Cuddly alpacas and a fine gin – the perfect tonic at Peebles Hydro

The sprawling Peebles Hydro is a sight to behold.

Upon first glance, it’s easy to mistake Peebles Hydro Hotel for a castle. It’s quite a sight when you finally catch a glimpse of it for the time it, it’s huge, on a sprawling estate right in the heart of the Scottish borders.

The hotel is rich in history, having opened in 1881 it was one of many in the UK to provide hydrotherapy and water cures for guests. The process is documented in black-and-white photographs for visitors to peruse in the hotel lobby.

The hotel boasts a variety of rooms including those which are used to cater for weddings, vintage car meets and other events, as well as the hotel’s restaurants with menus that are bursting with local Borders produce and a cocktail bar which boasts an easy-going vibe.

After settling in, I was delighted to meet some of the newest residents of the Peebles Hydro family, three adorable alpacas, that were slightly soggy from the rain, but were more than happy to be patted and cuddled.

The trio will be allowed to take part in alpaca walks once they have completed their training.

Next, we headed downstairs to the 1881 Gin Distillery Experience, which proved to be every bit as exciting as I had hoped it would.

The hotel offers guests the chance to make their very own bespoke gin. We were offered nibbles before being given a very insightful presentation on how gin came to be made. Then we were given several different types of gin to taste, some of which were stronger than others, before we headed off to our work stations to begin the process of making our very own gin.

I chose a selection of peppermint, hibiscus, roses and eucalyptus for mine, which I added into a beaker and was given a label to add what I had chosen and to pick a name for my gin. I named mine ‘peplyptus gin’.

During the time it took for the gin to brew, we got to see where the hotel’s own gin was made, and where they took orders for it, which was very interesting, especially when it came to learning about how where they got their inspiration for new recipes from.

After getting the lowdown on all things gin at Peebles Hydro, we returned to our own concoctions. The alcoholic content was measured, with mine coming in at a nice 46%, with another member of our group coming in at a brain-busting 57%.

Gin-making classes allow you to put together your own concoction.

Our gin was distilled and I got to take my own 70cl bottle home with me to enjoy at a later date.

After this, I headed to dinner at the hotel’s The Grill Room, a large hall with several tables spread out.

The photos truly don’t do it justice, the large wine bar at the back, the tall windows and the large shimmering lights and the hustle of staff carrying delicious looking food.

Being a vegetarian, I was more than happy to see several options were available to me, and enjoyed a gnocchi pasta, followed by an apple tart, which went down a treat.

Afterwards we headed back to our room for a well-earned rest.

The next morning we rose early and opted to make of use the hotel’s leisure facilities due to non-stop rain, but there are also numerous outdoor activities for guests to take part in, such as archery and air-rifle shooting.

One particular activity that caught my eye was the escape room, which looked like good fun.

We headed to the pool, where we enjoyed the luxury of having it almost entirely to ourselves and then made use of the jacuzzi and steam room, which we very much enjoyed, before heading back to The Grill for a buffet style breakfast.

Once again, I was delighted to find a lot of vegetarian options, such as sausages and pastries and enjoyed being absolutely stuffed by the time we were done.

We then took a brief walk around the grounds, surveying the garden and paths before taking the five minute walk into Peebles town centre where we enjoyed seeing the local shops.

We then headed back up through the grounds and briefly stopped to see the alpacas being fed and bid them goodbye before we headed up the stairs to make our return journey to Glasgow.

P.S. Whether you’re a family searching for a fun getaway, a couple on a romantic retreat, or simply someone looking for a peaceful escape, the Peebles Hydro Hotel offers a welcoming atmosphere and it’s also a welcome plus that four-legged friends are also welcome.