These are glorious days in which to be alive. Not only is there a new Bond film out but 5pm Christmas Gifts have launched.
This 5pm Dining blog scribbler has often dreamed of stepping into Bond’s shoes and, should the producers still be looking for a replacement for Daniel Craig, then I’m available.
Friends suggest that my application to be the new Milk Tray Man might be more successful; although I suspect that this is down to my collection of polo necks more than anything else.
Haters gonna hate but I have hatched a cunning plan to bring my Bond daydreams to life.
Over the years, many a Bond scene has been set in Scotland. In fact, lots of scenes from lots of films have used Scottish locations.
As it happens, a number of Bond film locations match the cosy accommodation Big Deals we are running on 5pm Christmas Gifts.
Glen Coe
Ian Fleming’s original James Bond was a Scot and, in the books, his father, Andrew Bond of Glen Coe, was from these parts.
Visitors can drive past Glen Etive in Glen Coe where Daniel Craig was pictured in the iconic Skyfall image.
We can sort you out with a comfortable two night stay in the Bridge of Orchy Hotel – a fantastic four star venue on the A82 between Crianlarich and Glencoe.
You will need to supply your own Aston Martin DB5.
The hotel is two hours from Glasgow and 2.5 hours from Edinburgh. The West Highland Line deposits train travellers nearby while the Glasgow bus service stops right outside the door.
Pretty convenient for a hotel slap in the middle of some of Scotland’s best climbing, skiing and walking.
The offer is £99 for two people to enjoy a two night stay in a Garden View or River View room in the hotel’s recently opened and rather gorgeous extension. A full Scottish breakfast is included.
Eilean Donan Castle
In The World Is Not Enough, the iconic Eilean Donan Castle features as the MI6 headquarters in Scotland with Q (Desmond Llewelyn) giving Bond (Pierce Brosnan) a demonstration of bagpipes that double as a flame thrower.
We have three deals on hotels on the romantic Isle of Skye – just a couple of minutes away by jetpack.
At the Dunollie Hotel, the £49 offer will bag an overnight bed and breakfast stay for two. There are also great offers on two night stays and dinner, bed and breakfast packages.
£99 will secure an overnight B&B stay with afternoon tea at the recently refurbished Skeabost House Hotel. £179 will give you a two night mini-break.
An overnight B&B stay with Prosecco on arrival plus use of the hot tub (‘Oh, James!’) is £99 at the luxurious, four star Duisdale House Hotel. Two nights are £189.
Edinburgh
Daniel Craig is good. In fact, he is very good.
However, for many, Sean Connery remains the ultimate James Bond. You can pay homage to Connery’s Fountainbridge birthplace with our Edinburgh accommodation offers.
At Norton House Hotel, they offer an overnight stay with dinner in the Brasserie for £154 or £199 for an overnight in a junior suite with dinner in Ushers Restaurant.
We suspect that Bond might also approve of an overnight getaway with lunch for two at Melville Castle.
Alternatively, the Radisson blu on the Royal Mile is offering an overnight B&B break in a superior room for two. You could catch a screening of Spectre at the Vue Cinema in the Omni Centre before exploring the sophisticated restaurant scene of central Edinburgh.