We are back after a beautiful break away in Scotland!
Though Gleneagles is most famously known for its championship golf courses and two Michelin-starred restaurants as well as being a Scottish landmark, it is also a huge picturesque playground for kids as well as adults!
It is by far one of the most luxurious hotels we have stayed at from the elegant and detailed decor to the incredible service we received throughout our stay. Nothing was ever too much!
Let’s start with prior to reaching the hotel. We had booked the Bahamas and Gleneagles for the same dates to ensure we managed a get away without covid holding us back any longer! We ended up cancelling the Bahamas as we didn’t feel comfortable with the idea of a long haul flight just yet. To be honest, whilst at Gleneagles we didn’t once think about where “we were meant to be” because it was that magnificent!
Gleneagles is nestled in Auchterarder not too far from Glasgow. It’s about 45 minutes away from the picturesque Loch Lomond.
On our arrival, we were greeted by the friendliest doormen and our breath was instantly taken away by the beautiful building and its surroundings.
We were sent a text message from the hotel team on arrival and I pretty much used that as a means to communicate everything and anything with the hotel from changing Playground activity times to dining reservations to finding a local GP (I forgot my medication at home and they were so helpful in getting it arranged for me in a Scotland!). I really loved the text service as it was simple and quick.
There are so many “favourite things” I had at Gleneagles but my most favourite was the decor. From the high ceilings to the wall cladding, from the picture railings to the beautiful array of textures used to dress every nook and cranny of this impressive country building, it was absolutely stunning. It reminded me of a palace. The finer details didn’t go unnoticed – even the fluffy slippers and velvet headboard oozed luxury! Every space within the hotel has a unique style and decor but the same homely and grand palace feel. Both Preetam and I couldn’t get enough of the intricate details in the decor.
We stayed in a family deluxe room which came with a spacious master bedroom with lounge area, a bathroom and a separate room with a bunk bed and lounge area for the kids. There is even a dog bed and dog bowls for those wanting to bring their fur babies. There was ample storage (3 wardrobes!) for all four of us. Again, the room was incredibly cosy with a very royal and luxurious feel. The bathroom comes with two sinks, a bath and a shower. The boys absolutely loved their bedroom and loved the novelty of having their own television. In the evenings Preetam and I also got to enjoy our own choice of TV – the in room entertainment is brilliant. We managed to watch at least 7 films during our 5 night stay from the comfort of our super comfortable bed!
There are no words for how stunning the grounds are. From the beautiful Kitchen Garden (which I basically would love my garden to look like 😂) to the well kept landscaped open space – it was Saajan’s first time in such a huge open space since learning to walk and he LOVED it! The PGA golf course is stunning and even if you aren’t there for golf, it’s a beautiful walk with gorgeous views.
Arj, who is usually reluctant to walk, loved the grounds and would request the usual route of seeing the birds of prey and the resident gundogs before walking past the lake and fountain.
We managed to do up to 20,000 steps some days without even trying! The grounds are so grand that you end up exercising without realising. A great way to burn off the delicious food! 😉
The food at the property was of a great standard. We had breakfast daily at The Strathearn or The Glendevon. All meals are ordered a la carte and the presentation and taste were spot on. I loved the poached eggs on avocado topped sourdough and the orange juice was delicious! Our favourite spot to sit was the orangery in The Strathearn- the stunning hand painted walls, huge windows and high ceilings are breathtaking. The Glendevon was equally as beautiful. Both spaces boast a view of the beautiful grounds.
As we were with the children, we wanted to book easy and accessible restaurants. Nothing too fancy! We had dinner at The Dormy Clubhouse three times and the Birnham Brasserie once.
The Dormy Clubhouse caters pretty well to vegetarians from fresh stone baked pizzas to an Indian menu to vegetarian haggis! We were able to visit on several occasions without repeating our food though Preetam did have vegetarian haggis more than once as he loved it so much! We thoroughly enjoyed the food at this restaurant and the service was also great.
