What the Papers Say in 2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005
Sunday Herald, Louise Gardner, October 2006
"Most of us ladies have the dream that one day we can roll out of bed, admire our beautiful boudoirs and then step into a dressing room of our very own ... but how many of you can boast a private treatment room only a sashay away from your dressing room?
"For those of us who can only dream of such luxury, Peebles Hydro has come up trumps with its new Cademuir Spa Suite. Your own fabulous bedroom boasts a glorious, unspoilt view ... a separate dressing room with your very own treatment room and personal consultant ...
"The treatment room takes relaxation to another level ... but once the magic's complete there's no need to wander the halls of a spa in full-length towelling but instead I am able to simply reassume the horizontal position back on my bed and enjoy the total escapism completely at my leisure. Sheer indulgence and luxury."
babyworld.co.uk, October 2006
"If you fancy treating the family to a first class break I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Peebles Hydro - it's certainly worth the money.
"The service was second to none ... The food my husband and I had was superb. My only regret is that we were only there for three nights and didn't get to do all that we had hoped to."
"You could imagine that this is the type of place where children should be seen and not heard, but nothing could be further from the truth. Not only are children made very welcome but the hotel's facilities are superb ... The children's dining room is simply fabulous.
"The Hydro's spa is a lovely way to totally relax and be pampered. I had a wonderful back and neck massage and was then treated to an Inchwrap Body Treatment. I found the staff to be really helpful and friendly and they made me feel totally at ease."
The Sun , Gail Cameron, September 2006
"Every girl craves the chance to live like a Princess - and the sumptuous new Cademuir Spa Suite at Peebles Hydro makes those special dreams come true. From the moment I stepped inside the plush pampering pad with my partner, Scott, we were treated like Royalty.
"Comfort and quality come as standard at this four-star hotel, set against the stunning backdrop of the Scottish Borders. But there were so many extra luxuries for us to sample in the exclusive Cademuir suite, we simply didn't know where to begin ... It's the perfect retreat for romantic couples in search of a little TLC.
"The finer details which make this suite so perfect rendered us breathless from the second we arrived - but nothing could have prepared us for the sheer indulgence behind the doors of our very own integrated spa treatment room.
"A relaxing weekend in the countryside just doesn't come much better than this."
Daily Mail , Phil Lancaster, September 2006
"Peebles' luxury family escape thinks of everything ... With a vast range of child-friendly facilities from pony trekking to putting greens it isn't hard to see why Peebles Hydro was recently voted Scotland's top venue for the younger generation.
"We were shown to one of the hotel's family suites which have a huge room for mum and dad, and a smaller one for the children, linked by an interior door. Close enough but just far enough away, if you know what I mean. Which, to some extent, sums up the attraction of Peebles Hydro as an ideal family destination. You can be with the children all day long if you like but there's always the option of leaving them with the fabulous hostesses of the Kids Korner club.
"Our two couldn't wait to get down to the playroom ... and when they were there they were in no particular hurry to rejoin us. They played indoors and out, drew, painted and absolutely revelled in the undivided attention of the girls looking after them .... Best of all, they got to have high tea in their own children's dining room, with endless strawberry milk shakes to wash everything down."
SCOTTISH FIELD, Susan Graeme, September 2006
"Peebles Hydro has taken a step back to its health resort roots with the opening of a sumptuous new spa suite. The Cademuir Suite is one of only two in the world (the other is in the home of five star luxury, Dubai) to offer guests the ultimate in all-out indulgence - their very own spa treatment room within the walls of their suite...The Hydro's Spa Manager, Sally Doherty, will visit your suite to carry out a personal consultation. You can then exist in a cocoon of luxury, moving from your chaise longue straight into your treatment room and round it all off with a relaxing soak in your swimming pool-sized tub.
"I was on a search for 24 hours of relaxation and wasn't disappointed... After my treatment it was difficult to leave the suite and step back into the real world but dinner in the hotel's dining room is to experience the style and service of a bygone era.
"This new departure for Peebles Hydro is a step away from its traditional reputation as one of Scotland’s finest destinations for family breaks but this nod to its health resort roots is sure to attract a new clientele looking for a spot of all-out rest and relaxation."
SUNDAY HERALD, Louise Gardner, August 2006
"The Hydro now offers a blend of tradition and luxury with the recent opening of the Cademuir Spa Suite and honeymooners' Kailzie Suite. The Cademuir Suite is tastefully decorated and with its massive lounging chair in front of the arched window and its own private spa treatment room it is supremely relaxing.
"I experienced the "Find Heaven" treatment, and indeed spending 90 minutes being massaged and pampered - I did!"
SUNDAY EXPRESS, Hilary Douglas, August 2006
"This famous Scottish spa hotel is a treat for the senses. ... From the second we arrived we had five star treatment all the way.
"The backdrop could have been conceived by scenery painters on the set of Rob Roy ... Set amid the verdant sweep of forest, the hotel is an idyllic haven for anyone seeking an escape from the burdens of the world.
