Scotland on Sunday Travel Wishlist: The Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder, Perthshire

Reopening its doors on 26 April the iconic Gleneagles in the heart of Perthshire is set to welcome travellers once more.

The Century bar by day.

With international guests absent, it’s up to UK visitors to make the most of the ‘Glorious Playground’ as the five-star resort adapts to Coronavirus conditions to serve up a taste of its trademark luxury while keeping guests safe.

Welcoming travellers since 1924, when it opened with its own railway station, the hotel and sporting estate beneath the Ochil Hills have been a go-to destination for generations of visitors from near and far.

Under new owner Ennismore, Gleneagles showcases design from the acclaimed David Collins Studio and Scotland’s own Timorous Beasties, as well as Ennismore’s own in-house design studio to celebrate the hotel’s stunning architecture and golden age of rail heritage. Complementing this are the Covid adaptations that have been made to give guests a stress free stay, such as transforming the summer houses on the croquet lawn to offer guests seaside-inspired food and drinks throughout the summer.

The Strathearn serves up classical Franco-Scottish fine dining, with menu options such as Executive Chef Simon Attridge’s wild venison, cherry and chocolate, one of the most popular in restaurant.

As well as the bedrooms, suites and family rooms in the hotel, there are two, three and four bedroom self-catering Glenmor Lodges with self-catering facilities and space for the whole family to relax in their household bubbles.

The swimming pools and gym will reopen to hotel guests and members (guests must pre-book a maximum of 14 days in advance) and the Spa will open with limited massage treatments available, although the sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi will remain closed for the moment. Bob and Cloche beauty lodge will reopen for hair appointments

Covid precautions

Gleneagles have reviewed their operation and have received AA Covid Confident accreditation, GBAC STAR facility accreditation and Sharecare Health Security Facility verification. In the dining spaces, groups are limited to four guests from two different households at one table indoors, or six guests from a maximum of three households outdoors. The use of masks is mandatory around the estate, unless eating in bars and restaurants. Hand sanitiser is available throughout the resort and to be used before entering different areas. Staff teams have downloaded and use the Protect Scotland App and Gleneagles encourages all guests to do so in advance of their stay. The full health and hygiene policy can be viewed here https://gleneagles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/03/Gleneagles-Covid-19-15.03.21.pdf

Off-road driving on the Gleneagles estate.

Budget or boutique?

Gleneagles is a five star iconic hotel set within an 850-acre sporting estate.

Room Service

All ot 205 bedrooms and 28 suites have luxury bath products, robes, TV with free films, hair dryer, kettle, air con, pillow menu, kingsize beds and wifi.

Gleneagles Hotel.

Wining and Dining

If it's fine dining you favour, bar snacks and brasserie classics to gear you up for the great outdoors or filling fare to fuel your family, it’s all on the menu at Gleneagles’ ten restaurants and bars. Service will be restricted to food and non-alcoholic drinks until 17 May, when alcohol indoors can be served until 10.30pm and Restaurant Andrew Fairlie will reopen. Before then there’s Franco-Scottish fine dining from executive chef Simon Attridge, winner of the hotel chef of the year award at the 2019 Cateys, in the Strathearn restaurant, with highlights including Orkney scallops and aged Tweed Valley beef.

At Restaurant Andrew Fairlie head chef Stephen McLaughlin serve up Michelin starred fare, including Fairlie’s signature home smoked Scottish lobster with a lime and herb butter while there’s rustic Italian at the Birnam Brasserie and Afternoon Tea in the Glendevon, with light lunches and a selection of home-baked cakes and pastries in The Garden Cafe.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

Gleneagles Hotel.

Golf of course, with the King’s, Queen’s, PGA Centenary and Wee courses open for play for members and visitors residing in the Perth & Kinross local authority area and no restriction on household mixing for four ball play. Elsewhere on the estate there’s horse riding at the 50-acre equestrian centre, from beginner lessons to polo and carriage driving, shooting and fishing, off-road driving, gundogs and falconry, walking and cycling, plus much more.

Little Extras

For children there are play areas with games and equipment as well as a cinema room, and babysitters can be arranged.

Guestbook Comments

It’s time to rediscover the best of what Scottish hospitality can offer.

Prices

Fine dining options in The Strathearn include heritage beetroot, goats’ cheese, truffle honey and buckwheat.

Country Room B&B starts from £485.

The Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland PH3 1NF, (01764 662231, www.gleneagles.com)

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