Gleneagles Hotel

Gleneagles Launches “Gleneaglets”

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Gleneaglets

Gleneagles spices up summer with new kids programme

Newly launched “Gleneaglets” makes kids feel at home – pony included
The Gleneagles Hotel, Scotland’s 5-star resort, kicks off summer with Gleneaglets, a new children’s amenities programme, and bigger exciting activities.

Launching 1 June and available year-round, young hotel guests (aka Gleneaglets) will receive special gifts upon arrival to make them feel at home. Amenities include a special check-in card, a Gleneagles activity and puzzle book, and kid-friendly welcome favours such as sweet indulgences or a stuffed toy Gleneaglets mascot, Oscar the Shetland pony.

The summer holiday brings fun programs to its younger guests. From June 27 – August 30, 2015, children are invited to partake in daily summer adventures such as pony caregiving and riding, golf camps, tennis programmes, country pursuits and more on the 850-acre countryside estate. Here’s what’s in store for Gleneaglets this summer:

– Own a Pony

Under the watchful eye of Gleneagles’ equestrian experts, children will learn how to properly care for Scotland’s indigenous Shetland ponies. Before a riding lesson, kids six years of age and up can groom, cuddle and tend to the pony’s stable. Cost: £75 per child.

– Junior Golf Camps

Throughout July and August, Scotland’s only PGA National Golf Academy will offer a two-day junior golf camp to teach the fundamentals of the game. Participants will play on the nine-hole Academy Course and the Pitch & Putt course, before having the chance to play the three championship golf courses on property. Two-hour camps are offered July 7-8, July 20-21, and August 3-4. Cost: £80 per child.

-Tennis Programmes

Junior Development Programme: Begins July 6, 2015
Created for ages 5-14, this five-day clinic is designed for beginners. Gleneagles’ Senior Performance Tennis Coach Adam Brown will teach the basics for an hour per day. Cost: £60 (£15 per day).

Junior Pro Week: Begins July 20, 2015
Designed for competitive tennis players ages 10-18, Adam Brown’s program focuses on improving technical, tactical, physical and mental elements of each player’s game. This intense 30-hour per week training program helps participants gain insight into a pro’s training regimen. Guests will play for six hours per day, Monday through Friday, in the newly opened Gleneagles Arena, which features four indoor all-weather tennis courts. Cost: £175 (£40 per day).

– Children’s Country Sports Passport

Gleneagles provides world-class sporting schools for children to gain the ultimate educational outdoor experience. Local experts teach the art of falconry, clay shooting and archery as well as gundog training, fishing and junior off-road driving in mini Land Rovers through hands-on instruction. Cost: £352 per child.

The resort also offers complimentary golf to children 15 years and younger with a paying adult, guided segway tours throughout the property, pizza making at Deseo (Gleneagles’ casual family dining restaurant) and dedicated areas for play: The Playroom and The Zone. The Playroom is a supervised area for children ages two and up, and features arts & crafts, costumes for dress up, board games, DVDs and toys. Stays include two free hours per day and additional time is available for purchase. The Zone is a place for teens to meet and interact on-property and includes video games, computers, an interactive TV and sound system.

Summer 2015 rates start from £355 B&B per room per night. For further information about the Gleneagles Hotel, or to book a reservation, please visit www.gleneagles.com or call 0800 704705.

Follow Gleneagles on Twitter @Gleneagleshotel and Facebook

 

 

Renata Fernandes

Hebridean Princess visits the mysterious land of St.Kilda

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The double UNESCO World Heritage site and mysterious land of St. Kilda will witness two visits from Hebridean Princess next month.  Sailing overnight, Hebridean Princess will arrive early morning to cruise between Stac Lee and Boreray with around 60,000 breeding pairs of northern gannets before circumnavigating the main island of Hirta where guests will go ashore at Village Bay.

The island archipelago of St. Kilda, the remotest part of the British Isles, lies 41 miles (66 kilometres) west of Benbecula in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides.  The Last 36 Gaelic-speaking residents of St Kilda evacuated the main island of Hirta at their own request in 1930, thereby ending some 5000 years of continuous settlement. Behind them they left a deserted village that survives today as an outdoor museum, roamed by Soay sheep. Its renowned for it’s exceptional cliffs and the sea stacs form the most important seabird breeding station in north-west Europe

Today, three organisations, The National Trust for Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and the MoD, work in partnership to further a continuing programme of conservation and research on the islands to ensure the care and protection of this World Heritage Site.

