I overlooked Scotland for years – then a luxury hotel stay completely changed my mind. | UK | Travel

I had never thought about visiting Scotland until recently. I grew up in London, and the only consistent weather I know without doubt is the cold, so the idea of travelling to Scotland for a few days meant, for me, that I should pack even warmer clothes than I already do. My knowledge of Scotland was very limited… kilts, whisky and cold air. No real understanding of their meanings or the culture behind them, but I was open-minded.

Scotland, Glasgow to be specific, is probably one of my favourite places I have travelled to this year. I completely underestimated its beauty. From the accents I could listen to all day, the countryside air and feel, and the overall experience of being somewhere less congested and, in my opinion, less ‘chaotic’ than London.

I think everywhere I travel to, I tell myself, “I could live here”… this is probably the 100th time, but most certainly the most realistic of my options.

The journey from the airport to the hotel could have been at least 30–40 minutes, but along the way there was serene greenery and glimpses of the loch from a distance. As expected, Highland cows (the pretty cows) were in sight, as well as sheep.

This is exactly how I imagined Scotland to be, but to see it in real life felt better than my imagination because I wanted to stay longer.

I could not believe my limited thinking had left it so long to visit a place that is literally on my doorstep, with probably more memories than other destinations I have been to alone this year.

I stayed at JA Mar Hall Golf & Spa Resort, and it couldn’t get any more ‘Scottish’ ithan this.

Arriving at Mar Hall itself, I kept repeating to myself, “Imagine getting married here.” It just resembled an actual castle where the princess gets saved by her knight in shining armour, and I felt the little girl in me, watching all the classic Disney movies, almost living out the scene of just entering the hotel itself.

It was huge, and that’s not an exaggeration. I loved that just before the entrance, there is a centrepiece of a deer with huge antlers, and the cars are parked all around it just before entering the hotel. It felt surreal but peaceful.

I was first captivated by the architecture of the building itself. From the outside, honestly speaking, it reminded me of the story of the Three Little Pigs, where the wolf threatens to blow the house down and it could all come down.

It was that type of olden and fragile appearance, but there is so much history behind its appearance and a lot of controversy surrounding it, which makes it so unique.

Originally known as Erskine House, its darkened exterior is a result of wartime camouflage applied during World War II. so I was told…

Because the estate is located on the southern banks of the River Clyde, it was positioned uncomfortably close to the Clydebank shipyards, a massive, vital target for German air raids.

To protect the historic building from being spotted by enemy bombers at night, the entire stone exterior was intentionally darkened to blend into the landscape.

There has been a question of whether to maintain its camouflage or change it, but honestly, I thought it was perfect.

The entire building and the inside had such a ‘family feeling’ to it. The dark colours and the interior just reminded me of being surrounded by family during the Christmas period, and it wasn’t surprising to see many family guests staying during the time I was also.

It was the perfect week or weekend stay, with so much to do across all ages.

At first glance, it seems like a retreat far away, where the only thing to do would be to take in the scenery (not that I would mind), because it made a change from busy roads, tourists and chaos.

I had the perfect mental reset, as well as trying activities that I wouldn’t normally, which I took back to London with me and have been consistently doing during my Saturday mornings.

Target shooting, to be exact!

This was the highlight for me during my stay because I would not have tried it if I hadn’t been staying at Mar Hall. Not only did I leave with new memories, but I added a new hobby, which changed my view on trying new things.

I usually view ‘shooting’ as a ‘rich man’s sport’, as I’ve heard, but the interest never truly appealed to me. I had no idea it was an activity that even young children practise.

But trying it during my stay, having an hour-long lesson, showed me how much strength, discipline and focus are needed. By the end of it, it felt very rewarding, as well as showing me my competitive side once I got the hang of it.

It’s in the name, but golf was also another fun activity to try out. Although I had played a bit of it in the past, it felt extra special to know some big names in the sport practise or compete at Mar Hall.

It really felt like I got the full experience of Scotland and a countryside stay in one.

Autumn is probably the best time to visit because of the cosy feel I have been going on about.

The rooms were a special touch to staying here, of course. They were modern whilst still holding on to a traditional look and feel of the rest of the hotel’s design.

Autumn greens and woody reds set the scene for a perfect night’s sleep.

