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Rufflets ****

St Andrews, Fife

Deluxe

Acclaimed country house hotel committed to reducing its carbon emissions

DESCRIPTION

Rufflets is one of Scotland’s highest quality country house hotels. The turreted mansion house set in 10 acres of award-winning gardens is just outside of St Andrews and has been in the same family since 1952.

Accommodation consists of 24 individually designed bedrooms and three suites, 19 in the main house. They include the four poster Turret Room - voted Britain's most romantic - and 2 lodges in the grounds which can be self-catering if desired.

The Garden Restaurant with its modern Scottish menu has regularly been awarded two AA Rosettes. The garden supplies much of the fresh produce.

Bar lunches are served in the brasserie style Music Room Bar and Library where 100 malt whiskys are also on offer. Afternoon tea is available in the elegant drawing room.

With St Andrews renowned as the “home of golf” this is a main attraction and the hotel has a golf advisor.

GREEN FEATURES

Rufflets is committed to reduce its carbon emissions and is the first official “CarbonNeutral” hotel in Scotland following its assessment with The Carbon Neutral Company of its emissions. It is investing in three projects to offset its carbon footprint including the reforestation of the Carrifran Valley in the Scottish Borders.

The hotel has achieved the gold award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme for its operation with action points for each department and measures such as low energy lighting and encouraging guests to use showers instead of baths and more to come with the new Garden Suite, a weddings and conference venue, including harvesting rainwater for use in all the WCs, supplying the existing on-site laundry, and providing irrigation for the surrounding garden.

Stephen Owen, General Manager of Rufflets says he feels the hotel has a moral obligation to reduce the effects its operations have on the environment.