Stobo Castle Health Spa in Stobo, Peeblesshire, Scotland

Julie Register, Your Guide to Spas, toured this destination spa 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. Be sure to click on the photos on the left so you can see what I did.

Index Click HERE for photos of the Spa and Treatment Rooms at Stobo Castle, Scotland Click HERE for photos of the Exterior and Common Rooms at Stobo Castle, Scotland Click HERE for photos of the Accommodations at Stobo Castle, Scotland 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 Westin Turnberry Resort, Scotland Golf Courses and Spa • The Gleneagles Hotel • The Old Course St. Andrews Golf Resort & Spa • One Spa at the Sheraton Grand Edinburgh Complete Spa Index • Destination Spas and Spa Resorts in Scotland • Day Spas in Scotland Related Resources • Connoisseur's Scotland • About Scotland • Golf in Scotland • Attractions in Scotland • Little's Chauffer Drive • Virgin Atlantic (offers massage and hand therapy on random basis in Upper Class on Heathrow flights) • British Airways • Scotland for Visitors Related Books Castles & Ancient Monuments of Scotland • Hidden Places of Scotland • Fodor's Scotland 2002 • Footprint Scotland Handbook • Poetry of Robert Burns • Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect

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.

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