5 of the Best Boutique Hotels in Scotland
From the rural corners of Dumfries & Galloway to the thriving centres of Glasgow and Edinburgh - here's a small but perfectly formed selection of our favourite boutique properties in Scotland.
Kildonan Lodge Hotel
Location: Edinburgh
Why we love it: Going away is about finding a home away from home, and with only 12 bedrooms, an honest bar in the Victorian lounge and special touches like the free shortbread and sherry upon check-in make this an intimate hideaway. 
What's nearby: The hotel is in Newington, to the south of Edinburgh. The city centre is around a 10-minute drive away, or there are buses outside the hotel. Edinburgh highlights include Edinburgh Castle, Scottish National Portrait Gallery and National Museum of Scotland. Don't miss the Royal Mile - it's the main thoroughfare in The Old Town and is lined with top attractions, including The Real Mary Kings Close and St Giles' Cathedral.
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Malmaison Dundee
Location: Dundee
Why we love it: This quirky hotel is in the heart of the city and has a restaurant that "delivers the sort of really decent brasserie-standard food that Dundee has been crying out for", says The Scotsman. The property is on Dundee's waterfront and inside you'll find bedrooms kitted out with dark mahogany, slate grey and a touch of tartan.
What's nearby: Dundee's waterfront is undergoing a £1 billion transformation and will have five zones: Riverside, Seabraes, Central Waterfront, City Quay and Dundee Port. Dundee Science Centre and Riverside Nature Park are now open to visit. Don't miss Discovery Point, around a 5-minute walk from the hotel, where you can learn about Captain Scott's voyage to the Antarctic; what they ate, how they lived and how the ship survived the journey through the harsh landscape.
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Hotel Indigo
Location: Glasgow
Why we love it: This 4-star hotel in the centre of Glasgow is home to The Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill. It's the epitome of Victorian architecture - the original building was built in the 1800s and was the city's first electric power station. Inside it's bang up to date; all bedrooms come with a free minibar, rainfall showers and iPod docking stations.
What's nearby: The hotel is within walking distance of several top attractions, including Glasgow School of Art, The Lighthouse, The Willow Tearooms and Glasgow City Chambers, all around a 10-minute walk away.
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Trigony House Hotel
Location: Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway
Why we love it: What's not to love about this property - it was the Southwest Regional Winner in the Country House Hotel of the Year category at the Scottish Hotel Awards 2015 and was called a "quiet haven" by the judges. On top of that, this family-run Edwardian shooting lodge was awarded the Fabulous Flavours Award for the Breakfast of the Year 2015 at the Scottish Hotel Awards and has horse riding, falconry, bike hire, fly fishing, shooting and vintage car hire available on site.
What's nearby: The hotel is in the Nith Valley, around a 25-minute drive from the market town of Dumfries. Drumlanrig Castle is around five miles away and Crawick Multiverse, a former coal mine which is now a landscape art design, is 25 minutes by car.
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Old Town Chambers
Location: Edinburgh
Why we love it: The Scotsman hits the nail on the head - "luxury rooms in the heart of the city, with top-of-the-range facilities in a captivating, historic setting". These 5-star apartments have been transformed from Medieval buildings to "utterly unique, stylish accommodation" (The Daily Telegraph), where you'll see 15th-century beams alongside modern kitchen units, high-tech sound systems and Nespresso machines.
What's nearby: You don't need to venture far to keep yourself busy here. The apartments are in the centre of Edinburgh's Old Town, a maze of cobbled streets, steep staircases and hidden courtyards. The Royal Mile is around the corner, which connects Edinburgh Castle (10 minutes' walk) and Holyrood Palace (15 minutes' walk), and St Giles Cathedral is feet away.
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