Completed in December 1899, Hoggs Hill Close, as the house was originally known, was built as a 6 bedroomed private residence. The house was bought by the current owners, John and Marjorie Sodeau, on 29th January 1971, when the house was known as Earlston and a small private hotel was born.
The house was very different then, with a stable block in the area to the rear of the building and a tennis court at the front.
In 1980 the swimming pool extension was added and an additional 18 bedrooms were created.
In 1981 the name was changed from Earlston to Hillthwaite House Hotel. The Norse word 'thwaite' means 'a clearing for a pasture'.
Additional bedrooms were added and the dining room extended in 1995, a plaque can be found on the wall below the terrace.
The house next door, 6 Thornhill, was purchased and a new gravel track added in front of the hotel to provide access and a further 6 bedrooms were created. In 2008 these rooms were refurbished and we now have 4 bedrooms in the lodge/annex, with 2 having sitting rooms with lovely lake and mountain views.
Planning permission was granted in May 2008 for a new build of 8 luxury bedrooms with swimming pool underneath to replace the existing lodge/annex and a new conservatory to be added to the front of the main building.
