Upon first glance, it’s easy to mistake for a castle. It’s quite a sight when you finally catch a glimpse of it for the time it, it’s huge, on a sprawling estate right in the heart of the Scottish borders. The hotel is rich in history, having opened in 1881 it was one of many in the UK to provide hydrotherapy and water cures for guests.
The process is documented in black-and-white photographs for visitors to peruse in the hotel lobby. The hotel boasts a variety of rooms including those which are used to cater for weddings, vintage car meets and other events, as well as the hotel’s restaurants with menus that are bursting with local Borders produce and a cocktail bar which boasts an easy-going vibe. After settling in, I was delighted to meet some of the newest residents of the Peebles Hydro family, three adorable alpacas, that were slightly soggy from the rain, but were more than happy to be patted and cuddled.
The trio will be allowed to take part in alpaca walks once they have completed their training. Next, we headed downstairs to the 1881 Gin Distillery Experience, which proved to be every bit as exciting as I had hoped it would. The hotel offers guests the chance to make their very own bespoke gin.
We were offered nibbles before being given a very insightful presentation on how gin came to be made. Then we were given several different types of gin to taste, some of which were stronger than others, before we headed off to our work stations to begin the process of m.