Bartley Lodge Hotel

Having recently undergone extensive renovations, Bartley Lodge Hotel looks nothing short of stunning. With previous residents including Charles Lyell - mentor to Darwin - the refurbishments have made use of traditional and historical materials in order to transform this classic country hotel and reflect its history. Within the hotel you'll also find the elegant Crystal Restaurant - perfect for an evening of fine food and elegant dining. Between them, a team of award-winning chefs have earned the restaurant an AA rosette for culinary excellence. From ever-evolving menus, which take advantage of the fresh, local produce that each season brings, you might enjoy rare, slow-roasted beef with pickled vegetables and mustard dressing or tempura-battered fish with potato chips, pea purée and aged balsamic vinegar. Main courses range from a melt-in-the-mouth marinated haunch of venison with honey-roast fig, parsnip purée and chestnut sauce, to grilled fillet of Fraserburgh hake with herb Dauphinoise potatoes, caper berry sauce and creamed leeks - divine. With desserts like vanilla creme brulée with lavender and crab-apple jelly and lime shortbread, and malted chocolate cake with hazelnut butterscotch, rum and raisin ice cream and chocolate soil vying for your attention, you'll be planning your return so you can try them all.