By KIRSTY JOHNSTON
kirsty@nitravelnews.com
THIS is my third visit to Glenapp Castle… my second time as an overnight guest, and my first bringing my 18-month old son with me.
Believe me when I say that I could not be more excited to be heading back to my favourite Scottish hotel. You may think I’m exaggerating a bit when I say that Glenapp is my favourite hotel in the whole of Scotland – I certainly don’t claim to have visited all the hotel’s in Scotland though I have visited a fair few (including Glengorm on the Isle of Mull, recently featured on Banjo Beale’s ‘Designing the Hebrides’) and I can truly say, hand on my heart, that Glenapp, is simply unbeatable for location, style, service, food… everything.
Now first off, I want to tackle the most commonly asked question I get about Glenapp. The price. Let’s get that out of the way.
When anyone asks me for a hotel recommendation for a quick getaway, Glenapp is my go to. However when I tell them the price – £262 per person for the ‘Gourmet Break’ special offer, they immediately baulk, and you are probably thinking of skipping this article right about now, but stay with me. Let me take this opportunity to break that price down for you and then you can decide if you think it’s worth it.
Heading away as a couple? Leave the car, take the Stena Line ferry as a foot passenger, book into the Stena Plus Lounge and Glenapp will send a driver to pick you up when you arrive in Cairnryan at no extra cost. Going as a family? Take the car on the ferry, let the kids enjoy the soft play and cinema onboard, drive the 12 minute journey from the ferry terminal to Glenapp and a staff member will meet you at the door, take your keys, park your car and bring your luggage to your room… at no extra cost. Fancy a quick getaway with your pooch? Glenapp is the place! Travel in style in Stena Line’s new onboard pet lounges. Tea and coffee making facilities are included in the lounge and there is a special pet exercise area so you and your furry companion can get some fresh air. The 110 acres of gardens and woodland at Glenapp make it the perfect place for you and your dog to explore together. No need to bring your own wellingtons either… just borrow a pair from the Glenapp boot room…. free of charge.
You get the picture. The beauty of a stay at Glenapp is that the price you pay for your stay is largely the only thing you will have to pay for while you are there. Tea and coffee? Made fresh and sent to your room, or wherever you are in the castle… free of charge. Want to explore the grounds on one of the electric bikes? Also free of charge.
So let’s break the ‘Gourmet Break’ special offer down.
For your £262 you will get: the famous traditional Glenapp table served breakfast (approx. £20); seven course tasting menu served with canapés, coffee and petit fours (£110); complimentary glass of Andre Roger Champagne on arrival (£14); tennis courts, croquet lawn, boules, mountain and electric bikes (approx. £50 for day hire of the electric bikes), access to 110 acres of gardens and estate (£13 for similar access to National Trust properties); complimentary morning newspaper (£1.25); complimentary WiFi; complimentary freshly made tea and coffee brought to your room on request (£3.75 per serving), an overnight accommodation in one of the hotel’s magnificent castle suites (£51).
Not so bad at all when you really break it down eh? And that’s not even attributing a price to the complimentary use of the wellington boots, tennis courts, croquet lawn or mountain bikes – all of which would be charged as an extra at other hotels (which I’ll not name here).
Now that we’ve got the nitty gritty out of the way… and I do hope you are still with me, let me properly introduce you to Glenapp Castle.
Cosy, Elegant and Quintessentially Scottish
As you pull up to the ornate gated entrance to the castle estate, take a moment to look out over the Firth of Clyde, to the iconic Ailsa Craig. Nicknamed “Paddy’s Milestone” for its location half way between Glasgow and Belfast, the ‘Fairy Rock’ rises out of the Irish Sea like the back of a giant sea turtle. Accessible only from the eastern side, the now uninhabited island is famous for its large breeding colonies of gannets and other seabirds.
Look beyond and on a clear day you can see the Isle of Arran, Holy Island, and the rolling hills of home… Northern Ireland.
Sweep up the long tree-clad drive past some extraordinary specimens of plants and trees, ranging from giant sequoia to the tallest firs in Britain. Turning right at the Monkey Tree you will get your first glimpse of the beautiful facade of Glenapp Castle. Combining elements of the Gothic and Renaissance, Glenapp is the epitome of Scottish Baronial design. Fairytale in appearance, the castle’s mellow sandstone battlements are topped by soaring turrets and towers reaching high into the clouds.
