Blantyre

Blantyre, a Tudor-style mansion built in 1902, is set on a hill on 115 acres of spectacular Berkshire countryside. Replicating a grand Scottish manor, Blantyre is indeed a step back into a place and time of elegance and gracious living, bringing to the visitor a world of serene European ambiance, calm, courtesy, charm, and cuisine. From the main hall with its immense fireplace and massive, ornate furniture, a sweeping oak staircase leads you up to eight of the bedrooms. I love the grandeur of The Paterson Suite with its king mahogany four-poster bed sitting beneath exquisite flower prints, large sitting area with fireplace, and two bathrooms. Additional guestrooms are found in the carriage house and cottages. In the carriage house, Wyndhurst has a king four-poster bed and French windows opening onto the expansive lawns. One of the cottages, The Ice House, has been converted to a magnificent suite of rooms and a separate guestroom on the lower level. Several rooms have fireplaces and all provide every luxurious amenity. The conservatory is the setting for breakfast and lunch. Dinner is served in the formal dining room of the main house. Exclusive for guests, the Potting Shed offers intimate spa services and in winter the tennis courts convert to an ice-skating rink complete with a Snow Concierge and a nearby warming hut is popular with guests who have taken advantage of the extensive snowshoeing trails.