Hands up if you know someone who got married in a Scottish castle? You’ve seen the otherworldly photos and heard the wistful stories of kilts, whisky, tiaras and turrets. They’re something special that’s for sure. If you don’t have the family ties or the budget for a Scottish destination wedding, don’t worry, there’s romance in spades on this bonnie land after the big day.

Here’s two hotels that are perfect for a fairytale Scottish honeymoon.

Cromlix Hotel, Dunblane

Manicured woodlands and a grand driveway set a misleading scene for Cromlix. At first glance, it looks like a classic Victorian era country estate – like the many dotted around Scottish townships outside Edinburgh. But then, you walk through the front door and spot the bright pink lounge chairs and dramatic dark floral curtains. You head into the drawing room and there’s mustard yellow couches mixed with green armchairs, and mint walls with a yellow ceiling. There are fabulous floral cushions, glass floor lamps and so many layers of  patterns on the furniture, rugs and curtains that complement each other just so.

After being bought and renovated by tennis player Andy Murray and his wife Kim, the Cromlix now has serious design chops. There’s not a corner of the hotel that hasn’t been thoughtfully curated with wallpaper, art, and furniture pieces. There’s even gold embossed Cromlix art collection compendiums for you to peruse throughout the hotel.

This hotel is made for new age romance. Hide away in the signature Tulip Suite where you’re sequestered in a wing of the hotel with a four poster candy-striped bed that’s hard to leave and a freestanding bath tub that will call your name. Then there’s the living room with a glass covered plate of Andy’s grandma’s shortbread that’s too moreish to leave for long. That’s if you have room after a decadent afternoon tea in the Drawing Room – even the delicate lemon drizzle cake and neon pink rhubarb macarons match the room décor. A glass of Taittinger Champagne is the icing on the cake.

Linger over tea, or make your way to the bar to sample Cromlix’s very own gin before dinner. It makes an excellent G&T. Dinner is served under hanging candelabra and a glass ceiling. With long summer days, the stars aren’t twinkling yet as we dine on local Scottish beef and salad from the kitchen garden but it’s a fairytale setting none the less.

Mar Hall Golf & Spa Resort

There’s a sprawling 240 acres to play with on the riverfront Mar Hall Golf Resort & Spa estate twenty minutes south of Glasgow. The grand mansion certainly feels in proportion – the dramatic Victorian Gothic architecture rises up to greet us. There’s a grand stag statue and a red carpet at the front door, but that’s where the traditional stuff ends. Inside, we walk up a fabulous patterned pink carpet staircase, lined with towering palm trees and lanterns, all the way to reception where burnt orange velvet ottomans and lounges await. This grand estate has had a major overhaul and it’s now home to a mix of old world glamour and new age tastes. The high ceilings of The Gallery have been painstakingly repainted in white and gold, arching over a brand new champagne bar that’s also well-stocked with local Scottish gins. Take afternoon tea here, perched in velvet embroidered armchairs, or head outside like we do to bask in the mild Scottish sun when it makes an appearance. The rose beds have been restored for the first time in 20 years, and a lavender-strewn fountain completes the picture.

The hotel’s glamorous new look doesn’t end there. In our Grand Suite, the parquetry is a creamy oak, the walls covered in delicate light blue and cream wallpaper, the living room filled with low lying velvet lounge chairs and the bathroom a dramatic marble that has me wanting to move in forever immediately. We have a grand piano should we choose to tinkle the ivories and a wall full of colour co-ordinated books, some signed and dating back to the late 1800s. It’s a suite perfect for honeymoons. You won’t want to leave the bath, and why would you, when you can peer out over the bath to the River Clyde.

Back downstairs, tucked into a drawing room is the decadent Slàinte bar. The pendant lights look like molten gold in the sunset light, while the bar feels Great Gatsby inspired. We sip dainty cocktails inspired by the 180 year history of Mar Hall and the surrounding Glasgow city – my Gallant 74 balances gin and sparkling rose with a lemon twist or there’s a heartier Highland Mist that pays homage to the Scottish land with a smokey whisky experience. Night caps never looked so good.

If you’re dreaming of a luxury Scottish honeymoon, the resort at Mar Hall shows how the historic can meet modern glam.

If your heart is set on Scottish romance, whether that’s in the old world glamour of a sprawling estate or the intimacy of an uber luxe boutique hotel, Scotland definitely delivers with these two hotels.

Thank you to Lisa and Mar Hall and Cromlix Hotel for the beautiful photographs!

About Lisa Perkovic: Lisa has spent the past decade travelling the world writing for Australia’s leading newspapers, magazines, and blogs about all things travel. Her own honeymoon was her pièce de résistance – an epic journey to the Maldives and South Africa. Now she loves nothing more than sharing destinations and tips to help other newlyweds work out how to have the honeymoon of their dreams.