The Roundel at Hawkswood Country Estate
There’s a certain kind of silence you earn after a long, desolate drive – the kind that settles behind the ears once the engine cools and the keys land on a stone countertop. I’d left the grey stone of Dunn’s Castle behind, the Twisted T90 still wearing a coat of Dunfermline’s dust. Somewhere between my photographer’s studio and an open-road pressure wash, I found rhythm again behind the wheel. The road curved north-east, the hedges got taller, and there, just beyond the Peat Inn, I turned off into the stillness of Hawkswood Country Estate.
Set across 36 private acres of rolling Fife countryside and just ten minutes from the golfing mecca of St Andrews, Hawkswood isn’t a hotel, a resort, or even really a rental. It’s a retreat in the truest sense; a privately-owned enclave of purpose-built residences where tradition meets modernity, and the only real distraction is the next tee time.
My base for the stay was The Roundel, a five-bedroom circular residence that acts as both a literal and a symbolic centre of the estate. From the outside, it’s modest: stone, slate, timber. Walk inside, however, and the house opens upward beneath a radial oak ceiling, crowned with an antler chandelier. This is the heart of the house, a twenty-seat dining room meets drawing room meets whisky den – a place where soft leather sofas curl around travel-trunk tables and the television looms large. The entertainment system is well equipped and simple to use, and it’s easy to imagine a post-round gathering of golfers settling in here, drinks in hand, the day’s shots being relived. Although I stayed solo, several days travelling meant I was more than glad of the peace and quiet.
The Roundel sleeps ten across five ensuite bedrooms, each styled with its own restrained charm – super-king beds, tartan headboards and plush throws that add warmth without effort. Two of the rooms even include separate dressing rooms. The Roundel also has a twin-seat whirlpool bath, ideally placed before a window that looks out over the grounds. It’s the kind of setup that makes you late to dinner, with no regrets whatsoever.
Upstairs, a second lounge featuring its own balcony and TV area acts as a breakout zone. It’s ideal for families, secondary groups or kids retreating with a laptop while perhaps you uncork another bottle. In a larger group, this layered design makes The Roundel feel more like a home than a rental; somewhere you can gather, but also a place to escape. Essential, in my opinion, in any group outing.
If you’re coming to Fife for the golf, you’ll already know the draw: Kingsbarns, The Castle Course, and of course the holy ground of The Old Course itself. Hawkswood sits apart from its peers in how it prepares you for the tee.
The estate’s own short-game facilities are among the best you’ll find outside a professional training centre. A full 270-yard driving range stretches across the field – it’s your own private warm-up space before facing the winds of St Andrews. Just outside The Roundel itself is a dedicated short-game area with nine hole cutouts, pitching mats, two bunkers and immaculate turf underfoot. It’s a luxury, yes, but also a deeply practical one for the golfer who’s come to play well.
Transport to local clubs is easily arranged, and the estate’s concierge can assist with tee times, club rentals or even a private chef for when you return. The sense is not of a hotel giving you access, but of a private country home providing all you could need to raise your game.
The Roundel is one of three considerably well-appointed houses at Hawkswood. Together with Hawkswood House and Bowhill House, the estate offers fifteen ensuite bedrooms and a total occupancy of thirty; a rare configuration for groups who value privacy but still want the trappings of a proper host.
Hawkswood House itself offers log-burning stoves, dual sitting rooms, a conservatory sunroom and another full kitchen. Bowhill, by contrast, is single-level – ideal for multigenerational groups, and featuring a hydro-spa, pool table and open-plan lounge. Each property has its own hot tub, patio and terrace, but when booked together they form a campus of sorts; a private compound in miniature. It’s pitch-perfect for wedding parties, business offsites or annual golf tours where camaraderie counts as much as competition.
From a logistical perspective, the estate is built to accommodate without ever feeling stretched. Each bedroom is ensuite, every kitchen is over-equipped. There’s room for board meetings, brunches, putting competitions or barbecues all on site, and with the culinary offerings (rich in wild, seasonal and locally-produced fare, as one might expect this far above the border) in St. Andrews and surrounding areas all within easy reach, those seeking gastronomic delights away from their accommodation are spoilt for choice. My recommendation, try the locally sourced seafood at Haar or Road House restaurant for those iconic views across the famous 17th hole at the Old Course Hotel.
It wasn’t until I passed a framed article on the wall that I understood why the properties had such an unquestionably restful feel. “Labour of Love”, read the title. It documented how the Ainscough family, deeply rooted in the area, restored and reimagined the estate from a pair of farmhouses. These houses weren’t thrown up to capitalise on location. They were designed slowly and lovingly, and you feel it in every curtain rail, each stitched cushion and timber beam. Some matriarchal magic was certainly at work.
During The Open in 2015, Sir Nick Faldo stayed at the estate – a quiet endorsement indeed. And while guests today might not hold Claret Jugs, the sentiment remains the same: this is where you come to focus, rest and feel genuinely looked after. Honestly, I barely left. I didn’t need to.
On my final evening, I watched the mist curl over the fields beyond the pitch and putt. The hot tub was still warm. The Twisted T90 was parked, quietened after days of biting into Scotland’s back roads. I’d intended to pack. Instead, I opened another whisky, returned to the Roundel room, and sat there awhile. No need to talk, no need to move – merely indulging in the rare sense of being where one should be.
Whether you’re swinging in from The Old Course or seeking somewhere to bring the people who matter most, Hawkswood doesn’t just offer a house. It offers just the right kind of space.
