In a recent national survey Sevenoaks found a place in the top five as one of the wealthiest towns in the UK. Sennockians are rich in history – we have Knole and the Vine but, do we live the high-life, situated so close to the stresses of the metropolis?
When the opportunity to visit the Highlands presented itself this May, I jumped at the chance to compare life in Sevenoaks with the high-life in the Highlands. The planned ‘high-life’ tour would take me to Scotland’s capital Edinburgh, and on to Inverness, incidentally, voted fifth, on a national survey, for ‘quality of life’.
First stop on the high-life was The George Hotel, Edinburgh. The George sits in the heart of the city, on George Street known as ‘the Bond Street’ of Edinburgh and the most chic address in the city.
The Grade II listed façade welcomes you grandly in to the landmark hotel which successfully blends period charm with modern fittings. First opened in 1881, the Hotel was a Georgian conversion, from three houses in to one rather grand hotel, which today plays host to the glitterati. We were accorded a marvellous suite – The Stewart Suite – which would the following night be occupied by a famous International Rugby Player.
The Royal Mile, Edinburgh
The high-life can definitely be found on the doorstep on The George – with the Royal Mile and Princes Street, the gardens, designer shops and Edinburgh Waverley Station a stone’s throw away.
After a quick wash and brush up in our suite, we set off for Princes Street. Passing all the major designer labels on the way, my travelling partner propelled me on towards the fabulous Princes Street Gardens nestled below the castle in the centre of the city. The sun was high in the sky above the Castle and tourists and city-dwellers mingled on the slopes of the gardens. Edinburgh is a fantastic city; it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, rich in history containing the medieval Old Town and the Georgian New Town. The city is a favourite for weekenders and for overseas tourists who come to marvel at the Festival and the Tattoo which pack the streets of both the old and new towns in August.
After a trip along the Royal Mile and a whistle-stop tour around the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen’s official residence in Scotland, situated at the end of the Royal Mile, we returned to our swanky abode on George Street. We booked a table at the hotel restaurant and then crossed the street to take in some of the old-world splendour of The Dome, a fantastic bar on George Street. If living the high-life is sipping cocktails, delivered by uniformed waiters, then I could definitely get used to it!
With a warm-feeling in our bellies, we adjourned to EH2 Tempus Bar & Restaurant, a renowned place in Edinburgh for fashionable socialites, and situated, rather conveniently, on the ground floor of our hotel.
Fully refurbished as part of the £20 million investment programme, EH2 Tempus Restaurant & Bar is both stylish and comfortable with Rococo-style cornices, mouldings and chandeliers.
The beautiful setting complemented the dishes on the menu, which included a Sennockian flavour: Loch Fyne Oysters served with shallot, vinegar and Tabasco. Despite the reminder of the famous Loch Fyne restaurant in Sevenoaks, neither my travelling partner nor I went for the oysters, but instead plumped for the Tempus paté served with toast and chutney. We followed the paté with beef Wellington for my partner and grilled yellow fin tuna and spiced lentil salsa for myself. Dom Perignon, Brut and Verve Cliquot were on the menu but we chose to sample the house wine: ‘The riddle’ from Australia, a Chardonnay which left us in no doubt that we’d solved the riddle of where to find the high-life in Scotland.
Inverness
Inverness
The second stop on our high-life tour was the Highland town of Inverness, via a four hour train journey from Edinburgh’s Waverley Station. Travelling by train was a wonderful experience. Crossing the Forth Bridge and traversing the Fyfe coast provided stunning coastal views. And, as the train climbed higher through the highlands we passed through Aviemore, an area of outstanding natural beauty, known well to me as a child from family camping holidays. Thankfully, on this trip I wasn’t carrying my sleeping bag – no! – I was taking a wheel-on carry bag with my very best shoes and dress and a shawl for the cool evenings.
With fantastic travel links, Inverness is a great base from which to explore the Highlands. We chose to go by train from Edinburgh, but Inverness is easily accessible by road and air.
Inverness grew up on the River Ness at the point where the river meets the Moray Firth. It’s the capital of the Highlands and with its beautiful suspension bridges, classic architecture and river frontage, it’s the perfect second destination for Vine’s summer feature on ‘the high life’.
After some initial research, we decided to stay at the four star ‘Columba Hotel’ built in 1881 on the banks of the River Ness, which flows in from Loch Ness. The Columba was named after St Columba who visited the city in AD565 with the intention of converting the ‘Picts’ who held the city.
The Columba has a magnificent situation – with views of the river Inverness Castle. Renovated in 2004 the hotel has a grand feeling of old world charm. Decorated with an Edwardian theme, and with photographs of Edwardian Royalty adorning the walls, the hotel has become a favourite for upwardly mobile travellers and visiting rock stars, keen to entertain the crowds every year at Rock Ness, held close by.
We were given room 204, overlooking River Ness and the Castle. The room was spacious and beautifully decorated. The attention to detail was fantastic and the welcome bottle of scotch on the table, along with the shortbread reminded us that we were indeed living the high-life!
Inverness
After a leisurely bath in the fantastically ornate cast iron bath, we put on our glad rags and moved downstairs to “Castles”, the restaurant at The Columba. The menu was a pleasant change – it was seasonal and offered some fantastic local produce. My dining partner opted for the Scottish Fillet steak, while I went for Scottish salmon.
Bryan Cameron, the duty manager, served us, and gave us a virtual tour of Inverness. Nothing was too much trouble, and Bryan spoiled us with his gentle Scottish charm and his local knowledge. The Scottish fish and beef were sensational. The beef steak was huge, succulent and cooked to a ‘rare’ perfection for my travelling partner, while my scallops and Scottish salmon were so fresh they could have walked out of the nearby Loch.
We finished our meal with the cheese plate and a glass of the house wine which was light and fruity and put us in the mood for a walk around the town.
On our second day in Inverness we meandered along the River Ness where we discovered the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, celebrating all that is Invernessian. If you’re looking for something a little more adrenalin-inducing, then the nearby Cairngorm Mountains offer skiing in the winter months and the Black Isle Wildlife Park will amuse all the family and it is only 15 minutes away. For the adults, you should visit one of the numerous Scottish whisky distilleries and learn how whisky is made and maybe try a wee dram or two. We were lucky enough to get an invite to observe a traditional Scottish wedding. The bridge and groom – Hazel and Jarrad – encouraged the visiting Sennockians to partake in a glass or two of champagne alongside their guests, who had flown in from around the world. And from the rhododendron strewn Castle gardens, on the banks of the Moray Firth, just outside of Inverness, we enjoyed the 26 degree afternoon sunshine.
Our stay in the Highlands was an entertaining comparison to life here in Sevenoaks. There are many similarities between the two towns of Inverness and Sevenoaks – they’re both rich in culture, history and beauty. And although we didn’t manage to find a Ferrari dealer, we did find a great deal with regards to ‘quality of life’, thanks to the geniality of the people.
Retiring to the comfort of The Columba for our final night in the town, we went to bed knowing that we’d feel home-sick for a town which knows a thing or two about living the ‘high-life’.
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