Imagine a beautiful autumnal day surrounded by the rolling hills of the Scottish Highlands, carpeted in deep copper and burnished orange, almost setting the landscape ablaze. Sun shining, forming fractured golden rays of light in between tree branches; clear blue skies and crisp winds, the pitter patter of water snaking down a nearby river. Some of the most beautiful and breathtaking vistas in the world, all at your doorstep.
Sounds impossible and almost dreamlike doesn’t it? But it is indeed possible, and now with Linn House, a picturesque Victorian Manor, open to all and sundry, you can experience this sublime region and all that it has to offer for yourself. Set in stunning Speyside on the banks of Isla River, Linn House is owned by Chivas Brothers, the people behind some of the world’s most-loved Scotch whiskies including The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Ballantine’s and of course, Chivas Regal. It is the brand’s first guest house and whisky retreat, and Luxuriate Life spent a wonderful weekend exploring everything Linn House has to offer.
Linn House
With roots dating back to 1870, the manor impresses at every turn. Esteemed Scottish gentleman, Robert Kynoch-Shand envisioned a remarkable Victorian mansion in the heart of Keith, a mere hour from Aberdeen, designing a large grey stone-façade building with high ceilings and plenty of room for entertaining.
Later, in 1993, The Chivas and Glenlivet Group recognised the magnificence of Linn House and embarked on a journey to renovate and restore it to its former glory. The end result is a truly premium luxury experience which still has a firm hold on its Victorian heritage, only with all the best mod cons, making it the perfect weekend escape.
Hospitality comes first and foremost here at Linn House, in fact, the Scots call it “Còsagach” — a word that conjures a feeling of warm, sheltered cosiness. This is felt as soon as you walk in, with Tony Guerreiro (Supervisor of Linn House) and staff welcoming you with open arms. With plenty of original fireplaces, plush carpeting, quirky taxidermied animal heads aloft mahogany walls, it feels like walking into the past.
A whisky experience
The dedicated team at Linn House will work closely with guests to design a tailor-made itinerary for the ideal rural escape. For those looking to sample local whiskies there are plenty of opportunities, including visits to world-renowned Scotch whisky distilleries such as The Glenlivet and Strathisla, cocktail masterclasses, and explorations of the smuggler’s trails to learn more about the Speyside area’s illicit whisky distilling past.
One of the many features that makes Linn House unique is a carefully curated and beautifully decorated whisky library, with a cosy fireplace to keep your cockles warm during winter months. The whisky library room presents all guests with an outstanding selection from the Chivas Brothers portfolio, including some big hitters such as Single Malts from The Glenlivet, Aberlour and Scapa, as well as blended whiskies from Chivas Regal, Royale Salute and Ballantine’s.
It is truly wall-to-wall whiskies here, with bottles lit from behind giving all guests a beguiling glowing look at this exclusive collection. Everyone who stays at Linn House can discover these iconic whiskies through expertly guided tastings, learning about their rich heritage and sample limited-release editions up to 30 years old.
Dining at Linn House
Linn House, formerly a mansion, of course has a very special dining room at its heart. Its mahogany walls create a sophisticated atmosphere that can be both dialled up and down according to your tastes, or what kind of event you happen to be hosting. On the evening of our visit, the room had been decorated with many spindly candles, swish silverware and autumnal flora adorning the long wooden table. The candles casting their reflections against the large windows and warm wood felt magical, the ideal ambience for a very special dinner.
The three-course feast is prepared by in house Michelin-starred French chef Eric Orby, but not to worry! The food is as Scottish as can be, with haggis, neeps and tatties all featured on the menu, and both wine and whisky pairings available. It’s reassuring to hear that Eric prioritises local and seasonal produce, featuring Moray scallops and local venison on the menu, but his signature French flair remains. We enjoy our dinner with exclusive drams of Royal Salute, a rather exciting live rendition of “Address to a Haggis” by Robert Burns and a beautiful bagpipe serenade by a bagpiper who has performed for the late Queen no less. Only the best of the best for guests of Linn House!
