of interest outwith the centre.  
If you have a car, you can use the hotel car park although it is on a first come, first served basis.  Having your own transport means you can venture further afield in the region, personally I love the Aberdeenshire Coastal Trail and exploring the outdoor scenery and castles of Royal Deeside. 

I've stayed in a few places locally and this is by far the best which is why I just had to write this review.  From the Instagrammable interior (yes, I really did just say Instagrammable, what has my life become!) to the quirky nods to Scotland in the decor, not to mention the superb service, hopefully you will love this place as much as I did.

From the outside, the hotel is a sprawling granite building, very in keeping with Aberdeen's grand architectural style.  Previously it was part of the Robert Gordon University campus and I can't imagine many businesses would be able to take on a structure this size so I'm glad it has been preserved and given a new lease of life.

When I first walked through the entrance I was wowed by the interior, a mix of grand, colourful, funky and Scottish.  Did I also mention that it is very Instagrammable!  The seating area is super comfy and conveniently has wireless phone charging pads on the tables.

My check-in was super easy and friendly.  I arrived quite early so I could drop off my suitcase at reception while I explored Aberdeen.  When I returned later in the day to check in properly I was impressed to find that my suitcase had already been taken to my room for me.

As I made my way across the thistle carpet to my room I realised just how big the hotel is on the inside as the corridors seemed to go on forever.  There are 218 guest rooms in total of various styles and I was booked in to Corporate King Room with a sofa bed.

The room was a good size and the decor had an industrial warehouse feel thanks to the copper lights, old school radiators and exposed brickwork in the bathroom.  However, there was no mistaking I was in a Scottish hotel thanks to the tartan throw and funky Highland Coo and stag cushions.  Photographs of local Aberdeenshire landmarks also added a regional touch.

​From a smart tv to a microwave, the room was well equipped and most importantly the bed was super comfy.  At my age a good night's sleep is essential so I'm becoming increasingly fussy about my hotel bed standards and I'm pleased to say this one rated highly.

I've been sharing my love of Dundee for years, long before it became all cool and started gracing the pages of glossy magazines which makes me feel like a bit of a Scottish travel trendsetter.  I've visited the city quite a few times since i started blogging and don't need much of an excuse to pack my bags and jump on the train back to Scotland's sunniest city.  When Apex City Quay Hotel got in touch to invite me along to their V&A Dundee event, with an opportunity to take an exclusive walk around the exterior of the new £80m museum of design, I promptly donned my shades and headed east.  

On arriving at Dundee I was totally disorientated as the train station has undergone a face-lift along with the rest of the waterfront and the entrance and exit had been moved since I had last visited.  However, despite the confusing major transformations confronting me, I was glad to see that the 'Sunny Dundee' weather was unchanged.

After an easy 10 minute stroll I arrived at the Apex City Quay which is situated next to the former Victoria Quay.  This area has been redeveloped in to a retail and leisure complex, with the 200 year old HMS Unicorn taking centre stage.

This was my first visit to Apex in Dundee and I was immediately impressed with the efficient and friendly check-in.  I was lucky enough to have a corner room which had double the light and panoramic views over the quay and surrounding historic buildings. I definitely recommend going for this choice if it's available.
My bedroom was spacious and had everything I needed for a comfortable stay with a few fun extras including one of the famous Apex rubber ducks, chocolate duck shaped lollies and a relaxing pillow mist just to make sure I got a good night's sleep, although my bed was so comfy a deep slumber was pretty much guaranteed.

The en-suite had both a bath and walk-in shower which is always a nice dilemma to have, although I was pretty busy during my trip so didn't have time for a relaxing soak in the tub with my new duck friend.  If I was staying more than 1 night it would definitely have been at the top of my 'time out' list!

As you might have guessed from the amount of time I spend there, I have quite a soft spot for Dumfries and Galloway in the south west of Scotland.  Despite having covered much of the region there are still a few pockets that have eluded me and the stretch of the A76 from Sanquhar to Dumfries is one of those spots that I've yet to fully explore.  Recently I was invited to experience a stay at Trigony House Hotel which is handily located just off the main road, in the heart of this very area.  With a reputation as being genuinely dog friendly, National Pet Day seemed the perfect excuse to take our lurcher Willow away for a night at this multi-award winning country hotel.

