Braid Hills Hotel, Edinburgh

About This Hotel…

A handsome, historic building with an interesting past now offering a warm welcome in one of Edinburgh’s smartest suburbs. Originally built to serve golfers playing the near by Braid Hills golf course, the hotel has retained many historic features. Think curving staircases, original ceiling cornicing and a unique stained glass widow dating from the late 1800’s.

First Impressions…

Warm and welcoming. A seamless , speedy check in with all the information we needed.

The imposing exterior is impressive, the interior welcoming. The lobby area is very much in keeping with the building’s Victorian heritage and Scottish heart. Lots of polished wood, some gorgeous -and I think original- ceiling cornicing and big windows, perfect for soaking up the view across the neighbouring park and the hills beyond.

If you liked the look and feel of the first couple of seasons of Outlander, you’ll like this place. It’s got that rustic, heritage feel to it. And let’s be honest, we weren’t getting through any Scotland content without at least one Outlander mention, were we?

Location, Location, Location.

Braid Hills Hotel is located in the historic suburb of Morningside, a short distance from the centre of Edinburgh. Morningside is a destination within itself, full of independent boutiques, bars and cafes. You could fill a day wandering the elegant streets and discovering all that this well-to-do suburb has to offer, including a quirky secret street.

Edinburgh city centre is a short bus ride away with bus services stopping almost directly outside the hotel. It takes about fifteen minutes to get from Morningside to Princes St by public transport.

Adjacent to the Braid Hills Hotel is Braidburn Valley Park, a pretty green space featuring walking trails, and outdoor gym and views of the Pentland hills. This park was a favourite walking spot for the Wolf and I when we lived in the city and it’s particularly lovely in Spring and Autumn.

What About The Rooms ?

Much like the rest of the hotel. Clean, cosy and welcoming. Still with that traditional Scottish feel, but a slightly more modern twist.

Plenty of space and plenty of storage. Everything we needed on hand in the room- iron, ironing board, lots of clothes hangers. I love a hotel that gives you plenty of hangers. Bonus points when you can actually lift them off the rail rather than those fixed ones. Braid Hills delivered beautifully on the hanger front.

A well stocked hospitality tray with a good drinks selection and individual packets of Border biscuits. I always think those hospitality trays seem much more welcoming when they come with biscuits.

The bathrooms won me over instantly with piles of fluffy towels, heated rails, lovely complimentary products and knock out snakeskin/ marble wall. Talk about a feature.

All in all, a solid, comfortable offering. A room you’d be happy to relax in.

And the Rest?

As mentioned, the lobby is a cosy and welcoming introduction to the hotel and reception staff are genuinely welcoming.

The bar looks exactly as you’d think it should based on the style of the building- a gleaming wooden bar, tartan curtains, high back chairs. Beyond the warm and vintage inspired styling is a thoroughly modern and thoroughly lovely bar, tended by friendly staff who really knew their stuff. Especially when it came to the local gin selection. Well, it would have been rude not to! Very reasonable prices, too.

The meandering old building is connected by a series of curving staircases and hall ways. I got lost a few times, but pleasurably so. The hall ways make you feel like you’ve stepped into the pages of period novel. Thick carpet underfoot, chandeliers overhead and walls lined with imposing portraits.

Less historic but equally charming, these crafty deer heads outside my room. Right up my street, I could definitely find a space for them in my home. Charming and cheerful, aren’t they?

Best Thing About This Hotel?

The location. If you love to be central and want to be within walking distance of the Old Town and the castle and so on, this one isn’t for you.

Morningside is an elegant and historic suburb, packed with impressive Victorian and Edwardian architecture and buzzing with places to eat, drink and shop.

You won’t feel like you’re in the sticks here, Morningside is a destination in itself. If you’ve visited Edinburgh before and are looking for a new perspective, this is a good option. If you want to explore further, the pretty village of Colinton is just up the road and the Pentland Hills Regional Park can be accessed from nearby.

Anything Else of Note?

Braid Hills Hotel has a sporting, golfing heritage- celebrated in the stained glass window featured below- but that’s not all of it. It also has a literary connection, in that it is mentioned by name in the pages of Muriel Spark’s ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’.

This is a hotel of history and character.

My Stay in Three Words?

Charming, cheerful & comfortable.

Want to Know More?

Find the hotel’s own website here on the Best Western website here

If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy reading about a dog themed city walk in Edinburgh or some of the sweet treats you’ll find when exploring Scotland.

Helen x