Rufflets St Andrews

Rufflets is where you can take time to connect with yourself and those you love. Where you can find a treasured, personal space whether that’s inside, curled up in a cosy, fireside corner, or outside, finding your inner peace in a quiet spot in our shady woodland or strolling through our colourful gardens.

Whether it’s your first visit to Rufflets or you’ve been coming to stay with us for years, you’ll feel like you’ve always been part of our extended family by the welcome you receive.

We’re naturally warm hosts and want you to feel relaxed enough to be completely at home here. We have so many lovely spaces to enjoy, both inside and out, and we want guests to find a special place that feels just right for them.

If you’re after some quietude, then settle down by the fire with a good book and maybe even a wee dram of whisky. You’re on holiday after all! But then again, if you’re after a social space with a buzzy vibe, then head to our sun-soaked terraced for a glass of fizz.

Being away from home is a golden opportunity to reconnect, not just with a loved one or family, but the wider environment, and the beautiful countryside that surrounds us.

And ultimately, it’s a time to reconnect with yourself, to step away from the hum drum and take stock of what’s really important. Rufflets is where you will leave more content and relaxed than when you arrived.

THE HISTORY
Rufflets was built in 1924 as a private home for Anne Brydon Gilroy, the widow of a successful Dundee merchant who traded in jute, a natural fibre used to make cloth. You can see her initials ABG engraved on the key stone above the door leading to the formal gardens.

Until 1924, the 10 acres of Rufflets grounds had been used for agricultural purposes. Records from 1642 show that the land was owned by the Priory of St Andrews, and was known as the “Ruch (pronounced ruff) Flets” which in the old Scots tongue meant ‘rough, flat lands’.

In 1952, the seven bedroom turreted mansion was bought by George and Margaret Cook and business partners, Anna and James Meldrum. The two women were sisters and the men, lifelong friends. The group sold their business and home, and ploughed their fortune and passion into turning it into one of Scotland’s first and finest country house hotels.

Today, Rufflets’ board comprises Mark and Christopher Forrester, grandsons of two of the original founders, their mother, Ann Murray-Smith, who took over the business from her parents in 1976, and Marco Truffelli, Italo-British hotelier, who partnered with them in early 2020.

SUSTAINABILITY
We are constantly evolving our practises with the aim of limiting the impact we have on our environment. We have ploughed our green energy into our gardens, creating wild flower areas, extending our kitchen gardens and designing a healing garden.

But that’s just the start of our love affair with nature. Many of the fruits and vegetables you eat here have been grown in the kitchen garden, and our meat and seafood is as local as we can find.

We compost all of our waste food, and are taking steps for our soil to be certified ‘organic’ in the near future. Water from the burns is used to irrigate the gardens, and there is wildlife in abundance in our thriving natural habitat. Read more about our regenerative gardening adventure here.

Inside, we are doing all we can to keep our carbon footprint as light as it can be. Due to a number offsetting initiatives, Rufflets first achieved a carbon neutral status in 2007, one of the first hotels in the UK to do so. But we certainly aren’t going to rest on our carbon neutral laurels.

In May 2021 we invested in excess of £50,000 in a state-of-the-art boiler system which will reduce gas consumption by over 40%. Now you can enjoy a long soak in a hot bath, safe in the knowledge that the luxury of warmth isn’t literally costing The Earth. We are continuing to work further migrate our energy consumption over the next 24 months, so watch this space!

ROOMS & SUITES
Every bedroom has its own distinct shape, size and personality, but each one is as warm and inviting as the next. Our countryside location means that most of our bedrooms look out onto our gorgeous gardens or wooded front, so you can always find a calming space to gaze at.

Whether you’re relaxing in a Classic Room or luxuriating in our impressive Turret Rooms or Suites, you’ll always enjoy a restful time in the luxury of your bedroom sanctuary.

THE GILROY SUITE
Nestled between two turrets, this is where traditional elegance meets lovely modern touches. South facing and sun-soaked, enjoy the separate sitting room designed for lounging and laughing. Named after the original owner of Rufflets House, this suite is located on the first floor.

THE ORCHARD SUITE
Located just 50 yards from the main house, this delightful ground floor suite is in the east wing of the modern Rufflets Lodge. The bedroom area is large and the separate sitting rom has wonderful views over the formal gardens and lawns, making it a peaceful sanctuary for a longer, more luxurious stay.

TURRET ROOMS
Gaze across the garden from a magnificent turret seat or imagine yourself royal for a splendid night or two in a four-poster bed. Both of our Turret Rooms are designed for a something special stay.

The four-poster bedroom is decorated in cool, cream shades, while the second has a bold feel with eye-catching wallpaper, a feature upholstered headboard made from an antique dresser and a private balcony for your very own Romeo and Juliet moment.

SUPERIOR ROOMS
Our three Superior Rooms have different layouts but all are bright, sunny rooms with bold designs and lovely garden views. Two are in the main house while the third is located in The Gatehouse, just a short walk away from the main hotel, with a ground floor setting and private parking.

