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Gone are the days of fusty, old-school Scottish hotels. Today, Scotland offers a wealth of welcoming hotel options to suit all tastes, types and budgets. The classic old-world luxury dames still proudly proffer their history in the glens and overlooking the lochs, with many back at their best in recent years, thanks to some serious investment. They’ve been joined by a new wave of boutique accommodations, where tartan twee is eschewed for cutting-edge design and the work of local artists and craftspeople. Scotland’s eight cities all boast a dizzying array of options, with real choice, too, out in the Highlands and on the islands. Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway for two, a life-affirming family break packed with action, or a chilled escape with old pals, you’ll find it north of Hadrian’s Wall in a country where jaw-dropping scenery comes as standard. Scottish hospitality has moved up a notch as customers’ expectations rise ever higher, and, when it comes to picking a place to stay, we’ve rounded up the best of the best. The best hotels in Scotland 2023 are: Best luxury hotel: The Balmoral Best hotel for couples: Orocco Pier Best budget hotel: Clayton Hotel Glasgow City Best city break hotel: Malmaison Aberdeen Best hotel for walkers: The Torridon Best boutique hotel: Hotel Indigo Dundee Best hotel for scenic views: Trump Turnberry Best hotel for foodies: Kinloch Lodge Best spa hotel: Cameron House Best family hotel: Gleneagles Best hotels in Edinburgh Best luxury hotel: The Balmoral Neighbourhood: Edinburgh This quintessential Edinburgh hotel has proudly stood at No.1 Princes Street since 1902. Rocco Forte’s flagship city hotel is constantly being tweaked to stay ahead. Book a room with a castle view or the room where JK Rowling completed her Harry Potter saga – all rooms have the same classically luxurious, calm vibe. A basement spa with the Irene Forte Skincare range tempts, along with the pool. Delve below street level too for Number One, which has cherished a well-deserved Michelin star for more than two decades. It still does a proper Scotch beef steak if you don’t want to experiment with the modern Scottish creations. Expand your whisky horizons at SCOTCH whisky bar with its 500 whiskies, or savour afternoon tea beneath a Venetian chandelier, accompanied by the soothing sounds of the harp in Palm Court. Book now Best hotel for couples: Orocco Pier Neighbourhood: Edinburgh The seaside suburb of South Queensferry is a favourite of Edinburghers during weekends. Enjoy the day-trip delights of the cobbled high street’s shops, a boat trip on Maid of the Forth out to the wee island of Inchcolm and – best of all – the epic views of the world-famous Forth Bridge. When the day trippers leave, linger at Orocco Pier, a smart 17-room boutique bolthole on the waterfront. Book a room with a view of the bridge, savour a sundowner in the Antico Bar, feast on a seafood platter for two in the revamped Samphire Restaurant and enjoy a moonlit stroll with the bridge as a seriously romantic backdrop. Best hotels in Glasgow Best budget hotel: Clayton Hotel Glasgow City Neighbourhood: Glasgow Forget the privations of hostel rooms or faceless budget chains; instead, recline in the deeply historic old Grade A-listed customs house right on the River Clyde in the heart of Glasgow. This is a 303-room, four-star hotel at three-star prices. Rooms are comfortable rather than luxurious, but spacious with comfy King Koil mattresses. Book a riverside room for views over the Clyde and towards the city’s Southside. The Custom House Bar & Restaurant is worth staying in for too – savour the signature Glaswegin cocktails at the swish bar before tucking into steaks and international comfort food. Best hotels in Aberdeen Best city break hotel: Malmaison Aberdeen Neighbourhood: Aberdeen Aberdeen has its fair share of characterless hotels catering for its lifeblood fossil fuel industries, but the Malmaison’s offering is the finest of the boutique chain in Scotland. Housed in a grand grey granite building (Aberdeen is known as the Granite City), this 79-room hotel is ideally located for exploring the rapidly changing city. Stroll to the revamped Aberdeen Art Gallery and the new City Gardens; later watch the dolphins at Torry Battery. The city’s boisterous pubs and clubs buzz all around, with plenty of eating out options nearby. The hotel’s wine list is impressive, while Chez Mal serves spot-on steaks cooked on a Josper grill. Best hotels in the Scottish Highlands Best hotel for walkers: The Torridon Neighbourhood: Wester Ross Daniel and Rohaise Rose-Bristow are legends of the Scottish hotel scene, seamlessly steering this Wester Ross escape for more than two decades. You could just sip whisky watching the Highland cows and the mist over Loch Torridon, but many come here to hike. The epic Torridon Mountains soar up over a kilometre high, offering life-affirming challenges. A comparatively easy option for experienced hikers is 903m-high Beinn Damh – yomp up straight from the hotel. Even gentler is a rare – for Scotland – waymarked mountain trail at Beinn Eighe, offering a taste of the mountains to less-experienced hikers. The hotel’s Torridon Outdoors team can lead the way. Stay in the plush main hotel or more hiker-friendly inn-style