The Roxburghe, Scottish Borders

Imagine having an entire castle to yourself for a night. Not just any old castle, but one that features some of the most charmingly esoteric and luxurious rooms to be found in any hotel in Britain.

Step beyond the massive oak door into your quarters and the first thing you notice is the four-poster bed.

Then wander - an indication of the generous nature of the accommodation - across to your own private balcony that overlooks the estate's extensive grounds.

While you're on your way, you might notice the complimentary splash of malt, thoughtfully and personally provided by the management.

At The Roxburghe, relaxation comes very easy. Following a stroll around the estate, afternoon melts seamlessly into evening with a pre-dinner aperitif in the cozy library.

The most taxing part of your stay will likely be choosing between the Roasted Monkfish and the Pan-fried Sea Bass; or the Warm Filo Basket filled with Smoked Salmon and the Carpaccio of Venison.

This 200-year-old country house stands in a 50,000-acre estate that was acquired by the Duke of Roxburghe in the 1960s.

Featuring just 22 rooms, all individually appointed, staying here is an experienced to be savoured.rnrnIt oozes class and serenity.

Located close to Kelso in the rural idyll of the Scottish Borders, first-time visitors will find a region waiting to be discovered.rnrn Most travellers, when heading north to Scotland, choose one of two principal routes the M74 towards Glasgow, or the A1 that leads to Edinburgh.

Both bypass the Borders, but there is a third way to approach, and it reveals a long under-appreciated part of the country that is only now beginning to be recognised as a tourist destination in its own right.

The Roxburghe is undoubtedly the jewel in its crown. And that's without even mentioning the 7,100-yard golf course that opened seven years ago.

For a measure of its status, it's worth mentioning the current course-record holder, one Sergio Garcia, and the comments of Colin Montgomerie, when he opened the course alongside Nick Faldo.

"I was impressed with the design and the quality," he said. "The greens were immaculate and the course picturesque, a pleasure to play for professional and amateur alike."

Designed by Dave Thomas, this rolling, tactically demanding layout commands some spectacular views and represents modern course architecture at its best.rnrn The range of tees make it of championship difficulty from the tips, while entirely manageable from further forward.

So 470-yard par fours to test any tournament pro become a more realistic 395 from the yellows for the rest of us for the other 51 weeks of the year.

More importantly, on several holes the fairways are generous enough to offer a straightforward safety-first route to the high handicapper, with the real trouble coming into play only if a more aggressive strategy is pursued.

The spectacular, downhill 10th illustrates this perfectly. Rated the hardest hole on the course, the tee-shot creates something of an illusion.

As the fairway tumbles down beyond the crest of the hill, the green can be seen away to the right in the distance. But play towards it and bunkers and heavy rough are brought into play.rnrnFor most, a far better idea is to aim much further left towards as wide open a fairway as can be imagined. From there a healthy fairway wood down the hill should leave a pitch and an excellent chance of a two-putt five.

Similarly at the 12th, a dangerous medium-length par four that doglegs to the right, it's possible to drive within pitching distance of the green, but that brings into play some more of The Roxburghe's particularly lush brand of rough.