SHEPHERD HUT
The next stage in Rufflets’ ambitious evolution will come to life in this Autumn and we can’t wait to introduce you to our newest additions! Stunning luxury shepherd huts, nestled in the tranquillity of the hotel’s wooded grounds, will be available to enjoy from 1st September 2023.

Lovingly crafted in Somerset by Blackdown Shepherd Huts Ltd, each hut and it’s bespoke interior takes up to 550 hours of work to complete, using only the highest quality materials.

Blackdown bring their years of experience to each project and will be working with Rufflets to create shepherd huts that are inspired by their historic Scottish location, and seamlessly marry the uniqueness of Rufflets as a stay experience together with the heritage feel that shepherd huts embody.

KINNESS LUXURY LODGE
Unwind in this beautiful private lodge, designed for up to 8 adults. Enjoy the relaxed, social spaces including a large lounge with balcony views of the gardens and babbling Kinness Burn. Avail yourself of our mouthwatering restaurant menus at meal times, or manage your own appetites and eat in the modern dining kitchen.

This self catering lodge comes with four big en-suite bedrooms. There is also plenty of storage for golf clubs or bikes, making it the perfect base to explore all that St Andrews has to offer. Lodge guests can also hire our beautiful Bothy, a sky blue cabin in the hotel gardens which comes with a BBQ and patio seating for up to 20 people.

COTTAGES
Each cottage has a fully equipped fitted kitchen, comfortable social spaces and wonderful open views of the surrounding farmland and fields. Here you can enjoy all the delights of a luxury hotel on your doorstep in the comfort of your own private home. Cottage guests can also hire our beautiful Bothy, a sky blue cabin in the hotel gardens which comes with a BBQ and patio seating for up to 20 people.

EAT & DRINK
Experience wellbeing through nourishing food. Our garden and produce are at the very heart of every meal. We encourage every guest to connect with nature through their dining experience with us, which is why we have created social and dining spaces on our terraces and in our gardens, as well as inside the hotel.

RESTAURANT & TERRACE
We have a sophisticated but relaxed restaurant, with cosy booths and gorgeous views over the gardens, but we want our dining experiences to go beyond traditional boundaries, which is why we have developed a range of outdoor eating areas as well.

Our attitude is that we have 10 acres of dining space, so why not enjoy an even deeper connection with the food we grow, and eat outside in the natural environment.

Enjoy dessert on a sunny terrace or sitting on a rug under the canopy of twinkling stars. Tuck into a starter with a glorious red and gold sunset as your evening entertainment, or a nightcap next to a crackling firepit, where stories of old are told.

Our menus draw the best Scottish produce together with the abundance of fresh herbs, fruit and vegetables grown in our kitchen gardens. All of our dining experiences are open to everyone, but be sure to book in advance.

Hunker down for the night in a cosy corner, next to a roaring fire and enjoy a tipple from our extensive whisky selection. We have more than 100 malt whiskies and 40 gins, and our team will be delighted to help you to select your perfect dram.

AFTERNOON TEA
Both decadent and downright delicious, tuck into delicate patisserie, fresh finger sandwiches packed with fillings and tea served in big steaming pots. We also offer a vegetarian, gluten free and a special children’s menu.

Afternoon Tea can be enjoyed almost anywhere – inside in a cosy restaurant booth, outside, on the suntrap terrace, next to the croquet lawn or in the dappled shade of our woodlands.

DINING EVENTS
Whether it’s just the two of you or a big gaggle of family and friends, Sunday lunch is the perfect excuse to get together. Join us on Sundays 25th June and 20th August for a classic carvery-style experience, accompanied by our favourite live jazz trio.

Tables can be booked for 2-12 guests for arrival at 12.30pm, 1pm or 1.30pm. If our Scottish weather decides to play ball there will be a small number of tables available on the terrace (maximum of 6 guests), on a first-come-first-served basis.

THE CHEF & THE GARDENER
We strive to make Rufflets an oasis of health and happiness, where you leave feeling nourished and rested. The provenance of our food, how it’s grown and where it comes from, is at the heart of good living, and good eating.

Our culinary journey starts with the soil, it moves slowly though our seasons, and finally flourishes on The Chef’s plate. The Chef and The Gardener work in harmony to ensure that our menus reflect the very best of our home-grown ingredients.

From the vegetables, to the fruit trees, organic eggs and even Rufflets’ very own honey. We want our guests to be part of this story too, so we invite you to dine outside, in the sunshine, or under the stars. Meander through our kitchen gardens and pick a handful of mint leaves for your herbal tea, or pluck a sun-warm apple from the tree.

KITCHEN GARDEN & CHICKENS
Our friendly, laying ladies are here to make sure that when you order a boiled egg, it really is as fresh as it can be. Allowing our guests to connect with nature is a key part of our ethos, and we’ll be offering the opportunity to pick your own breakfast eggs from the nesting box.

Our 36 happy hens arrived in Autumn 2021 and are settling in to their new home out in the Kitchen Garden. Our Garden Team would be delighted to take you on a guided tour of the coup and run, but please don’t venture in for a look without having the experts on hand. The more relaxed the hens are, the more eggs they lay for your breakfast!

