Whether you are a fan of Nat King Cole and roasting chestnuts or not, you'll probably still appreciate a blazing fire on a winter's evening and a glass of something warming to keep your spirits up. These Best Loved Balmoral Hotels with Log Fires are big fans too and their version of an open fire range from a comfortable inn's hearth to the gaping maw and burning blaze of a full-blown castle's stone fireplace.
Best Loved's hotels near Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire (also known as Deeside) are near one of the two castles privately owned by Royal Family (the other being Sandringham). Purchased by Queen Victoria in 1848 who described it as 'my dear paradise in the Highlands', Balmoral has remained the Royal Scottish home ever since. The old Queen was right - Balmoral is a paradise with fifty thousand acres of heather, woodland and stunning scenery, with the River Dee passing close by. Balmoral is home to a vast array of wildlife including Red Deer, Golden Eagles and the rarely seen Scottish Wild Cat. In recent times the castle has featured in movies including Mrs Brown and The Queen and an illustration of Balmoral even features on the 100 GBP note issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland. When Sir William Drummond built the castle in 1390 it's unlikely that he thought that Balmoral would play such an important part of Scotland's proud history. Base yourself at one of our hotels near Balmoral and you too can enjoy the regal splendour.















