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Sunday Herald: Glencoe Winter Escape
Tatler: Escape to the 5 star comfort of Glencoe House in one of Scotland’s wildest locations
Escape to the 5 star comfort of Glencoe House in one of Scotland’s wildest locations
03 Nov 2020
Few will contest that Glencoe, famous for mountains and a massacre, with its brooding scenery, is peak Scotland. On so many levels, it offers the ultimate of Caledonia. A haven for climbers, hikers, cyclists – any kind of outdoors enthusiast. From whichever angle you approach Glencoe House, the 19th century jewel commissioned by Lord Strathcona, expect cloud-grazing mountains, turbulent, quickly-changing skies and drastic waterfalls, it’s a place offering the very best of the Great British outdoors.
Glencoe House, which lies at the north-west end of the glen, on the southern bank of the River Coe, is what was ‘practically made with social distancing in mind’ the sparkly-eyed, hotel manager joked on our arrival. You see, Glencoe House isn’t your average hotel. Rather than booking a room, you book a suite – which in our experience, was a corridor of rooms, each with an individual fireplace, a string of windows (so as to admire the gargantuan vista), elegantly plastered ceilings and a personal drinks bar (to be ticked off as you go along via an honesty sheet).
As far as views go, it would take something quite remarkable to beat the panoramic vista of Loch Leven and the backwards look out to the Pap of Glencoe. Views that twinkled an array of autumnal shades depending on the placement of the sun in the sky. Certainly, the view was a stalwart of our stay, whether we were breakfasting, bathing or snoozing, the ample windows offered a view of Glencoe’s most serious calling card – the mountain range.
Glencoe House, a Scottish Baronial pile, with its vast, granite and sandstone exterior, was built by the architect who designed Balmoral Castle, Sir Robert Rowand Anderson. He was commissioned by Lord Stratcona to create ‘a miniature version’ – and with exactly the same kind of stone. To delight his Canadian wife, Isabella, and keep her home sickness at bay, he ordered a shipment of Canadian trees (since Canada was her motherland). The 1st Baron Strathcona made his fortune as a lead figure of the Hudson’s Bay Company, a fur trading business, and with his first cousin co-founded the Canadian Pacific Railway. He later entered Canadian politics, representing Montreal in the House of Commons of Canada, but it is as a philanthropist where he will be remembered most fondly – giving an enormous slice of his huge fortune away. The house is festooned with his initials and carved stone work that emphasises the families deep, familial tie to the property, built in 1897.
The house itself has an intriguing history, having served as everything from a military hospital during the Second World War to a maternity hospital in the 1960s – the beautiful wooden floors suffocated by linoleum and plasterboard fit for purpose. When it was bought in 2011, these original features were lovingly restored, miraculously revealed after years buried away. The beautiful plasterwork ceilings and chandeliers, ever incongruously present, throughout its time in operation.
Dining at Glencoe is an enormous pleasure, delectable fare – go for the fresh seafood – is brought to your suite beneath a silver-domed cloche – be that breakfast or dinner. The formality isn’t lost on it being a more intimate venture, there’s still the drumroll and excitement of the white starched tablecloths, candles and haute cuisine. And, hence, why Glencoe House was first out the gate when social distancing measures were announced. Ready and waiting with its brilliantly safe set-up.
Stay a while at Glencoe and be sure to embrace the three sisters, the hidden valley and the wee herdsman, a smorgasbord of walks to suit all capabilities. A day’s hiking is all the better, knowing the ultimate comfort (Penhaligon toiletries, champagne on ice and roaring fire) that will greet you back at Glencoe House – even a jacuzzi. Guaranteed, you won’t want to leave.
From £420.00 per night B&B (during low season). Enquire by emailing reservations@glencoe-house.com or calling +44 1855 811179. For more information visit
glencoe-house.com. Annabel Sampson was a guest of Luxury Scotland
GLENCOE HOUSE RECOGNISED WITH CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER’S 2020 READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
OCTOBER 2020
GLENCOE HOUSE RECOGNISED WITH CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER’S 2020 READERS’ CHOICE AWARD
More than 715,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers submitted an incredible number of responses rating their travel experiences across the globe.
