Greywalls Hotel Mairfield

Greywalls Hotel, with its wrap-around formal walled garden of about six acres, was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1901. We are open all year round. Greywalls was built as a holiday home for its original owner, the Hon. Alfred Lyttelton. Lyttleton, a keen golfer, insisted that the house be built ‘within a mashie niblick shot of the eighteenth green at Muirfield’.

With its warm honey coloured stone from the local Rattlebags Quarry, pantiles from Denmark and its crescent shaped symmetry it was always one of the Edwin Lutyen’s favourites.

In 1905 Mr. William James bought Greywalls and, finding that the house was not big enough for his family, had the lodges at the gate built on in 1908 to accommodate staff and asked Sir Robert Lorimer, one of Scotland’s leading architects, to build on the ‘Nursery’ wing to the West in 1911.

Before the First World War the lovely Mrs Willy James, wife of the second owner, used to entertain Edward VII here, at Greywalls. The house was not large enough for the James’ parties and they commissioned Sir Robert Lorimer, one of Scotlands’ most famous architects to build a ‘nursery’ wing in 1911, having already added a fine entrance courtyard and lodges to house the staff in 1908.

So Greywalls is not only the sole surviving Lutyens house in Scotland today, it is also the only house which can boast examples of the work of two of the UK’s leading architects of their day. In 1924 Lt. Col. Sir James Horlick, great grandfather of Giles Weaver, bought the house. The Weaver family used it as their summer holiday house until the beginning of World War Two.

The Weaver family have done their utmost to preserve the character of the original Lutyens design by continuing to use Rattlebags stone from a local quarry worked by monks, and the ‘pan tiles’ made specially in Holland.

SIR EDWIN LUTYENS
Greywalls was designed by Edwin Lutyens and built in 1901. The house was described by Sir Laurence Weaver in his book Houses and Gardens by Sir Edwin Lutyens as ‘a small, albeit dignified, holiday home’.

Edwin Lutyens was knighted in 1918 for his contributions to architecture. He received the Gold Medal of the Royal Incorporation of British Architects in 1921 and was made President of the Royal Academy in 1938.

He died in London in 1944. Edwin Lutyens and his colleague and garden designer Gertrude Jekyll were the ‘dream team’ of house and garden design in the early 20th century.

This innovative partnership of Lutyens’ distinctive architecture and Jekyll’s garden plans produced some of the most desirable properties in Britain, Europe and North America. Both were profoundly influenced by the Arts & Crafts movement and ultimately became one it’s leading exponents.

Gertrude Jekyll did her best work with Edwin Lutyens. Her own garden in Surrey was designed by Lutyens and planted by her, and they and they worked together in the same way on numerous commissions, mostly in England.

Although there is no documentary evidence to connect her with the garden at Greywalls, it has been suggested in recent years that it is an example of their work together, the only one in Scotland.

THE GARDENS AT GREYWALLS
If the enduring image of an Edwardian garden is of a place to promenade, of secluded seating areas where assignations can take place and of tea, cucumber sandwiches and lemonade served on the lawn on a warm summers afternoon, then Greywalls is the quintessential example. At Greywalls the visitor sees none of the harsh edges so often found in Scottish gardens.

The gentle countryside drifts into the distance, echoed by the curving sky. The occasional clatter of a lawn mower in the distance and the cooing of wood pigeons conjures up a very pastoral and timeless feel. One of the highlights of the garden at Greywalls is the walls, although why the house’s original name High Walls was changed to Greywalls remains a mystery.

The walls are not even grey, but a mellow mix of yellow, cinnamon and pink brick, with pantiled copes of grey slate. The arched doorways in the walls have beautiful detailing using these grey slates in an Art Deco design.

There are straight walls and curved walls cunningly laid out to create rooms and vistas; radiating paths link entrances and exits through the doors, beckoning you through. It is the perfect place to wander.You can almost hear the swish of oyster-coloured satin skirts and smell the scent of rose and lavender water.

The straight lines are softened by the curves of the walls and the proportions are totally satisfying, being neither too large nor too small but just right. Everywhere there are places to sit, in sun and in shade, in solitary contemplation, or in companionable conversation.

ROOMS & SUITES
Each bedroom at Greywalls is unique, with its own décor and antique furnishings. Greywalls provides facilities that match those of many hotels with TV, phone and ensuite bathroom for each of the rooms. We have 17 bedrooms in the hotel which are comprised of:

• 1 Premium Spa Double Room
• 11 Large Rooms
• 1 Small Double Room
• 4 Single Bedded Caddy Closet Rooms
• There are also have 6 self contained Cottage Rooms which are not connected to the main House and are located 100 yards from it.
  • 4 Large Cottage Double Rooms
  • 2 Small Cottage Double Rooms

Most rooms enjoy uninterrupted views either over Muirfield and the Firth of Forth, or over the gardens and the gentle rolling farmland to the Lammermuir Hills.

