Hotel near braemar - ish

[Edinbu]

I really want to stay at the Fife Arms, but will have to make do with afternoon tea!
can anyone recommend anywhere nearby ish/ not near at all but nice to stay that’s nice? Ideally small, beautiful and about £100 a night . I know, but I live in hope! One day I’ll be rich, sigh.
thank you!

Does it have to be a hotel ? We stayed in a gorgeous cottage - a week cost less than a night at the Fife Arms, low season https://www.unique-cottages.co.uk/cottages/highlands/aberdeen-morayshire/bx4-cranford-cottage?searchId=a2289083-34c1-4313-b8bf-c0336a5d3b36

Ooh that does look nice! Thank you, I’m guessing you had a nice time. Sadly yes, it’s just for a Saturday night as we don’t have any holiday left. It’s just 2 1/2 hours from where we live too, so an easy getaway!

The Cranford is also a lovely B&B if you just want one night (the cottage is in the grounds of the main house).

I’ve stayed at Mar lodge. It’s self catering but fabulous. I wafted around pretending I was royalty (it was owned/built by a granddaughter of Queen Victoria)
there are a number of apartments to rent
https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/cottage/Speyside-The-Cairngorms-Mar-Lodge/Derry-Mar-Lodge-Estate-1060494.html?rfx=3&pcrid=698234220690&pkw=&pmt=&slid=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=6715759432&gbraid=0AAAAAD74KsUDUNMmJhpnWc-wqmbi9aYKV&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI35SBwKyekAMV75pQBh3qLDBMEAAYASAAEgItm_D_BwE#duration=2&start=2025-11-14&calendar=2025-11&changeover=5

@Edinbuwe loved Braemar and the Fife Arms isn’t too expensive for dinner - although i did enjoy laughing at the prices in the gift shop. Off season you can go round the gardens at Balmoral for free, or at least we could last year. It’s a great little place.

Thank you! Off to book x

What did you end up booking @Edinbu?
I too love that area but have the same budget as you....I dream of staying in the Fife Arms, it's gorgeous. Im on their mailing list, a girl can only dream!

Somewhere completely different! Long story but going to the https://ardeonaighotel.co.uk/
will have to wait for my arty cream tea!

It’s a bit less than the Fife arms! I’m so with you jackanddiane I LOVE good hotels, but very very rarely get to go them. We obviously need to be film stars , sigh!

We went into the Fife Arms and had a coffee 😁

That hotel you booked looks lovely, I hope you have a great time 🤗

For future reference, the Fife Arms does a great breakfast which is normally open to non-guests. Last year it was £30 a head.

I stayed there once in autumn 2020, during one of the brief windows you were allowed to. I had just walked across the Cairngorm plateau over two days and hitchhiked into Braemar, a wet, smelly mess. I booked a single room on the top floor which was actually quite cheap, probably because it was Covid times. As I walked up to my room, sopping wet and filthy, a staff member followed about thirty paces behind with a little hoover.

The room was lovely. When I went to eat I was just about the only customer in the whole place, and the main restaurant was closed. They gave me a nice table in the bar in front of a log fire and I had some excellent venison. Happy memories.

In case anyone is interested, the ardonaig hot was very nice - and the most delicious dinner!

And that sounds lovely alas :)