How are you?
Today I want to talk to you about a fabulous trip I took. If you follow me on Instagram, you will know where I was at the Macdonald Cardrona hotel. You know I love the Glentress area as I am a passionate mountain biker. I am always on the hunt for the perfect hotel. I am as my husband tells me, a very tough critic. There is always something that I find at a hotel at annoys me or just isn't quite right. So how did this one fair up you ask?
Check-in
We arrived at 430pm Unfortunately, there was a bit of a wait for our room. but the lovely receptionist gave us a drinks voucher and to be honest. It was a bit off an epic trip to the hotel due to the huge amount of tourist traffic on the roads. So having to sit in the gorgeous bar and have a wee drink was actually a welcome touch for us.
Our room was on the fourth-floor room 423. It was right on the corner of the hotel and the room was huge. with a wonderful view of the golf course. It was so nice. I love the Macdonald hotels esthetic. The bed is a big king and one of the nicest beds me and my husband have ever slept in. The mattress is firm and the pillows are fantastic. The bed in its self is the perfect formula for a restful nights sleep. The bathroom had a big bath and separate shower. I love this in a hotel room. I just think it makes having a bath so much nicer when the shower is not over the top of it. If like me you like your shower powerful. You will not be disappointed with this hotel. It is for sure a power shower with an abundance of hot water and fluffy towels. It has all the normal hotel room facilities like tea and coffee etc. But I think this is where Macdonalds really stand out. There is the option of calling room service for fresh milk and ice. Two bottles of water and Elemis toiletries. I love Elemis and these are the perfect size for washing my hair. I know this is a strange thing to say but I have super long hair and normally you get the tiny shampoo and conditioner and these are really generous sizes. The room was as you would imagine from a Macdonald spotlessly clean and well maintained.
We decided to hit the pool for a quick pre-dinner swim. The pool is large and has a steam room, a sauna and a full gym. I actually didn't use the gym. I am gutted I didn't take my gym kit as the gym had lovely high tech new equipment.
The changing rooms are big and have Arran cosmetics products in the showers and toilets. I really like this attention to detail. There is plenty of lockers and changing facility. I did like that the lockers are all automated all you have to do is enter your own 4 digit number twice and your locker was closed. No more hunting out pound coins.
The spa
My husband and I had a lovely back massage at the spa. My therapist was called Emma. As you know I am a qualified sports massage therapist and I am the hardest person to please. I was given a questionnaire to complete and then given our fluffy robes and slippers. Then we were seated in a quiet relaxation area before we were both taken to our rooms for our treatment. The spa room is divine. Quite, warm and beautifully decorated.
Emma ran through what I would like from the treatment and asked if I had any areas of tension. I asked for firm pressure as that is what I like. I like a message to really do something and being a mountain biker my back does get full of knots. Elemis product is used for the treatment and their smell was heavenly. Emma is hand down the best massage therapist I have ever had. She really worked on my areas of tension and my back felt amazing for a week after the treatment. If I lived closer I would be a regular of this spa. After the treatment, Emma left me to relax and change. Then I was escorted into the final relaxation room where there are lovely lounger and drinkings.
The food,
Breakfast
This is always my husband favourite meal when we are away and the Macdonald did not disappoint. You can turn up at any time within breakfast hours and are seated. When you are seated. you are asked for your tea or coffee order and whether you would like toast. The toast here is amazing. It is no ordinary bread it all looks homemade and you have a choice of white or brown. we had both. I could not recommend the toast enough. I don't think I have ever said that before when visiting a hotel.
There is plenty of selection from the continental bar from cereal, fresh fruit to chocolate pastries everything you could require to start your day. If you do get the change try the little oat muffins they are heavenly.
I loved the huge selection of juices available including fresh fruit smoothies of the day. You have a good choice of cooked foods. from the full english to porridge. I have to say I seen the porridge coming out it looked amazing.
I opted for the bacon roll on one morning and the full English the next both were fantastic. The full breakfast had everything you could ask for from nice bacon, sausages to black budding it was delicious and a fab way to start a day.
Dinner at Renwicks restaurant
I had the chicken parfait. It is my favourite starter to have when I am dining out. This one did not disappoint it was light and fluffy with loads of flavour and accompanied by beautiful redcurrant and crisp bread. My husband had the Cullen skink. He told me it was perfect. He really enjoyed the cream flavours and the rye bread.
The main course
I had the duck with dauphinoise potato and red cabbage, which was finished with jus. This was heaven on a plate. the duck was cooked perfectly and they mix of flavours with the red cabbage and the dauphinoise potatoes was amazing. I would travel back for this meal alone.
My husband had lamb with fondant potatoes he told me the lamb was cooked impeccably and he asked for it rare. It was perfectly done.
Dessert.
I opted for the lemon tart which was accomplished with a berry sorbet. OH MY GOSH, this was amazing. The lemon tart was zingy and fresh with the added kick of the berry sorbet this was the perfect way to finish the meal. My husband had the triple chocolate moose which was accomplished with chantilly cream and cherries. It was light and fluffy and full of flavour and the cream in itself was beautiful.
Overall
We stayed for two night and I have to say if you are looking for a hotel spa break or like us like to bike at Glentress forest there is no better hotel to stay in. The beauty in this hotel is you can actually bike to Glentress and Innerleithen from the hotel and it only takes you a couple minutes. or if you are looking for a golfing break in the central belt I really don't think you could find a better hotel. There is a very well looked after golf course on site. I was told by one of the other guests it is his favourite to play on and he has travelled the world. I don't golf so I will take this man at his word. He did look like he knew his golfing that is for sure. If you are looking for a spa break you can do no wrong with the Macdonald Cardrona. I will not hesitate to go back to this hotel and look forward to further trips.