Click on the links below for more details of these two fascinating cruises:

St Kilda and the Outer Isles

The Outposts of St Kilda

 

For more information on Hebridean Island Cruises please call +44(0) 1756 704704 or email reservations@hebridean.co.uk

Renata Fernandes

Luxury Scotland Hotels Offer Innovative Ways to Enjoy Whisky

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Some call it Scotch, but in Scotland it’s just plain “whisky” – never spelled with that pesky “E.” But it’s not the spelling that matters so much as the taste … and any whisky connoisseur will tell you that a distillery’s geography and what appear to be subtle differences in the blending process can result in significant differences in flavour. Scotland has five whisky-producing regions – Lowland, Campbeltown, Islay, Highland and Speyside – and many international visitors indicate that sampling whiskies from all these regions is a favorite activity during a trip to Scotland. Enjoying a dram is a great way to celebrate the Year of Food & Drink Scotland 2015; and May is Whisky Month in Scotland, making it the perfect time to outline how some of the members of the Luxury Scotland collection of luxurious 5 star hotels help introduce their guests to Scotland’s uisge beatha, the “water of life.” Listed below are just some of the ways visitors can get a taste of Scotland’s national drink while also enjoying some of the country’s finest hotels.

Cameron House
Located on the shores of Loch Lomond and with parts of the property in both the Highlands and the Lowlands, the hotel’s Great Scots Bar offers more than 200 whiskies that are always ready for sampling. This fashionable country house hotel also boasts seven Whisky Suites, each of which was inspired by a Scottish distillery. The closest of those distilleries is Glengoyne, which offers a Malt Master experience, during which guests can create their own whisky to take home after learning about the blending process.

Cromlix
Tennis star Andy Murray’s luxury hotel opened last spring and is located less than five miles from his hometown of Dunblane. It offers guests star treatment in its 10 bedrooms, five suites and gate lodge. Cromlix is also home to the Balvenie Whisky Room, a room dedicated to whisky connoisseurs and featuring the entire collection of products from Balvenie Distillery in the Speyside region as well as a range of distilleries from elsewhere in Scotland. Cromlix’s whisky sommelier and bar team are available to host tastings and answer guests’ questions.

The Glasshouse
This city-center hotel in Edinburgh is a work of art, featuring unique design elements both inside and out. It also treats guests to a small art exhibition on its mezzanine floor overlooking the reception area. The Glasshouse’s 20 suites are each named after a different brand of whisky, from Aberlour to Talisker and from Ardbeg to Oban. Guests who stay in these suites are given a complimentary dram of their suite’s namesake whisky in the hotel’s Snug, which lives up to its name by offering comfy chairs and a roaring fire.

Gleneagles Hotel
Located in the town of Perthshire and host to 2014’s Ryder Cup, Gleneagles is known as one of the world’s top golf resorts, but its culinary team works hard to keep food and beverage at the top of guests’ minds, as well. The hotel also offers a whisky blending experience in its Blue Bar, an alfresco showcase for the finest whiskies. Participants in the “Perfect Pour” experience learn how to identify and savor the flavors of Johnnie Walker Blue Label, then they have the opportunity to craft their own blend to take home, using a selection of single malts.

Greywalls Hotel & Chez Roux
One of Scotland’s fine country house hotels, Greywalls boasts 23 bedrooms, a peaceful walled garden and a private dining room that has more than 50 malt whiskies on display. The hotel enjoys a close relationship with both Balvenie and Glenfiddich distilleries, which provide tutored tastings that take guests through Scotland’s five whisky regions and explain how production affects the style and taste of each brand. Chef Mark Saddler will happily prepare a customized menu to match a flight of whiskies.

Hebridean Princess
One of the mobile members of Luxury Scotland, the MV Hebridean Princess is offering a seven-night “Spirit of Scotland” whisky cruise in March 2016, traveling from Greenock to Oban. The Hebridean Princess provides all-inclusive trips aimed at highlighting the cultural essence and historical significance of each port its guests visits. The whisky cruise will take guests to six distilleries – Glengoyne, Arran, Springbank, Laphroaig, Bowmore and Oban – in the western isles while offering side trips to castles, gardens and even a private island.

Hotel du Vin One Devonshire Gardens
When guests arrive at this iconic hotel, which occupies five Victorian townhouses in the fashionable west end of Glasgow, they’re greeted with a welcome dram of 10-year-old Macallan whisky. More whisky can be enjoyed in the welcoming bar, or in its neighboring Whisky Snug, which features 250 whiskies from across the country. The hotel offers guests the opportunity to participate in a whisky tasting, which enables them to sample five different blends and decide for themselves which is most appealing.

Old Course Hotel, Golf and Spa
A mecca for golfers, the Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa in St. Andrews also attracts lovers of single malt. Its iconic Road Hole Bar boasts panoramic views of the famous Old Course and stocks more than 250 whiskies, at least one from every distillery in Scotland (even those which no longer exist!). The resort’s resident Whisky Experts are on hand to offer tailored tasting experiences, known as “Whisky Journeys,” which guide guests through the finest Scottish malts in an unforgettable setting.

Trump International Golf Links, Scotland
With its secret stairways and cozy whisky snug, it should be no surprise that Donald Trump’s MacLeod House & Lodge in Aberdeenshire – one of the newest members of the Luxury Scotland family of hotels – has its very own Trump whisky, which was bottled and released to celebrate the opening of Trump International Golf Links here in July 2012. The 26-year-old Highland single malt was crafted by GlenDronach, a local distillery that dates to 1826. The blend is served exclusively at Trump International and Trump Turnberry (see below).