Stables. Book now Best Isle of Skye hotels Best hotel for foodies: Kinloch Lodge Neighbourhood: Isle of Skye Dining at whitewashed Kinloch Lodge, you’ll question the judgement of the Michelin inspectors who stole a well-deserved star a few years ago from this 17th-century hunting lodge run for five decades by the legendary foodie family the MacDonalds. Passion, authenticity and sound local produce ripple through this foodie hideaway, gloriously set on its own sea loch. Spend the morning foraging for wild herbs and chanterelles with the Skye Ghillie, then tuck into creative fine dining from head chef Jordan Webb. Kick off with Lochalsh crab toast rarebit, pickled cucumber and lemon gel; followed by Skye roe deer with turnip, and leek, spiced with a Kinloch wood-foraged bramble jus. Divine. Best hotels in Dundee Best boutique hotel: Hotel Indigo Dundee Neighbourhood: Dundee Dundee is a designated Unesco City of Design and is arguably the most dynamic Scottish city of this millennium – home to the first V&A design museum outside London, which is the centrepiece of the multi-million pound waterfront regeneration. The Hotel Indigo is symbolic of Dundee’s transformation – a boutique 120-room oasis brilliantly reborn from one of the old jute mills that used to power Dundee. Antique furnishings weave together with bright colours and striking fabrics – the latter the work of artist alumni from the city’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design. Best hotels in Ayrshire Best hotel for scenic views: Trump Turnberry Neighbourhood: Ayrshire Whatever you think of its owner, the views at this unique 92-bedroom resort are impossible to argue with. This prime strip of Ayrshire coastline, site of Robert the Bruce’s ancestral castle, peers out across the Firth of Clyde towards the glowering Alpine-esque peaks of the Isle of Arran, with the hulking gannet-dotted rock granite rock sentinel of Ailsa Craig blinking back too. As the sun melts into the cobalt waters, the Turnberry Lighthouse kicks into action. Play a round on the famous golf courses to really make the most of the views, or just recline in one of the plush bars and restaurants in a window seat. Horse riding and hiking also reveal spirit-soaring views. Best hotels in Loch Lomond Best spa hotel: Cameron House Neighbourhood: Loch Lomond Set on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, this resort retreat is naturally relaxing with water, forests and hills everywhere you look. There is a swimming pool complex at the main hotel but, if you really want to chill, take the shuttle bus just up the road to the Cameron Spa. The outdoor infinity pool at this adults-only escape peers over the island-studded loch; inside, the 20m ‘tranquillity pool’ sports a hot tub with other thermal treats as part of the Hydro & Thermal Experience. Spa and beauty treatments use ESPA and Made for Life Organics products. The ‘Couples Suite’ is the setting for sheer decadence for two. Best hotels in Perthshire Best family hotel: Gleneagles Neighbourhood: Perthshire It’s hard to think of a resort anywhere in the UK better set up for families than this glorious historic offering, which opened in 1924. They provide world-class kids’ clubs, a swimming pool with a bubbling outdoor section that delights wee ones, and all the usual child-distracting, parent-pleasing activities. Swirled in, too, is the chance for kids to help train a gun dog, have a bird of prey swoop in to literally eat out of their hands, shoot some arrows or drive a mini Land Rover. The hotel restaurants excel too, as adept at catering to babies as they are to teens. And then there are the world-renowned golf courses. Read more of our Scotland hotel reviews: Best Scottish highlands hotels Best dog-friendly Scotland hotels Best Scotland spa hotels Read more about Scotland travel: Best luxury hotels in Scotland Best boutique hotels in Edinburgh Best cheap hotels in Edinburgh Read More Best Norfolk hotels 2023: Where to stay for food, luxury and beach walks Best family-friendly Cornwall hotels for a fun 2023 holiday Best hotels in Brighton 2023: Where to stay for a unique seaside escape Eight of the best self-catering holiday homes to stay at in the UK Eight best solo holiday destinations in the UK for a singles getaway Scotland country guide: Everything you need to know before you go

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Keke Palmer has claimed she faced “breast milk discrimination” during an incident at a Texas airport. The 29-year-old actor and singer tweeted on Monday (12 June) about the alleged situation that occurred at an airport in Houston. “Breast milk discrimination at the Houston airport ruined my mood,” the Nope star tweeted. Palmer claimed that officials at the unidentified airport threatened to “throw out” 16 ounces of breastmilk, writing: “I should’ve popped my tit out right then because the discretion and comfort of pumping is thwarted with threats to throw out over 16oz my babies food?!?!!!” “Why is that not a crime??” the Hustlers star added. “I’M A MOTHER for crying out loud.” Keke Palmer welcomed her first child, son Leodis "Leo" Andrellton Jackson, with boyfriend Darius Jackson in February. Her tweet was met with sympathy from fans, as they shared their similar experiences of screening their packaged breast milk through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in airports across the US. “I’ve had this issue in soo many airports,” one person claimed. “TSA really needs to get it together.” “Oh hell no! Pumping is not an easy task,” another said. “16oz is a lot ! That is not right at all!!!!” Other people claimed that it was “illegal” for TSA to dispose of a passenger’s breast milk or baby formula, tweeting: “That’s so illegal. I work for a major airline and breast milk and anything concerning babies’ food and other items they need are always supposed to be an exception.” According to TSA guidelines, breast milk or formula in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters are allowed in carry-on baggage. Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and any other food for babies or toddlers are considered “medically necessary” liquids, and a child or infant doesn’t need to be present for a parent to bring breast milk or formula on their flight. However, travellers are recommended to remove the liquid from their carry-ons to be screened separately from the rest of their belongings. The agency suggests that formula and breast milk should be transported in clear, translucent bottles and not plastic bags or pouches, which may require additional screening. Ice packs, freezer packs, frozen gel packs and other accessories required to cool formula or breast milk is also allowed in carry-on bags. While the TSA states that there’s no known “adverse” effects of drinking breast milk that’s been screened by an X-ray, parents are still allowed to tell TSA agents that they don’t want their baby’s milk X-rayed, and will undergo additional screening procedures instead. Meanwhile, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified breast pumps as a medical device, and are therefore permitted as a carry-on item. While TSA didn’t specify whether it’s “illegal” to throw away breast milk at airport security, agents are required by the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Act (BABES Act) to provide ongoing training to ensure TSA staff receives consistent training related to traveling with breast milk, formula, and infant feeding equipment. In October 2021, US Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson alleged she was “groped” and publicly humiliated by a TSA agent while attempting to travel with breast milk. The athlete described the incident as “one of the worst experiences,” on her Instagram Stories, where she wrote: “We as mamas have a duty to our babies and a right in this world to carry breast milk through security”. In the post, which included a photo of clear plastic bags full of breast milk, the mother-of-two claimed that it was against her rights for the unidentified TSA agent to “publicly humiliate” her by having her prove the liquid she was travelling with was breast milk. “To then be groped and yelled at in public was excessive,” she continued. “I know you were doing your job… but so was I.” The Independent has contacted the Transportation Security Administration for comment. Read More Keke Palmer celebrates her postpartum body after giving birth to son: ‘Hips? Never had ‘em’ Keke Palmer welcomes first child with boyfriend Darius Jackson and defends son’s name Blake Lively shares photo of herself pumping breast milk after Ryan Reynolds addresses absence at Met Gala Colin McFarlane diagnosed with prostate cancer 7 tips and tricks for hay fever relief Should you sleep naked? Heatwave myths debunked

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When a draft of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v Jackson opinion that would overturn Roe v Wade leaked in May of last year, US Senator Tina Smith had only three words. “This is bulls***,” the Minnesota Democrat tweeted. She had similar words when Walgreens announced in March of this year it would not dispense abortion pills in states where abortion remained legal. Ms Smith told The Independent in a phone interview that she knew the consequences of overturning the enshrined constitutional right to seek an abortion from her time working at Planned Parenthood as the Minnesota branch’s executive vice president for external affairs. She said her time working there taught her about the effects restrictions have on women’s lives. “The first thing I realized is that for women facing a decision about what to do about an unplanned pregnancy, a pregnancy that they don't want, this is a purely personal decision for them,” she said. “As a policymaker, why do Republicans in the Senate and in state legislators around the country think that they know better than those women whose stories they'll never know? Why do they think that they should be the ones who decide? It’s those women's decisions.” Ms Smith said that the Dobbs decision has led to rooting the question of abortion rights in terms of personal freedom. “You know, they can see this, these stories of individuals and doctors that are trying to provide the best health care, get the best health care for people, and you know, they unable to do that and they can see that that's just wrong,” she said. Sen Smith arrived under peculiar circumstances after then-Governor Mark Dayton nominated her, while she was serving as lieutenant governor of Minnesota, to replace Sen Al Franken amid multiple allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour. Similarly, she