As we parked, three friendly and professional staff members were immediately waiting to greet us. One waiting to take our car keys and bring our luggage to our room, another with an umbrella to ensure a drop of rain didn’t dampen our spirits and a third poised to take us directly to our room and offer hot refreshments.
We stayed in the Hunter Suite, one of the two Junior Suites located in the East Wing.
Both the Bryce and Hunter Suites offer refined luxury. Fitted with stunning bedrooms, both cosy and elegant, and separate sitting rooms they are ideal for longer stays. With double sofabeds in the sitting rooms, Bryce and Hunter are also a perfect fit for families with one older child or two small children.
Since our little boy is only 18 months and still sleeps in a cot, Glenapp had already had one set up in the master bedroom of the suite along with soft mattress and a comfy grey blanket.
Coffee was asked for, and promptly delivered to the room before we decided to brave the wild Scottish weather and explore some of the grounds. Oak panelled halls lead to the heart of the castle where contemporary comfort blends well with traditional-style decor giving a quintessentially Scottish feel.
Classic, yet comfortable sofas, invite you to sink into their soft embraces as the fireplace crackles gently with warmth. At the end of the long hallway you will find the library, well stocked with Diana Gabaldon and family-friendly boardgames. Another gently crackling fire (which I’m assured would be roaring on any colder days) plush sofas and armchairs beckon guests to the fireside for a relaxing read… if you’re up-to-date on your Outlander, then perhaps some Burns would take your fancy? I found it the perfect place to delve deeper into my current read by Jennifer L. Armentrout.
Take your pick from any number of comfortable seats to curl up in throughout the castle, enjoy the view out over Asila Craig, hot whiskey in hand; admire the spectacular gardens with a glass of champagne or sip a warm cup of tea by the fire with a game of scrabble.
Wild About Nature, Passionate about Play
Wellington boots were borrowed from the castle’s boot room for our walk and we set off across the gravel path, heading for the gardens where you can find the Azalea, the castle’s original Victorian Mackenzie and Moncur Victorian Glasshouse. Built in the late 1800s it is one of only a few remaining in Scotland, including a similar Glasshouse situated on the Queen’s Balmoral Estate. The Glasshouse is now home to the Azalea Restaurant serving coffee, cake and afternoon tea from 11am daily.
While we enjoyed a stroll in the light rain, our little adventurer was free to run across the wide open lawns, picking up sticks and leaves that had fallen from nearby trees. Did you know Glenapp have a Ranger programme for kids? Children can explore the Scottish outdoors through searching, creating, sensory, building activities in a four-hour long nature exploration of Glenapp woodland and gardens including an exciting minibeast hunt, nature’s treasure quest, pond dipping and storytelling. Each little adventurer will also receive their very own personalised goodie bag which includes mirror, bug pot, compass, stickers, notebook and pencil.
As we made our way over the beautifully manicured lawns and gardens that lead down to the lake, we took some time to stop and admire the view of the castle across the pond. Two jolly punt boats bobbed lazily on the pond while the outdoor chess board beckoned us for a game. As we drifted further into the woods of Kilphin Glen the air became slightly thicker, the light muted and the rain a mere drizzle; the dense trees providing shelter. Stepping into the wild side of Glenapp is like stepping back in time. The air here feels fresher, our lungs able to breath deeper here. It’s no wonder that the castle has incorporated the Japanese art of ‘Forest Bathing’ into the extensive list of experiences it has on offer. A walk through the Glen certainly feels like it would have many health benefits for the body, mind and soul.
Kilphin Glen is also full of the most extraordinary specimens of plants and trees, ranging from giant sequoia to the tallest firs in Britain – a fun game for kids is to try and collect the leaves from as many different trees as possible.
Dinner with a Scottish Twist
Dinner at Glenapp is not simply served, it’s an experience. Guests are encouraged to come down early for dinner and partake of a pre-dinner drink with canapés. Guests are welcome to enjoy these in the lounge area or at their reserved table. Having developed a taste for Champagne, I ordered a glass, putting in an order for my favourite Rioja to be served later at dinner. The seven course dinner at Glenapp is always started with Chef’s Amuse Bouche served with a selection of breads and salted butter on a local slab of the granite, mined on Alisa Craig. The onion bread was a particular favourite.
