A LUXURIOUS South Ayrshire hotel has been honoured as one of 123 businesses awarded the inaugural Michelin Key.

Glenapp Castle, near Ballantrae, has been given the honour by the Michelin Guide, which hands out its famous stars to restaurants around the world.

For the first time, a number of Michelin Keys have been handed out to the UK's best accommodation for architecture, service, and guest experience.

Speaking about Glenapp Castle, the guide said: ‘’Beneath its crenelated roofline is an absolutely classic country-house luxury hotel, with all the trappings, from a fine dining restaurant and a lavish afternoon tea to outings that include golf, falconry and a Hebridean Sea Safari, touring the nearby coastline and islands by boat.’’

A hotel spokesperson said: "This achievement is a reflection of our absolute commitment to delivering exceptional guest experiences and this wouldn’t have been possible without our exceptional staff and the support of our wonderful guests."

The historic Glenapp Castle was left in a state of disrepair until the McMillan family of Scottish hoteliers purchased the property in 1994.

After six painstaking years of work from daughter Fay and husband Graham Cowan, Glenapp Castle and its gardens were restored to their former glory.

The castle has since won a string of awards and accolades and been recognised as one of the finest luxury castle hotels in the United Kingdom.

In 2015, the castle was acquired by Paul and Poppy Szkiler, who have continued to develop the castle as one of the UK's finest retreats.