THE COLONEL’S HOUSE
Known as the Colonel’s House, the Weaver Family built this attractive lodge, just beyond the Greywalls’ Gates, in the late 1960’s for Colonel Weaver’s retirement. The house is light and spacious.

It has a charming drawing room with French windows opening on to a private garden and terrace, a full kitchen for those preferring to dine within the house and there is also a small, cosy study where the housekeeper can set out a drinks tray.

The four good-sized bedrooms are comfortably furnished and each has its own bathroom. Two of the bedrooms are en-suite and two have their bathroom located just outside the bedroom. There are two further single rooms annexed off one of the double rooms, these require shared bathroom facilities.

The house provides comfortable and relaxing accommodation just a short walk from Greywalls, where you can enjoy the hotel amenities and relax for breakfast each morning. Book some massage treatments to complement your stay.

Located 500 yards from Greywalls the Colonel’s House provides self-contained accommodation for up to 8 people. Ideal for golfing groups or a family party. The Colonel’s House is also available as additional accommodation alongside Greywalls itself.

DINING
Spread across 4 rooms, including a Whisky room and Sunroom, Chez Roux can offer settings to suit the occasion, season or time-of day. The service matches that of the hotel; welcoming yet refined, attentive yet unobtrusive.

THE AFTERNOON TEA
Available 2.30pm – 4pm daily. Visit the tranquil surroundings of Greywalls with our options of Afternoon Tea. Select your choice of tea leaves from our very own tea menu and enjoy our Chef’s savoury finger sandwiches, freshly made scones and selection of sweet delicatessens.

COOKERY DEMONSTRATION & LUNCH
Michel Roux Jr will host an exclusive masterclass, giving you the opportunity to learn how to make some of his favourite dishes. Watch Michel Roux Jr at work and experience a delicious two course lunch with paired glass of wine.

SCOTTISH CHRISTMAS
Celebrate a traditional Scottish Christmas at Greywalls, where we have created a wonderfully decadent package that will allow you to enjoy a tranquil yet fun filled three day break.

Greywalls Hotel is uniquely situated on the edge of Muirfield championship golf course with stunning views over East Lothian and the Firth of Forth. Overlooking the world famous greens of the 9th & 18th holes, it has earned itself a reputation as ‘a golfers’ paradise’!

Start your break on Christmas Eve relaxing in the library or drawing room, by a roaring fire and enjoy full afternoon tea. We begin the evening with a ‘Bubbly’ reception and Pianist, followed by a candle-lit three course dinner. Hot toddies and mince pies will be served to guests returning from midnight mass.

Wake up on Christmas Day to a stocking outside your door and a glass of Bucks Fizz, followed by breakfast. From 12.30pm our superb Christmas Lunch will be served, preceded by a ‘Bubbly’ reception and pianist.

In the afternoon, everyone can enjoy games, unwrap presents or put their feet up and snooze. We can provide walking maps too for those feeling energetic. In the evening we will serve our delicious buffet.

SCOTTISH HOGMANAY
Celebrate a traditional Scottish Hogmanay at Greywalls, where we have created a wonderfully decadent package that will allow you to enjoy a tranquil yet fun filled three day break.

Greywalls Hotel is uniquely situated on the edge of Muirfield championship golf course with stunning views over East Lothian and the Firth of Forth. Overlooking the world famous greens of the 9th & 18th holes, it has earned itself a reputation as ‘a golfers’ paradise’!

On the 30th December we will welcome you with afternoon tea in the library or drawing room, by a roaring fire. We begin the evening with a ‘Bubbly’ reception, followed by a candle-lit three course dinner.

Wake up on Hogmanay and start the last day of Old Year with a leisurely breakfast. Enjoy afternoon tea in front of the fire and prepare to bring in 2024. We will begin the evening with a ‘Bubbly’ reception followed by our Black-Tie New Year dinner and an evening of music and dancing.

BUSINESS MEETINGS
The quiet elegance of the house together with its breathtaking location overlooking the historic links of Muirfield make Greywalls a perfect retreat for boardroom meetings, decision making and corporate entertaining.

Only a short drive from Edinburgh, Greywalls provides a stunning rural setting for exclusive boardroom meetings and corporate away days. With gracious public rooms the ground floor of the house provides flexible, elegant accommodation that can be set up to suit your particular requirements.