The menu is then kicked off formally with traditional Glenapp style haggis, neeps and tatties followed by roasted salt aged duck breast served with butternut squash and chorizo egress, sage and onion cabbage goats curds and pomegranate.
On to the fish course with pan fried Orkney Bay scallop, cep puree, honey and sherry confit turnip, pickled grapes and walnut foam. While I remain unsure what ‘cep puree’ is, I can confirm it was delicious while the scallop was beautifully cooked, flaky and melted in the mouth.
While I’m not usually a fan of beef, finding it heavy, the next course; roasted fillet of Scotch beef with broccoli, caramelised Roscoff onion, truffle hazelnut and red wine sauce was surprisingly light. The beef was cooked to perfection, almost as soft on the palette as the scallop.
The Chef’s pre-dessert was a berry sorbet, tart enough to cleanse the palette but not so over powering as to over-shadow the previous courses.
Dessert was Blackberry, almond and heather honey mousse with blackberry gel, chocolate, Amaretti and lime cremeux and hazelnut ice cream. Pure heaven. I was in two minds whether to add the selection of fine Scottish and European cheeses (for a supplement of £12.50), however by this stage I was getting extremely full, and there was still coffee and petit fours to come.
Usually one for pushing my stomach to the limit, I decided (for once) to just savour the last bit of wine before heading back upstairs and turning in for the night.
The next morning we were up bright and early ready for breakfast and I was very thankful that I hadn’t over indulged the night before. While our little one devoured his freshly baked mini croissants and pastries, we both ordered the traditional Scottish Glenapp cooked breakfast. If you don’t get haggis for breakfast in Scotland, you just aren’t living. That’s a fact. Nothing beats toasty fried haggis with dippy eggs and some buttery toast to mop it all up and a pot of tea to wash it all down.
A Cosy Family Space with Scottish Flair
It would be remiss of me not to mention the castle’s largest accommodation, The Endeavour. Combining traditional baronial style with an abundance of modern luxuries, The Endeavour, which takes up the full length and breadth of the top floor of the castle, is a truly welcoming home from home for extended family and multi-generational stays. This elegant 4,500 sq ft, four bedroom penthouse suite is tucked away on its own floor, and is accessible through its very own private elevator.
The apartment’s collection of palatial bedrooms and bathrooms are ideal for families or groups of friends to call home for a stay on the Scottish coast.
The Endeavour features four individually designed bedrooms: The Elsie Mackay, The Poppy Wyndham, The Kintyre, and The Waverley. In each, you’ll find a super king size bed, which can also be set up as twin single beds, fresh flowers, and luxurious bathrobes and slippers.
This sprawling, self-contained penthouse suite also boasts a sauna, beauty treatment room, family games room, media room, period kitchen and a private dining area for up to 16 guests. A private rooftop terrace – the very one Sir James Mackay would stand atop to check on his ships as they sailed past – also offers you a 360 degree views of the estate and coastline.
The Endeavour suite can be combined with the floor below to offer accommodation of up to 14 guests making it the perfect place for larger family groups to stay together and enjoy the privacy the suite offers.
All bedrooms and bathrooms boast stunning sea views, featuring roll top baths, walk in showers, as well as a few little luxuries and extravagant amenities.
A stay in The Endeavour includes your very own private chef, who will be on hand to prepare your meals and your personal butler to serve and recommend a fine selection of cocktails and drinks to accompany your meals. You can chose from our gourmet three course dinners, or perhaps wish to experience the delicious seven course tasting menu with a specially selected wine flight. Your private chef will prepare your daily breakfast to order and this can be enjoyed watching the Chef at work in the bespoke kitchen or in the main dining room in The Endeavour. Whatever you chose, dining is decadent and an experience to savour.
You will also have a personal butler who will be on hand, discreetly, throughout your stay. They will be there to meet you on arrival, help arrange your activities and experiences, oversee all your dining desires, recommend your wines and anticipate everyone’s wishes. Your butler will ensure the best possible experience for you all during your stay. The price of the butter, private chef, fully stocked fridge and full Scottish breakfast each morning are all included in the price of the apartment.
