Overview of Peebles Hydro

Once one of Scotland's great Hydropathic Institutions, the Peebles Hydro of today is a rather less grand building than once occupied this site. Originally constructed in 1878-81 in the French Renaissance style, that building was destroyed by fire in 1905. Its replacement was built by James Miller (1860 - 1947) between 1905-07, with an appearance which has been described as that of an American Railway Hotel, with two levels of dormers are inserted into its red-tile roof. Its eleven-bay facade projects south from the slopes of Ven Law. Its fine balconies were enclosed in glass in 1952 to form a sun-terrace. Peebles Hydro is noted for its fine Edwardian interiors The baronial Bannockburn Room is of particular note, with its panorama of the famous battle of 1314, which dates from 1888 - a survivor of the old hotel. Externally, a three-storey red-sandstone block at the northwest corner of the current building is also remnant of the original structure.

Set in policies which extend to 12 ha (30 acres), including a fine Victorian terraced garden, the 132-bedroom hotel now aims to a serve as a self-contained resort. It benefits from a range of facilities, including a billiard room, gymnasium, sauna and indoor swimming pool, together with an adventure playground, badminton and tennis courts, cycling and horse riding facilities, a putting green and woodland nature trails.