Set within eight acres of woodland on North Deeside Road, on the western edge of Aberdeen, you’ll find Marcliffe, the city’s only AA five-star hotel. Since changing hands, the hotel is undergoing a period of significant investment, with a striking £5.5 million glass-domed brasserie, Skylark, and a newly refurbished collection of Suites and Superior rooms, each named after one of the region’s castles. Start the day with a bountiful breakfast in the Conservatory, enjoy afternoon tea or a massage in the spa mid-afternoon, and by evening take a drink in the Drawing Room by the log fire to the sound of the live pianist. And being just 20 minutes from Aberdeen city centre, you have the perfect base for both a city or countryside break in Aberdeenshire.