A mere 45 minutes' drive from Edinburgh airport, nestling in picture-postcard Scottish countryside of rolling hills and barren beauty, lies the magnificent Gleneagles Hotel. As you approach down the long avenue the beauty of the hotel is obvious to all with stunning attention to detail and immaculately tended croquet lawns, gazebos and box hedging.
Gleneagles is like stepping back in time with ornate fixtures and fittings, wood panelling, traditional style and modern design effortlessly blending into its 1920s façade. Although there are 273 rooms you get the impression that you are the only people staying at the hotel and the friendly staff are always on hand to make your visit even more special.
Golf has always played a large part of the hotel's infrastructure (the King's and Queen's courses opened prior to the hotel) and the PGA Centenary Course is the venue for the 2014 Ryder Cup. But there are limitless other activities to occupy you during your visit, from the excellent spa, walking and cycling trails, a falconry school, fishing, shooting, horse-riding and off-road driving. Oh, and there are a rather large number of shops offering traditional Scottish fayre.
The rooms are large spacious and incredibly romantic and the bathrooms are wonderful with roll-top baths adding to that romantic vintage-age era. Large comfy beds and stunning vistas all add to making your stay at Gleneagles even more romantic.
There is a choice of places to eat and whether you want a quick sandwich or a more romantic sit-down meal in the Michelin star Andrew Fairlie restaurant, or the Straethern restaurant, there are options aplenty, After all the scrumptious food then there is also a gymnasium and a swimming pool or you might prefer to unwind with one of the luxury treatments in spa. We recommend the totally relaxing Samunprai Ytsasa Massage Thai massage, from £70, which is absolutely blissful.
Would I recommend Gleneagles to others? Yes. Would I go back? I am counting down the days.
Getting there: Double rooms cost from £215, including breakfast. Honeymoon upgrades are subject to availability. For further information call 0800 704705 or visit www.gleneagles.com