WEDDINGS
The elegant house, enchanting gardens and stunning location make Greywalls a truly beautiful location for a wedding. The house provides an impressive backdrop to your celebration with versatile facilities that can make your wedding day a joy for you and each one of your guests. We hold a licence that means you may choose to have the wedding ceremony here as well as the reception.

EXCLUSIVELY YOURS
We offer you the exclusive use of the house and gardens for your wedding. Your guests will be able to stroll in the garden, sip champagne on the lawn and take in the views over the gardens and Muirfield golf course from the house.

The Main Dining Room at Greywalls will seat 50 guests and the smaller, adjacent Original Dining Room will seat 30 guests for a more intimate occasion, both offering wonderful vistas over Muirfield, to the sea and Fife. Larger events can be accommodated in a marquee located in the charming period gardens.

THE CEREMONY
A marriage ceremony at Greywalls is a very special experience. The ceremony can be held in the Sun Room which overlooks the beautiful gardens, elsewhere in the house or of course in the garden itself.

Floral displays can be arranged to complement the bridal bouquet and with music to suit your taste together with the historical décor, paintings and antiques the setting could not be more romantic.

THE WEDDING BREAKFAST
The perfect wedding breakfast is a careful selection of dishes that complements your vision for the day. Dining at Greywalls can be as relaxed or as formal as the party requires and we will be delighted to work with you to create just the right atmosphere for your wedding celebration.

GOLF
Book Greywalls, revel in the distinctive surroundings, and enjoy some of Scotland’s finest golf. The house is situated on the very edge of the historic links at Muirfield and within a few miles of the championship golf courses of Gullane, Luffness, North Berwick, Renaissance and Archerfield.

Greywalls has a long, established relationship with golf, with many golfing greats having enjoyed our hospitality during past Open championships. We can provide luxury accommodation for golfing parties up to 40 people in the main house. Smaller groups may prefer the Colonel’s House.

When you book Greywalls your party has the exclusive use of the house and gardens for the duration of your stay. Enjoy the seclusion and distinctive atmosphere of this unique property.

Linger over a drink on the lawn overlooking the 18th green of Muirfield. Stroll through the tranquil gardens. Dine with more views of the golf course. Relax in the understated comfort of our lounges and library. Retire to individually designed bedrooms, furnished with antiques. Those in the know return again and again.

GOLF COURSES
East Lothian has often been called a golfer’s paradise. The region’s microclimate ensures more playable days than elsewhere in Scotland. Most of East Lothian’s golf courses are traditional Scottish links style with undulating fairways, hidden bunkers, gorse and heather lining the fairways.

With ten golf courses, including four championship courses, within 5 miles of Greywalls this has to be the perfect venue for anyone wishing to sample the full spectrum of Scottish Golf at its best.

Today Greywalls sits proudly alongside the clubhouse of the world renowned Muirfield. Guests can look out onto the course and across this famous landscape to the Firth of Forth and the Kingdom of Fife.

Whilst we don’t have our own Golf Course at Greywalls, we do have a special relationship with Murifield and Archerfield Links whereby we can get tee times subject to availability. Please see details below under the relevant section.

All other Golf courses in the area are independent of us and as such we don’t have access to tee times, enquiries need to be made direct with the relevant golf course.

We would be delighted to suggest itineraries and arrange transport but tee times must be booked direct with the relevant courses. We can arrange a sports/deep tissue massage when you come off the course. Please book in advance.

MUIRFIELD 
Muirfield is the most famous and one of just three private major courses in Scotland requiring private arrangements for play. Home to the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, Muirfield is regarded as the oldest Golf Club in the world having been originally founded in 1744. As host to The British Open 16 times Muirfield is ranked amongst the top fifty courses in the world.

We are fortunate enough to be allocated a very limited amount of tee times at the HCEG. These are on selected Mondays and Fridays from April to October. To secure a tee time you must stay at Greywalls for a minimum of 2 nights.

You must have a handicap of 18 or better and be able to provide a certificate to that effect. Please note our tee times only grant access to the course and practice facilities and not the clubhouse.

GULLANE
Gullane Golf Club is a private Members’ Club that welcomes visitors to play its three courses. Unlike many other Scottish links courses they are quite hilly which adds to the golf challenge and offers superb panoramic views over the Firth of Forth.

ARCHERFIELD
We are delighted to say that the World Class Archerfield Links located 1 mile from Greywalls does afford us tee times at a preferential rate. Archerfield with its two courses, the Fidra and Dirleton Links, is a private members club.

As such you are playing as guests of Greywalls and all booking enquiries must be made by Greywalls on your behalf. Please contact us on 01620 842 144 and we would be happy to assist you further with any enquiry.

