august2014
14
FLYTO
brussels
frommorethan50europeandestinations;
cagliari
twiceweekly;
edinburgh
twicedaily.
brusselsairlines.com
G
leneagles isarguablyScotland’smost iconic
hotel,not justbywayof itsgloriousbucolic
settingandculinary reputation (thanks to
thecountry’sonly twoMichelin-starchef,Andrew
Fairlie)but for thesport thatwas inventedonScottish
soil: golf.Love itor loathe it, it’shard to ignore itat
Gleneaglesandwhile I’mwithMarkTwainon thisone
–and thewalksherearesuperlative–nextmonth,
Gleneagles isall about thegolfwhen theRyderCup
will beplayedon itsaward-winningPGAcourse.
But there issomuchmore toenjoyherebesides
golf.Bang in theheartof rural Perthshire,home to
lushdeciduouswoodlands, rollingmoorlandand
purple-tingedhills that comeautumnwill beafire
withcopperbracken,Gleneagles really isaplace to
rechargeyour soul,andwhether that’sheadingout
forapeaceful hikeononeof themany trailsor
communingwithaneagle in thehotel’sdedicated
falconrycentreor just lyingby thepool, thereare
plentyofoptions for relaxing.Roomsareextremely
spaciousandcomfortableand thankfullyany tartan is
low-keyandblends inwith thepleasinglyneutral decor.
ButGleneagles’piècede resistance isRestaurant
AndrewFairlie (left),anelegant,moderndining room
thatprovidesasuitablychicbackdrop for the talents
ofScotland’smostaccomplishedchef.This isseriously
goodcooking, faultlesslyexecutedbya localmanwith
respect forhisoften local ingredients,best summedup
inhissignaturedishofhome-smoked lobsterwith lime
butter.Sweet,citrussyandsucculent, it lingers long in
thememory,aswill thebill at theend,but it’sworth it;
this isanexperience tosavour.Rooms from£305/€385.
Didsomeonementiongolf?
Gleneagles
Auchterarder, Perthshire,
Scotland, +44 (0)1764662231,
gleneagles.com
words
jaymiller
