The agony of choice
Beyond the royal neighbours, the Wirths see the property as the preserve of "slow travel". The Fife Arms' interiors have been created by Russell Sage Studio (of The Goring and The Savoy fame) and throughout, there's a Scottish narrative. The property is a true celebration of local craftsmanship, from the walls adorned with house tartan and tweed by Araminta Campbell to the gardens, sculpted by celebrated garden designer Jinny Blom.
There are 46 individually designed bedrooms, from the Royal and Victorian suites to the Nature and Poetry rooms. Outside the property, the Wirths encourage guests of all abilities and interests to wander off into the Scottish Highlands to hunt, stalk, bird, shoot, mountain bike and fish on the neighbouring Invercauld Estate, while in winter months the nearby Glenshee provides the best skiing in Scotland. Otherwise, visitors can attend local musical events at St Margaret's Church, tour the castle, explore the coastline, learn the history behind Scottish whisky, visit sculpture exhibitions in the local villages and learn new artisanal skills via artists-in-residence on the property. For fashionistas, there's even a special Fashion Weekend with exclusive talks during the month of November. Talk about the agony of choice…