NORTH BERWICK 
Like so many Scottish golf courses, North Berwick’s two links golf courses are open to the public as well as members. North Berwick Golf Club looks after the famous West Links course and The Glen is a popular alternative at the other end of the town. There is also a charming children’s course at North Berwick. Grown-ups will need nothing more than a seven iron – but it is a very popular little diversion.

WHITEKIRK & DUNBAR
Further afield, less than 20 minutes drive, is the challenging course at Whitekirk – a hilly inland course with magnificent views over the East Lothian countryside – and Dunbar with its historic links course often used as a pre-qualifier for the British Open.

GIN & WHISKY TOUR
Through the day you will enjoy an in-depth local insight into the Lowland marvels and landscapes as well as some unique experiences at a Gin & a Whisky distillery. Along your Lowland journey you will pass through picturesque East Lothian including some stunning coastal routes.

You will visit the home of ‘The Edinburgh Malt’, Glenkinchie Distillery, for a tour and tasting experience. In the afternoon, you will enjoy a traditional afternoon tea to compliment your tour and tasting at the award wining NB Gin Distillery.

The contrasts between Scotland’s traditional Scotch Whisky and new exciting Gin will provide a taster of the Scot’s ingenuity for flavour and unique spirits. Highlights include:

• Tour and Tasting Experience at Glenkinchie Distillery
• Tour, Tasting and Afternoon Tea at NB Gin Distillery
• Scenic tour of East Lothian

EDINBURGH & SURROUNDINGS
Scotland’s beautiful capital city, Edinburgh, is filled with thousands of years of history. Soaking in all that information can be difficult, so our experienced local driver-guide will cover all the iconic sites as well as some lesser-known haunts.

Edinburgh and its surroundings offers something for everyone, from its rich historic legacy, iconic sights to the latest in modern architecture and design. At the top of the high street, also known as the Royal Mile, you will find Edinburgh’s famous castle, where you will discover the history of this stunning city.

You will then head to Leith, the historic port area of the city, where you will discover the Royal Yacht Britannia, which transported the royal family and their retinue all over the world for fifty years. ‘Edinburgh,’ said writer Robert Louis Stevenson, ‘is what Paris ought to be’. Highlights include:

• Visit to Edinburgh Castle
• Visit to Royal Yacht Britannia

LOCAL HISTORY TOUR
East Lothian is perhaps best known for it’s beautiful coastal golf courses, but it’s fascinating history and ancient architecture equally draw travellers from all over the World. Today you will have the fortunate opportunity to explore a number of the areas most historically significant sites including Tantallon Castle, Rosslyn Chapel, and Dirleton Castle & Gardens.

Throughout the day your driver-guide will talk you through the legends of the area and the significant events that took place to shape Scotland as we know and love it. Highlights include:

• Climb the Ruins of Tantallon Castle
• Explore the Intricate Nooks & Crannies’ of Rosslyn Chapel
• Explore the Fortifications and Gardens of Dirleton Castle

LIVE LIKE A LOCAL TOUR
Today you will experience Scotland’s natural larder at it’s finest. East Lothian is blessed with sea and coastline, rolling farmland and glorious hillsides as a stunning backdrop to the highest quality products found in Scotland.

As you explore East Lothian you will have the opportunity to taste some local food; from local cheese and smoked salmon to local cheese with East Lothian’s popular ‘Cheese Lady’, the endless variety of fresh Scottish produce will amaze your taste buds.

Round off the day with a stroll through the picturesque seaside village of North Berwick with a chance to pop into its boutique shops. Highlights include:

• Belhaven Smokehouse
• Haddington Cheese Lady
• North Berwick Lobster Shack
• North Berwick Boutique Shopping

EDINBURGH WALING TOUR
Scotland’s beautiful capital city, Edinburgh, is filled with thousands of years of history. Soaking in all that information can be difficult, so our experienced local guide will cover all the iconic sites as well as some lesser-known haunts. Edinburgh offers something for everyone, from its rich historic legacy, iconic sights to the latest in modern architecture and design.

The high street, also known as the Royal Mile, which leads from the castle to the palace is home to many of Edinburgh’s key historic sites, including St Giles’ Cathedral, John Knox’s House and the old and new Parliament buildings. ‘Edinburgh,’ said writer Robert Louis Stevenson, ‘is what Paris ought to be’. Highlights include:

• Visit to Edinburgh Castle
• Visit to Palace of Holyrood House
• Mary King’s Close Experience

Rooms: 17

Price: from 195 EUR per night

Source: www.greywalls.co.uk