A family home for most of its history, Greywalls was first opened as a hotel in 1948 by Colonel and Mrs. Weaver, father of the current owner Giles Weaver. Overlooking the 9th and 18th greens at Muirfield, home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, Greywalls is forever married to golf. That first year the British Open was held at Muirfield the winner, Henry Cotton, stayed at Greywalls.
Nick Faldo, the 1992 Open winner also stayed at Greywalls and past guests Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Tony Jacklin, Sandy Lyle and others have plotted their rounds from the quiet luxury of one of the 22 Greywalls rooms. (Giles Weaver reluctantly reports that staying in one of these rooms will probably not have any effect on your handicap).
Also available is ‘The Colonel’s House’, an adjunct to the main house and perfect for exclusive group bookings of up to ten guests.
Muirfield is only one of many superb courses within the rich golfing Mecca that is East Lothian, and all less than a 20-minute drive from Greywalls. Particularly recommended are Gullane No.1, North Berwick and Craigielaw.
After golf you can stroll in “your” garden, breathing in the heady fragrance from the roses and the lavender borders. Or draw inspiration from the northern views over Muirfield and the open waters of the Firth of Forth, and to the south the rolling hills of Lamermuir, immortalized in Donizetti’s opera, Lucia di Lammermoor.
Local brothers Simon and Mathew Burns, who between them have worked in most of Scotland’s great restaurants, work their magic with the freshest of food from Scotland’s larder. After dinner, put your feet up in front of the log fire in the paneled library and sip on one of Scotland’s famous malt whiskies.
For something different you can choose between a trip to Edinburgh, 30 minutes away, a boat trip to the volcanic Bass Rock swarming with thousands of sea birds, a walk along yellow-sand beaches, a day’s exploring the castles and villages of East Lothian and more.
You may never want to leave! Fortunately, if you accept the invitation from The Links Club and Greywalls, you don’t have to leave after three days; ignore the old adage that “houseguests, like fish start to smell after three days!”