I was convinced that the fireplace in the room would work, only to find out it was just a special addition for the look of the room. I later found out that one tiny mistake of a spark could bring the whole building down. That’s how fragile the building is.

Although they have built extensions on the property, if guests wanted to enjoy the feel of a real fireplace and fall asleep in front of it, it would be advised to stay in the lobby area.

It was cosy enough and did not have a rushed feel to it when checking in. There were comfortable reclining-style chairs around the area, with mentally stimulating board games such as chess or Scrabble to entertain guests.

I personally have never played a game of chess but love what it represents. Seeing it in a hotel, whether for aesthetic purposes or not, let me know the type of guests that stay here.

And let me be quite precise when I say ‘type of guests’. Not necessarily ‘wealthy’ or ‘posh’, but those with an acquired taste, deep thinkers who value beauty and detail.

And that is everything JA Mar Hall had represented and reflected back to me.

The best part for me, or one of the best parts, after all the activities and fun had worn off for the day, was the comfort of the bed.

I am very petite, so to have this huge bed to myself that literally felt like I could melt through the mattress just energised me for the next day, or at least a quick power nap before it was time to try out something new I had discovered in the hotel.

For the first time, I never experienced room service knocking on the door to ask if I wanted the room serviced. But each time I left and came back, it was almost like I was wheeling my suitcase through the doors, seeing the room for the first time again.

And I didn’t have to fight with the duvet at night to keep me warm! Which is usually the one thing I hate about hotel bedding.

My bed at home is already comfortable, and I’m always willing to pay for the extra-soft pillows or highest-tog duvet, so my expectations were set really high, and they were exceeded.

I think that’s the highlight of a hotel stay: to be guaranteed a good night’s rest at the very least, and that’s what I got here.

Breakfast was special because they had waffles that were the logos of the hotel, served with smoked salmon and eggs in the style I liked.

And nothing else accompanies a good breakfast like a good side of freshly squeezed orange juice, but that’s not where it stopped.

There was a buffet-style breakfast going on at the same time, so yes, my plate looked random with hot food, fruits and yoghurts, which set me up nicely for the day. Not once did I feel rushed.

The staff were seemingly young (like myself), but what I valued most was that they were professional, and it seemed like they were being given a real chance in such a luxury setting.

I can remember how difficult it was to even be in a space as such, and so what it showed me is that they value people. It reflected in the service, the people and the food!

Visiting Scotland would not be a successful trip if I did not try their whisky.

My closest feel to being in Scotland beforehand would have been a drink! Loch Lomond whisky, to be exact, and there was no better way than trying it on Loch Lomond itself, on a yacht cruise (despite the rain).

It was a beautiful experience hosted by Scottish Rouge.

I have always thought of whisky as a very masculine drink, but one thing for sure is that it keeps you warm during the colder months.

There were a few tasters I had which I made a mental note of to get a bottle for my granddad.

The special touch of the tour on the loch was a rainbow appearing, which made for a great ending to the tour and a great photo opportunity.

I was convinced they made that happen, but it was definitely a nice touch to the end of the tour.

I couldn’t remember every detail of each tasting, but I remember asking the tour guides what would make me know what I was talking about if I went into a shop, and they’d be able to recognise, “This person knows their whisky.”

It was somewhere between asking for a non-blend (as most whisky is blended) and a certain percentage. Those were my key takeaways because I have a thrill for being an ‘expert’ in a scenario as such, and so that I’m not ripped off!

This is definitely somewhere I would visit again. Scotland is right on my doorstep, with so much to see.

I guess as I have gotten a little bit older, I have an appreciation for more of the quiet side of life and have a lot more fun indulging in real activities rather than reminiscing on memories of being in the sun drinking with friends.

But whilst I was here, I was imagining my family also travelling here because I know what they like (usually the opposite to my taste in holiday breaks).

This was the first place I thought we would connect deeper as a family because there is so much to do for everyone and because it is not so far from home.

Scotland and Mar Hall left an imprint on me, and I would highly recommend it to anyone thinking of a short weekend break!

I even returned home with a logo-print hat that I wear often in the hopes I bump into someone who has stayed there too and recognises the logo.

Just because I think it’s a great conversation starter, and I would have so much to share about it!