A golfing visit to Aberdeen

The North-East of Scotland is an area that is blessed with a large number of golf courses within a very small part of the world. Including classic courses such as Royal Aberdeen (the 6th oldest golf club in the world), Murcar and Cruden Bay (often voted in the Top Ten Courses in the United Kingdom).

Aberdeen, known as the Granite City, is an excellent place to base yourself for a trip to these parts. Central Aberdeen is built on a ridge that runs from east-west to the north of the River Dee. The main shopping area is Union Street and the street is lined with Victorian gray granite buildings intermixed with both modern and traditional facades. There is also a busy working harbour where you can get car ferries to Orkney and Shetland, interesting just to stroll around even if you're not going any where. To compliment this, just half a mile from Castlegate is a two mile stretch of beautiful sandy beach.

Skene House HotelSuites in Whitehall is in a quiet part of Aberdeen and is about a ten minute walk to the Aberdeen City Centre and is just one of three Skene House HotelSuites in this area. There are lots of restaurants of a whole variety of styles to suit anyone within easy reach. I'd estimate that within a 15 minute walk there are 25 eating and drinking establishments, sadly didn't have time to try them all!

It is equally suited to couples as it is to families. On arrival you are shown the facilities by the friendly concierge and then taken and shown around your suite. The accommodation is of a very high standard and decorated very tastefully. Offering comfort and some luxury with a homely feel. Each suite has its own kitchen with full facilities including condiments even so far as to include a dishwasher and a small chest freezer. There is a nicely furnished living room along with dining area and also a shower or bathroom with shower. Our particular suite had three bedrooms and two bathrooms, easily would have slept 4 people, ideally suited for a family with two children. Other sized suites are available too.

There is also the nice personal touch of your name being put on the doorbell outside your building. Just one of those little things that makes you smile when you see it for the first time.

On your first night here you are offered a complimentary drink at the bar along with tea, coffee and biscuits. It is an honour bar and so you help yourselves, keeping a tally to hand in at reception on the supplied forms.

The breakfast is of the usual continental buffet offering muffins, cereals, fruit, yoghurts etc. However, if you wish for a more traditional cooked breakfast then that is also available but at a reasonable additional charge. All very nice, though there are no evening meal options on site (aside from cooking for yourself of course), just breakfasts.

If you're planning on visiting the area then Skene House HotelSuites offer a very good alternative to your usual hotel offering. The main difference is simply space and privacy. If you're travelling with children, then they can have their own bedrooms or if your golfing partner snores then he'll be a lot quieter in a different bedroom! You can make yourself a little meal in the kitchen if you wish rather than go out, just lots of things like that which can make a golfing or business trip a lot more pleasurable.

I'm actually struggling to find anything negative to write about our stay in Aberdeen. It's small enough so that traffic and crowds aren't an issue, but large enough that it has lots of variety and choice, whilst Skene House HotelSuites was just a pleasurable experience, the staff were very friendly and helpful, the suites were great and if you like ice cream there is a Baskin Robbins just down the road!

The lounge which leads through to the honour bar.

A view of the living room - the suite is furnished to high and comfortable standard.

One of the bedrooms.

A nice touch is that the guests each have their own doorbell.

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