What’s the draw?
On a bluebird day in October, five uniform pistachio-green Land Rover Defenders queue up in convoy formation in the courtyard of Gleneagles Hotel. After being outfitted in a bespoke Barbour jacket and driven through the heather-clad Ochil Hills of Perthshire, I gaze downwards at a freshwater loch from under the awnings of a canvas tent bristling with lobster, smoked salmon, and highballs poured with Glenfiddich Grand Cru and pine soda. While sipping a mug of buckshot broth, I watch a gundog demonstration where two black labradors named French and Jess hop to kennel master Iona’s instructions, their lustrous coats catching the pallid Scottish sun. Is this real life or Logan Roy cosplay?
Gleneagles is no ordinary hotel, and this is no ordinary occasion. Built in 1924 following the construction of the Gleneagles rail station, London’s beau monde was able to zip up to Scotland by train to enjoy its spectacles, sporting, and, of course, spirits. To celebrate its centenary of operating as one of Scotland’s top properties, the hotel partnered with a brand with shared railway roots, together creating the Gleneagles X Glenfiddich Centenary Reserve, a 49-year-old limited edition single malt that can be bought in the Still Room of the hotel for a cool £35,000. Only 14 crystal decanters holding the liquid have been crafted by Scottish artist Daniel Galvin, and guests can only purchase three bottles during a given visit. In my room, perched atop an enormous chocolate Land Rover Defender, are truffles with Glenfiddich ganache fashioned angularly to resemble Galvin’s work. Hubba hubba.
The Royal Lochnagar Suite
There are 332 rooms at Gleneagles; mine is a handsome affair in hunter green, with a southerly outlook across the 850-acre estate and into the hills. Jazz-age glamour infuses every square foot of the hotel, intermixed with the building’s Scottish Baronial style. The service is impeccable but never overbearing, and no matter which manner of indulgence you decide on, you can rest assured that it will be of the top-shelf variety. There’s a good reason why Gleneagles is drenched in plaudits, from bagging number 32 in the World’s 50 Best Hotels to ‘Hotel of the Year’ in The Times and Sunday Times. If you want a special-occasion experience, gird your loins... and get ready to loosen your belt.
The food and drink
The late Andrew Fairlie put Scotland on the culinary map by running one of the first two-Michelin-starred restaurants in the country, and the intimate eatery still maintains the accolade. It can be a bit difficult to get a table, but don’t despair if you haven’t; The Strathearn is a fabulous restaurant, whether for its buffet brunch or its dinner service, where fabled beef wellington is often served to the sound of the Royal Air Force Central Scotland Pipes and Drums, as it was during our visit. If that doesn’t pique your appetite, how about locally caught halibut with autumn beans, mussels, fennel and caviar, or a tempting whisky baba made with Glenfiddich, Solliés fig and creme fraiche?
A cocktail served in the art deco environs of Gleneagles' award-winning The American Bar
There are less formal offerings dotted throughout the hotel, such as the relaxed Italian-American grill The Birnam, the pizza-cum-tandoor nook The Dormy, or laid-back snacks at The Garden Cafe. And there are plenty of places to drink, too. The first and foremost of these is The American Bar, an art deco masterpiece that feels as if it could have been lifted from Gotham City, headed up by the inimitable Italian bartender Michele Mariotti. Or head to The Century Bar to enjoy a selection from its comprehensive 400-strong whisky collection. Slàinte Mhath!
What else
For those who want to take a load off and relax, the spa and wellness centre is of the highest calibre, with a day spa, a resident spa, a beauty lodge, a fully outfitted gym and a beautiful swimming pool. Think of an outdoor activity, and you can probably do it here.
Gleneagles spa
Following the gundog demonstration, and after a fair few of those Glenfiddich Grand Cru highballs, we tried our hands at archery. The results were better than you’d expect. Otherwise, spread across Gleneagles’ trademarked Glorious Playground, you’ll find everything from a world-class golf course, a shooting range, a falconry centre, horse riding stables, tennis and padel courts, a climbing and bouldering wall, zip wires, fishing excursions, and off-road driving in Land Rovers and Argocats. Phew. Rooms from
£450 per night; gleneagles.com
