For people of a certain vintage, Monarch of the Glen still holds a nostalgic place in their hearts.
Despite its slightly twee feel, a show set entirely in the rolling landscape of rural Scotland, with plenty of kilts and haggis, was a guilty pleasure.
And it was the first thing I thought about as my boyfriend and I walked through the doors of the Roxburghe Hotel, a stunning location in the Borders by Kelso which is owned by the Duke of Roxburghe.
Despite the warm temperatures outside, a roaring fire greeted us, along with tartan carpets and friendly reception staff.
This place really is old-fashioned luxury at its best – comfortable and plush without feeling in the slightest bit aged.
Our room wasn’t quite ready, so we were shown to the drawing room for coffee and the most outstanding shortbread while we waited.
Ladies who lunch sat chatting beside families with children, desperate to pull on their wellies and explore the beautiful grounds which surround the hotel.
And it was worth the wait for the room, which was enormous, with enough storage space for any budding Imelda Marcos and a balcony with a view over the pristine lawn.
The four-poster bed was exceptionally inviting, as was the huge bath.
But we had no time for relaxation as clay-pigeon shooting was booked for the afternoon.
I felt like we had our very own Golly – the hard-edged gillie in Monarch of the Glen – in Alistair Ferguson, who was to be the expert guide for our shooting pursuits.
I took to him instantly, as he handed over the keys to the golf cart to take us out in the estate to me, rather than my crestfallen other half.
I had been a little nervous about the shooting, but Alistair put my mind at rest with safety absolutely paramount.
And it was a great afternoon. Our gillie would not suffer fools and was right on the button with tutoring, so that we managed to hit a fair few of the clays – me outshooting my partner, much to his disgruntlement.
That evening, we were booked into the Roxburghe’s restaurant for dinner.
And this is where the hotel’s fine balance between old and new is played out most expertly.
The chef uses local, in-season and traditional Scottish produce in an exciting and fresh way, paying attention to every plate.
My pork belly main with herby, pan-fried gnocchi was a delight, while my partner was in heaven with his steak and chunky chips.
And I could not resist the fantastic cheese plate, which included some of the best soft and goats cheese I’ve had in Scotland.
After a great night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast, we headed to the nearby Floors Castle, built for the 1st Duke of Roxburghe in 1721.
The castle itself is beautiful, with fascinating displays and memorabilia, along with helpful guides ready to answer any questions.
And we had lunch in the beautiful Courtyard Restaurant, which overlooks the gardens.
My smoked haddock pate with brioche toast was a perfect lunch, and my other half was delighted with his Moroccan lamb and rice.
We cosied up in our fluffy white dressing gowns for a game of Scrabble before we had dinner in the hotel restaurant again.
For my starter, I ordered the devilled whitebait: tiny crispy fish were served in a brown paper bag with a lightly spiced dipping sauce. The dish drew some interested glances from fellow-diners.
My boyfriend went for the deliciously smoky duck with a sweet relish for his starter, followed by crispy pork belly.
But it was my main that was the real dish of the day, and my other half has been talking about it ever since.
I ordered the whole lobster, which was served with chips, hollandaise and roasted lemon and garlic. It looked amazing – and tasted even better.
With full bellies, and a few nightcaps, we slept like babies before rising early the next morning for a horse-riding lesson.
We arrived at the Nenthorn Equestrian Centre and I immediately regretted having said I had done a fair bit of riding – I had omitted to say that it had been about a decade since I’d been in the saddle.
But the girls were incredibly patient, taking us around the sand school for half an hour and getting us used to our steeds before we headed out for a trek.
The sun was blazing and it was lovely getting to trot out in the countryside.
We headed home a little saddle sore and with slightly expanded waistbands, but having had a fantastic weekend, and wishing we were the lairds of our very own estate.
For more information on the hotel, castle and riding centre, log on to www.roxburghe-hotel.com or www.nenthorn-equestrian.co.uk