The Birnham Brasserie is right up my street decor wise. With beautiful greenery, tiled floors and a conservatory style setting. Preetam and the boys loved the pasta here but for me, I’d have welcomed a little more flavour!
Both restaurants offer a kids menu with a great selection of choices.
We also went for the Peter Rabbit themed afternoon tea at The Strathern. The vegetarian choices were the best we’ve had at an afternoon tea and my personal favourite were the vegetarian sausage rolls!
We often enjoyed a mid afternoon sweet treat with a cuppa at The Garden Cafe – a relaxed and casual lunch and tea time spot. I’d recommend the scones and the triple chocolate cookie!
As mentioned, Gleneagles prides itself as being a Glorious Playground with so many activities available at their stunning grounds for kids and adults alike. We decided to partake in a few activities on offer and when we weren’t doing an activity, you could find us playing the garden games on the lawn – such a fun (and it’s free!) way to play as a family.
Prior to us arriving, we liaised with the Playground planners who were more than happy to help us plan our stay. They were efficient and really helpful. We had to book our swimming slots prior to our arrival due to covid. Again, this was easily done via an email. You can book your swim slots up to one month in advance of your stay.
There are several activities on offer for a fee including tree climbing, zip lining, off reading (for kids and adults), tennis, golf lessons, fishing and falconry lessons. You are also able to hire bikes for the family free of charge.
The boys had three horse riding lessons while we resided at the hotel. It was both of their first time on a horse and the staff were amazing. Olivia led Arjun on all three sessions and he is now able to utilise basic commands such as go, stop, left, right and trot. The horse riding school is RDA registered and Jane, the expert, in particular was amazing with Saajan. Amy and Jane led Saajan on each session and from his first session where he was nervous to even stroke Super Sue to his third session where he confidentially held the reigns and his posture beautifully, we were all so proud – staff included! They were incredibly patient and gentle with Saajan ensuring they gently eased him in to feeling comfortable with his pony. Both the boys grew quite an attachment to their ponies – Paddy and Sue and I’m sure we’ll be back to see them again!
We also had a family gundog training session. We had a great time but felt it was overpriced for what it was. The boys walked their dogs – Raven and Jess and then we were shown how they retrieve items finally followed by an obstacle course. Shannon our instructor was really lovely and again so patient.
As mentioned, the hotel is most famously known for its golf course. Though we didn’t play golf on the PGA course (we did long walks through it though!), we did play Pitch and Putt on the smaller golf course. It’s complimentary and on the hotel grounds. The boys also enjoyed playing. I am definitely in need of practice! Haha!
When residing at Gleneagles, you are offered a complimentary one hour session per child in Little Glen (age 2-8 years), the kids club, daily. On previous holidays, Arjun has always been hesitant to go to kids club but here he asked to go daily. They loved being there! There is also Little Den which is for older children. Saajan asked to go to kids club every day too. The staff are so kind and welcoming.
The heated swimming pool is a great size and currently they allow a maximum of 46 people in at any time. Our first trip was great as the pool wasn’t too busy but the subsequent trips were a little busy. Nevertheless the kids had a great time. It is also wheelchair friendly. They have done extremely well to manage the current covid situation. You are asked to come in your swimwear with your hotel gown and slippers on for your allocated slot. You are given a basket to remove your items by the pool and once done, you pop your robe and slippers back on and return back to your rooms. It worked really well and reduced the traffic.
There is also an arcade and small shopping area within the hotel offering clothing and other items. There is a “corner shop” which includes items such as basic toiletries and sweeties. On the lawn, there is also a tuck shop offering ice cream sundaes and iced drinks – a nice touch located right by the lawn garden games.
All in all, we had an absolutely fantastic stay at The Gleneagles and are already planning our next trip! As well as the stunning grounds, impressive architecture and decor, the staff are truly what make this a magical stay. They were all incredibly friendly, warm and welcoming and always offering to help!