Trump Turnberry, a Luxury Collection Resort, Scotland
As part of its ongoing renovations, this renowned golf resort on the Ayrshire coastline has just opened a new Grand Tea Lounge & Bar, which serves more than 200 whiskies. Located in the heart of the hotel, the lounge is the perfect place to enjoy a Trump whisky (see above) or the Turnberry Blend whisky. New for this year, the hotel’s concierge team has launched a “Destination Discoveries” program that highlights activities that are native to Scotland – including, of course, a complimentary whisky tasting session two times each week.

Luxury Scotland

We’re OPEN – St Andrews Old Course Hotel

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As St Andrews prepares for the 144th Open Championship, indulge in
a taste of what the world’s greatest golfers will be enjoying this July …
our famous five red star luxury!

  • Two Nights of Luxury Accommodation at the Old Course Hotel
  • A Round of Golf On Our Award-Winning Heathland Course – The Duke’s
  • A Private Golf Lesson With Our Resident Pro
  • Enjoy a delicious meal on each day in our stunning Duke’s Clubhouse.*

ALSO INCLUDED:

  • Full access to our world class Kohler Waters Spa complete with a rooftop hot tub, thermal
    suite, hydrotherapy pool and swimming pool with waterfall
  • Full Scottish Breakfast served each morning
  • An official ‘Open 2015’ polo shirt.
  • Time out to enjoy St Andrews, the home of golf.  The sights and sounds will stay with you
    for a lifetime.

Package starts at £455 per person per night. Based on a two-night stay and double/twin room occupancy. Subject to availability.
*Meals to be enjoyed before 18:00

To book please call +44 (0)1334 474 371 or email reservations@oldcoursehotel.co.uk

Jeremy Hawkings

Welcome to Luxury Scotland’s May Newsletter

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Spring is sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder where the burdie is.
The birds are on the wing, that’s odd, I though the wing was on the bird.

Spring is certainly sprung and in the past few days I have enjoyed some spectacular weather with members of the American press in Glencoe where there was hardly a cloud in the sky, brilliant, warm sunshine and a dusting of snow on the hills. Scotland at its very best.

knockElsewhere there is much going on, at Knockinaam Lodge, the bluebells are bursting into flower on the hillside and there are some very attractive deals for the early part of May.

 

pgaAt Gleneagles, preparations are being made for The Legacy Trophy, sponsored by Highland Spring. This is a 36 hole stableford competition taking place on Sunday 6th and Monday 7th September 2015 over The PGA Centenary Course at the world-renowned Gleneagles Resort and the critically acclaimed Rosemount Course at Blairgowrie Golf Club. For details contact the Golf Team at Gleneagles.


hebThe 2016 Hebridean Princess main cruise directory has been published.

As well as a return to Orkney and Shetland during the summer, 2016 will see the first ever visits to Lunga on the Treshnish Isles, Stroma Island in the Pentland Firth and Strachur House, home of Sir Charles and Lady McLean. New walks and visits on many of the old favourites have also been introduced. Twice venturing out of Scottish waters there is an extended exploration of the Isle of Man in June, and a voyage to Northern Ireland.


ivICMI Hotels invite you to join them this summer for a celebration of life, where heavenly dishes, superior hospitality, breathtaking views and outdoor activities await you. How will you remember the summer of 2015?



ocAt Old Course Hotel in St Andrews there is a wonderful competition to celebrate the forthcoming royal wedding anniversary. Newly engaged couples have the chance of winning the wedding and honeymoon of their dreams at The Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa in St Andrews.


torAt The Torridon, it is a story of four wheels are good, but two wheels are better as many of the visitors can’t wait to take to the hills on a mountain bike. If something a little more gentle appeals to you then there are the new cycling tours we have devised with The Carter Company.


trturnAt Trump Turnberry, where the new Clubhouse will be unveiled on 1st June, there is an extensive 18 month refurbishment programme underway. There will be a partial closure of some parts of the resort from 27th September until May 2016 when Trump Turnberry will re-open to world leading standards which includes the lavish upgrade of all the hotel’s bedrooms. This is certainly an exciting time for Trump Turnberry and for Scotland.


Whatever you decide to do, enjoy May!

Jeremy Hawkings, Chief Executive,
Connoisseurs Scotland. E: jeremy@luxscot.co.uk

 

LUXURY SCOTLAND’S NEW BROCHURE

2015-brochure02Featuring the finest luxury hotels in Scotland and selected partners from the world of luxury travel, our 2015 Luxury Scotland Brochure is an invaluable source of perfect destinations for the discerning traveller.

As well as a special feature on Scotland’s Year of Food & Drink, the brochure contains full details of all our five star hotels, the luxury cruise ship MV Hebridean Princess and the Belmond Royal Scotsman Train.

To request a copy of the latest brochure please use the contact form on our web site.

To view our 2015 Brochure only click here: Luxury Scotland 2015 Virtual Brochure >>