WEDDINGS
We are all about bringing people together, which is why weddings at Rufflets are incredibly special. We take our time to get to know everyone before the big day, and nail down every single detail and wish. Rufflets is a hotel for all generations, so you can relax, knowing that grandparents, as well as energetic toddlers will be having an absolutely brilliant time.

We absolutely love weddings at Rufflets, and our team will go out of their way to make sure your big day is spectacular in every way. We really do have all you need; sweeping gardens with lots of romantic, picturesque places for photos, a large party venue with private terraces and great spaces for dancing. And when the evening is coming to a close, weary guests can just head upstairs to bed.

We are very clear about our ‘one wedding a day’ policy at Rufflets, so we can guarantee that all eyes are on you and your guests from start to finish. We have 10 acres of immaculate gardens so you can choose the perfect space for your wedding ceremony. View our garden gallery here.

Our self-contained Garden Suite, on the East Side of the main hotel, has been created especially for weddings. It comes with its own private terrace and can accommodate up to 150 guests. The elegant Drawing Room in the main hotel is a charming and intimate space for a smaller wedding party of up to 24 guests.

KNEES UP & EXCLUSIVE USE
As a Scottish country house hotel, we have perfected the art of hosting a ‘hooley’. For those who aren’t sure what that word actually means, it’s a Scottish slang word for a boisterous house party. Not that we’re suggesting a crazy gathering, but we do like the sentiment of throwing a really fantastic event.

If you really want to let your hair down, why not book the whole hotel and have the place to yourself for a luxurious night of exclusivity. A team of dedicated staff will be on hand to make sure the food is plentiful and the drinks are flowing.

YOGA AT RUFFLETS
Rufflets’ gardens have long been a destination for relaxation, and we couldn’t imagine a more perfect place to enjoy the benefits of restorative and reinvigorating yoga.

The yoga studio at Rufflets is a short walk across the formal gardens from the main hotel and offers panoramic views of the lower gardens. It is an intimate space, suitable for small groups, and with easy access to 10 acres of grounds outside, every opportunity is embraced to take the class on a field trip!

Whether you’re a complete novice or already have a few classes under your belt, these day retreat programs are an ideal way to ease into, or make progress in, your yoga and mindfulness journey. Naomi and Claudia will take you through the exercises at a pace suited to all abilities and offer one-to-one advice and instruction throughout the day.

ST ANDREWS & FIFE
Located in the sunny, east coast of Scotland, this area is brimming with great things to do. From sandy white beaches to the cobbled streets of St Andrews. Hidden away cafes and craggy castle ruins. Golf and leisurely coastal strolls. A Secret Bunker and so much more.

GOLF
St Andrews is awash with iconic golf courses, including what is undoubtedly the most famous in the world, the Old Course. Rufflets has teamed up with some of the finest local courses, both in and around St Andrews, to secure you some great rates. Enquire with our team now to find out how to make the most of your trip to the ultimate golfing destination.

Enjoy a brilliant golfing holiday in St Andrews, using Rufflets as your luxurious base. From here, we can organise you tee times on all of the St Andrews Links Courses, including Castle, New, Jubilee, Eden, Strathtyrum and Balgove. We are proud to be an authorised provider of guaranteed Old Course tee times.

It’s not just about how many rounds you can play while you’re here – there’s so much more for golf enthusiasts to enjoy.

For keen historians, a visit to the R&A World Golf Museum will provide hours of fascinating insight into the ancient game of golf, and a wander through the grounds of St Andrews Cathedral reveals the final resting places of some true golfing pioneers.

600 years of golfing heritage might best be appreciated when you have an expert on hand, and an Old Course guided walk is a must for any visiting history buff.

Have you ever tried hickory golf? Now’s your chance! Just 10 miles from St Andrews, Kingarrock hickory golf course at Hill of Tarvit Mansion is the only remaining hickory course in the UK. The quirky 9 holes was established in 1924 (the same year that Rufflets House was completed), and only came back to use in 2008 after a 70 year hiatus.

OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES
Expand your mind and meet fellow outdoor enthusiasts. We have a whole plethora of outdoor experiences to enjoy within our own 10 acres, and our Guest Services Team are on hand to give you the lowdown on everything worth experiencing in North East Fife.

Staying put doesn’t mean staying in at Rufflets – we have large and varied gardens and grounds to explore during your stay. Stretch your legs after breakfast with a stroll to the Kitchen Garden to see what’s on the menu for dinner, or take four-legged friends down to the lower gardens to bound after their favourite ball.

If a full day of fresh air and activity is calling you, miles of unspoiled coastline, beautiful beaches, forests and open countryside make our small county a compact escape. There are abundant opportunities to make the most of Fife’s dry sunny climate and enjoy walking, cycling, golf and water sports during your visit.

For something refreshing but unhurried, the Fife Coastal Path offers unrivalled views of the North East Fife and East Neuk coastline. The path can be walked in a variety of shorter sections so you can decide how far you want to roam, and the routes take in lots of beautiful inlets which offer exciting beach-combing opportunities for children.

Website: www.rufflets.co.uk

Rooms: 23

Price: from 305 EUR per night