has often been overshadowed by Minnesota’s senior Democratic Sen Amy Klobuchar, who ran for president. She and fellow midwestern Democratic Sen Tammy Baldwin, of Wisconsin, have a running joke that reporters and Capitol Hill staff often confuse them. In the past year, Sen Smith has emerged as a stronger presence. She wrote some of the climate provisions in what would become the Inflation Reduction Act. When Sen John Fetterman (D-PA) left the Senate for a few weeks to undergo treatment for depression, she spoke about her own difficulties with the condition. In addition, she’s emerged as one of the strongest voices defending abortion rights. Ms Smith said the Dobbs decision has made the contrast between Democrats and Republicans clearer. In recent months, Sen Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) has blocked military nominations because of the Pentagon’s policy that reimburses people who travel out of state to receive abortions. “What Senator Tuberville is doing is so outside the norms of what we should be doing in the Senate, it's outrageous,” she said. “I just need to point out that what Senator Tuberville is trying to do is to overturn a policy which basically provides women serving in the military with the same access to health care that people that are incarcerated in our federal prisons have.” Few Republicans seem deterred from their opposition to abortion despite the role it played in dulling their efforts to flip the Senate last year. Ms Smith’s colleague Sen Tim Scott (R-SC), now a candidate for president, told the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s Road to Majority Conference last month “thank God almighty for the Dobbs decision.” Former vice president Mike Pence has called for a 15-week national abortion ban. Meanwhile, former president Donald Trump has campaigned as the president who nominated the three Supreme Court justices who made the decision possible. Florida Gov Ron DeSantis, who often places a second distant behind Mr Trump in polls, signed legislation banning abortion after six weeks. As vice chairwoman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Ms Smith faces a tough challenge because not only does she have to defend Senate seats in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Nevada – all of which President Joe Biden won in 2020 – she also has to defend Senate seats in three states Mr Trump won twice: Ohio, Montana and West Virginia. “And make no mistake, if Republicans win the Senate or if Republicans win the White House, we can see from their statements, they're going to move to pass a national ban on abortion,” she said, noting how many GOP candidates for Senate oppose abortion. “So, this is the contrast, this is what voters will be confronted with when they cast their votes in 2024,” she said. “Do you want to elect individuals who think they know better, that they should be the ones making decisions, individuals that want to ban abortion rights? Or do you want to elect Democrats who believe that women and not politicians should be making their own health care decisions?” At the same time, Democrats face huge challenges to codify abortion rights. Last week, Mr Biden told donors he was personally uncomfortable with abortion. “I'm a practising Catholic,” he said on Tuesday. “I'm not big on abortion, but guess what? Roe v Wade got it right.” Sen Smith defended Mr Biden’s actions defending abortion rights. “I believe that the President and the administration have moved decisively in all the ways that they can as they look for other ways to the practical reproductive freedom, that's a good thing,” she said. “I'm proud of the work that they've done. I think ultimately, the action that we need to take is legislative action, and that is why we need to win these elections.” Last year, shortly after the Dobbs leak, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer tried to put the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would have codified the protections in Roe, to a vote. But Sen Joe Manchin (D-WV) opposed the measure. Even then, Sen Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, who later left the Democratic Party to become an independent, opposes removing the filibuster, which demands a two-thirds majority to pass legislation. Sen Smith said if Democrats with the House, the Senate and the White House again, they should get rid of the filibuster. “And you know, we need to work towards a Senate majority that will not only support reproductive freedom but will also change Senate rules so that we can act on that belief,” she said. “And that I think is going to as I said before, that I believe will be a decisive issue in the in the elections in 2024.” Read More Congresswoman who authored abortion rights bill calls Senate’s inaction to codify Roe v Wade ‘such a crime’ Ritchie Torres, the only openly gay Black man in Congress, on how he fights GOP ‘bullying’ of LGBT+ people Republicans try to thread the needle on abortion on anniversary of the death of Roe 'Rage giving' prompted by the end of Roe has dropped off, abortion access groups say Arizona executive order safeguards abortion seekers and providers from prosecution Why some doctors stay in US states with restrictive abortion laws and others leave

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