ABOUT

Trigony House Hotel was the former shooting lodge for nearby Closeburn Castle which is one of the oldest continuously inhabited tower houses in Scotland.  Today it is run as a country house hotel set in over 4 acres of woodland and  gardens.
As we drove up the front drive, I couldn't help but think how romantic it looked with it's ivy exterior and characterful lanterns.  The interior is a mix of period features and rustic country homeliness.  I definitely felt more like I had arrived at a friend's home than a hotel as there is a really relaxed vibe, with guests chatting away to each other like long lost acquaintances and dogs lounging around the public rooms.
Dogs are great conversation ice-breakers and I'm sure their presence helps the conversation flow between fellow owners.  During our stay there were 5 other furry companions being treated to a night away, with the resident Retriever Roxy also making a regular appearance to welcome canine guests.  Having a dog is not compulsory to stay at Trigony House but I would think you would have to at least like them to stay here as they are permitted in all public rooms other than the dining room.

ACCOMMODATION

There are only 10 bedrooms at Trigony House and it's small size adds to the intimate atmosphere.  On arrival we were warmly welcomed and shown to our bedroom which was in keeping with the homely country feel.  It was light and spacious with a big comfy bed, sofa and plenty of storage space.  Willow was pretty excited to find a welcome bowl on the bed with doggy biscuits, the canines definitely get looked after at this hotel.  There was also a little map of the grounds showing the enclosed dog exercise areas which were perfect for letting Willow have a good run around.
Our room had a lovely view over the gardens to the hills beyond and we could hear plenty of bird song from the surrounding trees which I found very therapeutic.  After a long day travelling, our room was a nice calming space to sit with a cup of tea and muse over the different leaflets and local walking suggestions.

I'll be the first to admit that Royal Deeside is a part of Scotland that I don't know very well.  Famous as a favourite stomping ground of Queen Victoria, the current Royal Family continue to enjoy their summer break at Balmoral Castle, one of many fine castles that dot the area.
The River Dee flows through the heart of the region which also encompasses nature reserves and part of the Cairngorms National Park, making it a favourite destination for lovers of the outdoors.  All of this makes me wonder why, other than a visit to the Braemar Gathering, I've not spent more time getting to know this part of the country.
Recently, I was invited to stay at Mill of Dess Lodge on the Lower Dess Estate, and decided this would be the perfect opportunity to make a proper acquaintance with Royal Deeside.

LOCATION

Lower Dess Estate is situated next to the pretty village of Aboyne between the town of Banchory and the village of Ballater which means it is centrally located for exploring the region.  Lower Dess is a relatively small estate on the north side of the River Dee which offers peaceful river walks and fishing on the doorstep.
Nearby Glen Tanar Estate has numerous walking and biking trails through Caledonian pine forests and acres of wilderness.  If you prefer something different the estate also runs Land Rover safaris which from my experience in other parts of the country, can be a really fun way to get off the beaten track.  
If castles are your thing, you will be spoiled for choice with so many just a short drive away.  Some of the best local castle choices are Craigievar, Crathes, Drum, Kildrummy, Corgaff, Braemar and of course Balmoral, although check the opening hours and days for each castle as they do vary depending on the time of the year.   For the complete Scottish experience, you can combine a castle tour with some local whisky from the Royal Lochnagar Distillery which runs tours and tastings.
Of course, you could just spend time exploring the pretty towns and villages that dot the river or follow the Victorian Heritage Trail which takes in many regal castles, estates and landmarks.  
I've listed the things I got up to during my visit at the bottom of the page if you need any more ideas.

ACCOMMODATION

On arrival we were welcomed by Anna, the Lodge Manager, who gave us a quick tour before showing us to our bedroom.  By luck Mr Adventures Around Scotland and I had the entire place to ourselves which made our stay even more special.
​The lodge has 10 bedrooms, a sitting area and a dining room.  You can stay on a bed and breakfast basis (as I did) or book the entire lodge and even organise private catering if you prefer to eat in. 
​As you can see from my photos, the decor has a light and contemporary feel with some bright touches and a rustic nod to the local wildlife.  The lodge is furnished to a high standard and was spotlessly clean, it really did feel quite luxurious.