"My mother declared her main course perfect - delicate chicken fillets stuffed with olives and spiced vegetables... The chocolate dessert was so beautifully presented it seemed a shame to cut into it.
"For my massage, therapist Carys worked over my sore shoulder muscles and I became so relaxed I can't remember much of the next 90 minutes ... my aching muscles were soothed to oblivion... A facial left my skin glowing, soft and cleansed. Mum looked radiant when she emerged from her lavender-scented treatment room.
"Our break was over all too soon. The elegance of the hotel and the beauty of its location soothed our minds and spirits while the treatments relaxed our bodies."
DAILY RECORD, Kirsty Anderson, August 2006
"What a wonderful place for a romantic weekend or just an excuse to go and get pampered! This is a wonderful hotel for a break.
"Not only does Peebles Hydro offer Borders’ fresh air and fantastic scenery. It has pampering treatments to leave you refreshed and revitalised. With great food to suit all tastes and spacious grounds for walks, guests leave here more than ready to face the challenges of the real life that the hotel so ably cocoons you from during your stay.
"The new Cademuir Spa Suite was our home ... with stunning views and all the latest gadgets ... It is the ultimate in luxury. The suite was also where Sally, our beauty therapist, came for the afternoon to give us our treatments. With music playing and candles burning, my mum received an Aromasoul full body massage which she declared to be "sheer bliss from head to toe." I opted for the Swedish massage which was simply out of this world.
"Cocoon yourself in this world of sheer bliss."
THE LIST, Rachael Street, June 2006
Being a lady of leisure, I've been lucky enough to experience just about every beauty therapy under the sun but never have I felt so deserving of a massage as I did on returning to Peebles Hydro after mountain biking in Glentress. Under the hands of my therapist, the knots in my muscles, from hunching over the handlebars all morning, simply melted away and left me unable to do anything for the rest of the afternoon other than float dozily in the pool.
Peebles Hydro has the kind of personality that a faceless contemporary hotel would sacrifice its infinity pool to have ... (The rooms have) the kind of charm that beats a heated bathroom floor any day. It is the kind of place where you chat unabashed to the people at the neighbouring table at dinner and where you're put to shame by the sight of 80-year-olds gliding across the dance floor in a perfect waltz.
The next morning we were back in the saddle, this time ... at the Hydro's on-site riding stables. Thankfully this ride was slightly less taxing - less an assault course on two wheels than a sightseeing trip on four legs.
SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY, Tom English, March 2006
Peebles Hydro is not so much a hotel as a small village, built in as tranquil a patch of earth as you are likely to find. This is a spot that has cleverly positioned itself as an ideal destination for children (our hyperactive three-year-old only managed to do half the things she intended to before calling for her bed) as well as adults of all ages.
Lazels restaurant is relaxed and spacious, with a fresh and contemporary feel, and an extensive menu. The food in the main dining room was excellent. You might expect that with so many mouths to feed ... the standard would be merely average but it's nothing of the sort. The venison and beef in particular were outstanding.
Our room had views that brought a smile to our faces in the morning... Get a room at the front and soak up some scenery.
NEWCASTLE CHRONICLE, Brenda Hickman, March 2006
Peebles Hydro is my idea of a hotel heaven... As a stage set it would rival the mythical Brigadoon and I gasped at the view from our second floor bedroom... it is something else waking up to such a picture-postcard view.
My idea of heaven for a short break is a good hotel, in a spectacular setting, with great leisure facilities and spa treatments. Peebles Hydro proved to be the very tonic... I don't know if it was just my imagination but there seemed to be hundreds of staff - all friendly, efficient and discreet. The restaurant staff even managed to change a room service menu without a fuss to accommodate fodder for my vegetarian companion.
Food was first class. The classic, simple cuisine is fresh and succulent as the chefs use local products ... the delicious food was hot and served to perfection. The impressive choice of menu changed daily.
Its history and setting make it one of the best hotels in Scotland to explore the magnificent countryside. It's a complete treat.
Home Plus Scotland Magazine, March / April 2006
The list of activities you can participate in at Peebles Hydro is extensive but we were there with one thing in mind - to be pampered.... We started with a few lengths of the pool which has lovely views of the surrounding countryside. Our treatments in the health and beauty centre transpired to be two hours of bliss. Our therapists were great - friendly, informative and above all professional. My Champissage treatment - an advanced Indian head massage - was out of this world and that's how I felt when the therapist stopped. My colleague confirmed a similar reaction to her Well Being Massage.
If you really want to chill, stay overnight and let yourself really relax.
THE HERALD, Claire Mackay, March 2006
The twin appeal of accessibility and diversity means business visitors to Scotland can move easily between the sophisticated attractions of a city break and breathtaking opportunities in our marvellous outdoors with the greatest of ease ... Business tourists quickly discover Scotland's strength is that it can offer the best of all worlds.
The Peebles Hotel Hydro, just 23 miles south of Edinburgh and about 40 miles from Glasgow, is an excellent example... One of Scotland's top business venues, the picturesque town centre on the River Tweed is only a short walk away.