An unusual experience awaits those who dine at the Woodside and should you feel the onset of mild mal de mer it could be due to the fact that the mahogany panelled walls and antique stained glass in the dining room had their origins in the smoking lounge of an ocean liner, which was built in 1901 to ply between Britain and Australia. A family who had connections with the Imperial Russian Navy built the hotel in 1873 and their portraits welcome you on arrival.

More recently the hotel has undergone a major refit, making the Woodside, only 30 minutes from the heart of Edinburgh, an attractive location for those seeking something different.

A starter of guinea fowl leg stuffed with haggis and black pudding with chicken liver quenelles with crisp pancetta or lightly scrambled eggs with oyster in a cream fraiche and chervil sauce makes an excellent prelude to the grilled turbot with pesto, tomato fondue and pomme bataille, or the slowly braised daube of beef served with brioche dumplings, root vegetables and a truffle jus. The Granny Smith crème brûlée is not to be missed either.

The wine list makes a more than adequate contribution to the dining experience and there's house wine at £10.75.