Stobo Castle Health Spa
in Stobo, Peeblesshire, Scotland
Julie Register toured this Destination Spa in Scotland in May 2002

The last stop I made during my trip to Scotland was at Stobo Castle, a destination spa not far from Edinburgh. I didn't stay there or have any treatments there, just a quick tour. See more photos below.

Work began on building Stobo Castle in 1805 and was completed in 1811. It was built for Sir James Montgomery, the Lord Chief Baron and remained the family home of the Montgomerys for nearly 100 years. The last resident owner of Stobo Castle was the Countess of Dysart who lived there until the mid-sixties.

It took two years to transform Stobo Castle into a holiday destination. The luxurious and elegant example of 19th century architecture opened its doors to the public in 1978. Since then, 30,000 guests from all over the world have enjoyed the benefits of a break at Stobo.

In January 1998, a new £2 million spa area opened. A choice of over seventy health and beauty treatments are offered including Finders Dead Sea Floatation, Thalgo Balneotherapy and the Stobo Facial. It uses the Darphin line of products.

There are currently 29 guest bedroom and no more than 59 resident guests are accommodated at a time to ensure privacy and individual attention. Park Lodge, located next to Stobo Castle, opened in September 2000. It offers additional accommodations for up to 12 guests. Over 125 staff are employed at Stobo Castle, giving a ratio of staff to guests of 2:1.

Stobo Castle is a destination spa but is also open for day visits. Guests opting for the overnight plans can choose two-seven nights from a Health & Beauty Plan, Health & Fitness Plan, Holiday Plan, and Stobo Experience. The plans include accommodation, meals, specified treatments (additional treatments are available at an additional cost), and activities (yoga, relaxation, make-up lessons, cycling, tennis). Day options include Health & Beauty Day, Executive Day, Health & Toning Day, and Luxury Spa Day. Spa Days all include unlimited use of the Health Suites and exercise programs, buffet luncheon and bathrobes.

Meals are served at specified times in the dining rooms and offer a menu of fresh, wholesome foods including vegetarian. Sample menus from the day I visited follow:

Lunch Menu

Carrot Soup (95 calories)
or
Chilled Melon (75 calories)

Selection from the Cold Buffet Table (225 calories)
or
Tagliatelli with Garlic, Onion & Mushroom (260 calories)

Bread & Butter Pudding (90 calories)

Dinner Menu

Caulilflower & Stilton Soup (85 calories)
or
Feta Cheese Salad with Black Olives (150 calories)
or
Smoked Makkeral Pate (110 calories)

Roast Fillet of Lamb with Red Pepper & a Sweet Chilli Dressing (280 calories)
or
Stuffed Breast of Chicken with Mushroom & Asparagus in a Wild Mushroom & Red Onion Sauce (295 calories)
or
Baked Salmon with a Honey Glaze (265 calories)
or
Vegetable Rissoto (245 calories)

Ice Cream, Sorbet & Frozen Yogurt
Dessert of the Day

Teas and coffee are available 24 hours.

Future Plans

A year earlier than originally intended, phase two of Stobo Castle's development plan is due to start in the summer of 2002. The £5 million partially glazed extension that will take 12 months to complete will see the current facilities replaced with a 25m pool, hydrospa, air-conditioned aerobics studio and gymnasium, circular aromatic steam room, rasul and a number of heated mosaic-finished relaxation couches.

More information

Stobo Castle is a member of Connoisseurs Scotland, an elite collection of Scotland's finest properties and travel experiences. Featuring a small number of luxury hotels, each with a quality and character of its own, set in unique locations throughout Scotland. In addition to the hotels there is the Royal Scotsman, an exclusive train which revives the romance and elegance of times past. There is also a ship, The Hebridean Princess, that can transport guests to a hidden Scotland in total luxury.

Gorse is a thorny plant with a faint coconut scent that grows wild and in abundance in the coast of Scotland. It iis used in one of the original Bach Flower Remedies. It is a restorative remedy that helps lift dark and depressive personalities into a brighter and lighter experience. Good for anyone at times when they feel life is weighing them down. Positive Qualities include optimism, hope, perseverance, endurance, and illumination.
Bell Heather, another plant found in abundance in Scotland, is another original Bach Flower Remedy. This flower remedy is beneficial to those who are consumed with self interests, self indulgence, or overly concerned with one's own problems. It helps one to move away from their unbalanced inward focus. It offers a better perspective, so that a person can learn to use their own suffering as a resource well that can be drawn from to offer compassion and caring to others. Positive qualities include, selflessness, self-discipline, inner calm, and compassion for others.
Other species native to Scotland used in Bach Flower Remedy production include apple, broom, daisy, elder, harebell, hazel, navelwort, lady's mantle, mallow, ragged robin, Scots pine, Scottish primrose, sea pink, sea rocket, silverweed, snowdrop, spotted orchid, stonecrop, thistle, valerian, watercress, wild pansy and willowherb.1
Additionally, some plant species used in aromatherapy are native to Scotland e.g. yarrow, wild celery, mugwort, borage, juniper, corn mint, and valerian.1
With all the current interest in creating spa treatments using indigenous plants, resources and traditions, it is surprising that these plants have not found their way into the spa treatment menus in Scotland.
1"FLORA CELTICA: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF SCOTTISH PLANTS," Chapter 3 Medicinal and aromatic plants by William Milliken and Sam Bridgewater, Edinburgh Development Consultants, and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Information and Photos

Contact Stobo Castle Health Spa • Address: Stobo, Peeblesshire, Scotland EH45 8NY • Phone: 01721 760249 • Reservations: 01721 760600 • Treatments: 01721 760344 • Fax: 01721 760294 • Email • Web Site: www.stobocastle.co.uk	More Spas in Scotland • The Gleneagles Hotel • The Old Course St. Andrews Golf Resort & Spa  • One Spa at the Sheraton Grand Edinburgh • Stobbo Castle • The Westin Turnberry Resort, Scotland Golf Courses and Spa • Complete Spas in Scotland Index Related Resources • Connoisseur's Scotland • About Scotland • Attractions in Scotland • Highland Games • Little's Chauffer Drive  • Virgin Atlantic (offers massage and hand therapy on random basis in Upper Class on Heathrow flights)  • British Airways
Reception Desk at Stobo Castle Stairway in Main Hall Leading to Guest Rooms Drawing Room Dining Room Guest Room Guest Room Guest Bathroom Park Lodge at Stobo Castle where there are additional guest rooms Stobo Castle Grounds Stobo Castle Grounds The Walk from The Lodge to Stobo Castle Jeremy Hawkings, Chief Executive, Connoisseurs Scotland at Stobo Castle	The £20 million spa area opened in 1998. The spa reception has a stunning glass pyramid roof, under-floor heating and a fountain. Locker Room Steam Room and Sauna Treatment Room Treatment Room Tanning Bed Floatation Tank Hydrotherapy Tub Manicure Stations Fitness Area Aerobics Room
Suggested	Reading
Castles & Ancient Monuments of Scotland	• Hidden Places of Scotland • Fodor's Scotland • Footprint Scotland Handbook • Poetry of Robert Burns • Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect

Photos copyright 2002, Julie Register