We follow dinner with a quick sojourn to the outdoor fire pit, where we have a final dram gazing at the fire dancing around, with the river burbling behind us before we call it a night. Guests can have breakfast, lunch and dinner here, all made fresh and to order by Eric and his lovely kitchen staff.
The rooms
When Chivas Brothers decided to take over Linn House, they really saw its true potential as a guesthouse and whisky retreat.
Each of the 13 bedrooms available at Linn House is named after a Scottish distillery, and is themed accordingly. I was lucky enough to stay in the Aberlour room, with its distinctive high ceilings and corner location, so I had not one but two large windows (three including the colossal bathroom) flooding the space with lots of natural light. The room had a water theme, with little accents of blue across the room, as well as appropriate nautical decorations, but nothing to make it look tacky. The original Victorian features of each room have been respected and enhanced, so there are large wooden bureaus with matching chairs, DAB radios, original façade fireplaces and bathtubs all to be made use of here.
The 13 bedrooms are split across two floors, and each is unique and individual, meaning you can experience something new every time you stay. Aberlour room had a magnificent view of the gardens and the River Isla in the distance through a shroud of trees, it was incredibly relaxing and made even better by the fact each room has a bottle of Linn House reserve whisky placed inside as a surprise treat for every guest.
Ballindalloch Castle
Experiences
As we hinted at earlier, personalisation goes hand in hand with hospitality at Linn House, and all sorts of experiences can be organised for you during your stay, including distillery visits, cocktail masterclasses, sports activities and special trips to unique places across the Highlands.
During our stay, we visited the regal Ballindalloch Castle, one of the only castles that’s still owned and managed by the original family that built it. We are shown around the stately pile by Laird Guy Macpherson-Grant, who moved in alongside his family back in 2014, and who is clearly enamoured and so incredibly passionate about his family history and how the castle ended up in its current iteration. We walk and hear a tapestry of stories about religious battles, festively plump ancestors, potentially fabricated artworks and also get to walk up the tower, which is the oldest part of the castle, originally constructed in the middle of the 16th century.
We follow the history lesson with a spot of clay pigeon shooting, which lies a pleasant 15-minute walk away from the main castle. I have never held a gun in my life but am guided through carefully by Jorg, who has actually lived several lives, most recently of which as a safari park ranger in East Africa. I manage to shoot 5 clay pigeons and decide that that’s more than enough for the day. We bid goodbye to Jorg and end our visit talking to Guy about the 20,000-acre land that he calls his own before heading back to Linn House.
Another of the excellent experiences available to you as a guest of Linn House is a foraging experience with renowned food writer and Cordon Bleu wonderwoman Ghillie Basan and her son and daughter. You can forage for mushrooms, cress, garlic, and then eat a beautiful bounty of food in her very own kitchen, of course accompanied by a few wee drams of golden goodness. She not only offers cooking and foraging classes but also wilderness retreats, and she might even lay claim to one of the best views in all of the Highlands!
Why Linn House is a must visit
At Linn House, its pure essence is conviviality and excellence is its hallmark; it’s a place where you’re not just a guest, you’re family. Whatever you need, Chivas Brothers’ wide network spans knowledgeable locals and hidden gems and will ensure an unforgettable experience catered to your every whim and desire. All that can’t be guaranteed is the Scottish weather!
Accommodating up to 12 guests in six rooms, the property is available at £9,600. Alternatively, the full house reservation grants access to 12 rooms and accommodates up to 24 guests for £19,200. Both of these include a two night stay with breakfast and three course seasonal dinner or Scottish dinner with wine selection, an ‘exploration’ drink package, and a bottle of Linn House Reserve whisky for each guest. A minimum two-night stay applies for all bookings.
To discover more, visit: chivasbrothers.com
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All imagery courtesy of Linn House.