Mar Hall Hotel & Spa ★★★★★

Only a 10 minute drive from the airport, I was surprised by the quiet beauty of my surroundings, and my hopes of a magical stay were still high as we drove up the long, alluring driveway of the Mar Hall estate. On spying the neo-Gothic baronial mansion up ahead, I half expected the car to transform into a horse and carriage beneath me and transport me back to the 19th century.

The imposing grandeur of the building from the outside is softened by the elegant and equally opulent design within, including vaulted ceilings, period antiques and carved oak doors. My favourite aspect of the hotel was perhaps the 118 foot long Grand Hall, illuminated by crystal chandeliers and furnished with wonderfully comfortable sofas along with a baby grand piano; where I later discovered that a superb resident pianist plays during afternoon tea and dinner.

The staff were very friendly and welcoming, and thankfully good at giving directions as the expansive building means that it can be quite the labyrinth to your room. Once inside the charming bedroom, period style beauty was matched with every modern luxury one could expect from a five star stay - a highlight of which had to be the fluffy bathrobe and slippers. The view could also not be faulted, as I looked out at the River Clyde and the Kilpatrick hills beyond, I didn’t need to be a golfer to see why it’s an idyllic locale for a sport that began in Scotland in the 15th century, possibly in a similar setting surrounded by old chestnut and beech trees.

After a delightful afternoon at the spa - which while not extensive, proved to be perfectly relaxing with a variety of massages and treatments to choose from – I was excited to dine in Mar Hall’s Cristal restaurant. They wisely advise pre-booking to avoid quite a wait, although it would still be worth it as the grand, oak panelled room offers panoramic views through 20 foot high windows, and the warm colours and good service strike the perfect balance between refined elegance and a sense of feeling at ease. Of course, most importantly for a restaurant, the food was delicious and the menu is full of tempting dishes prepared with seasonal Scottish produce.

On my last day I was happy to make the most of the late checkout and thoroughly enjoyed my king-sized lie-in, wrapped in Egyptian cotton. My entire experience made me feel truly pampered, and I’m not surprised, with numerous celebrities on their guest list – including Beyoncé, David Beckham, Robbie Williams, Bob Dylan, and Brad Pitt – Mar Hall Hotel knows how to offer a first class sojourn.