“The results of this year’s survey, conducted at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, are testament to the lasting power of a meaningful travel experience,” said Jesse Ashlock, U.S.
Editor of Condé Nast Traveler . “The winners represent the best of the best for our audience and offer plenty of trip-planning inspiration for all the adventures we can’t wait to have next.”
The Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards are the longest-running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry. The full list of winners can be found here .
Glencoe House General Manager, Graham Steven said “I am absolutely delighted for the team at Glencoe House on receipt of this award. There is no greater compliment than when our guests want to share their experience with fellow travellers. It is recognition for the hard work that every member of the team puts in on a daily basis to ensure that our guests have a truly memorable experience in the West Highlands”.
The 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards are published on Condé Nast Traveler’s website at www.cntraveler.com/rca and celebrated in the November issue of Condé Nast Traveler US and UK print editions.
Glencoe House recognised in the top 1% of hotels worldwide.
SEPTEMBER 2020
Glencoe House recognised in the top 1% of hotels worldwide.
2020 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best Of The Best Around The World
Tripadvisor, the world’s largest travel platform, as part of its ongoing efforts to support the recovery of the tourism and hospitality industry, today announced the winners of its 18th annual Travelers’ Choice Awards.
Glencoe House, awarded Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Winner — Tripadvisor’s highest honor in the following categories:
- Best Luxury – United Kingdom
- Best Small – United Kingdom
This coveted award program celebrates travelers’ favorite hotels, restaurants and airlines around the world, honoring 4,817 unique businesses this year.
Winners are calculated based on the quality and quantity of the millions of reviews, opinions and ratings collected on Tripadvisor in 2019, prior to the pandemic. With over 8.7 million businesses listed on Tripadvisor, these awards are a testament to the service and quality that winners consistently provide to their guests.
“This has been a tough year for our industry, but the global desire to go and explore, whether the destination is an hour away or across the world, remains strong. We’re passionate about guiding travelers to the good out there, especially the good found within these recognised hotels, restaurants and airlines that rise to the occasion in offering the best of the best,” said Lindsay Nelson, chief experience and brand officer at Tripadvisor.
Perle Hotels acquires Glencoe House Hotel
The Scotland-based Perle Hotels has purchased the five-star Glencoe House Hotel, regarded as one of the most exclusive and luxurious hotels in the Scottish Highlands.
The hotel, which has 14 suites, sits in a commanding position overlooking the sea, loch and mountains around Glencoe.
Glencoe House was built by Lord Strathcona in 1896 and offers the perfect site for those interested in exploring the stunning highland landscape, getting a taste of walking in one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland or even tracing their genealogy.
The area is steeped in history and perhaps best known for the bloody massacre in 1692 between the Campbell and the MacDonald clans.
Fasih Rehman, chief executive of Perle Hotels, said: “Glencoe House Hotel and its team are a fantastic addition to our growing hotel group.
“We appreciate what a very special place Glencoe House is, but also the very high standards at which it operates now, and we intend to build further on these in the future.”
Glencoe and the surrounding area are well known for walking locations such as Rannoch Moor, the Hanging Valley and the beautiful Lochens, not to mention the nearby Ice Factor indoor ice-climbing centre for those wishing to have-a-go at developing their climbing techniques.
Perle Hotels currently owns and operates four hotels in Scotland; in Portree, Inverness and Oban.
The Marmalade and Bosville Hotels overlook the harbour in Portree.
The Perle Oban is located on the harbour in Oban and Lochardil House Hotel is a short distance from the centre of Inverness.
Perle Hotels was established in 2014 and has grown rapidly in the past five years.
Baroness Strathcona
Glencoe House Hotel featured in the “literary journey around scotland” article of luxury scotland
In the latest Luxury Scotland article “An enlightening Journey around Luxury Scotland” by Vivian Devlin every region of Scotland, from the Lowlands to Highlands and Islands, is covered. The article takes the reader on a journey through a prime collection of historic Hotels, Castles and Country Houses.
Let yourself be carried into the charming world of the Scotland’s nature and literature.
In this article the area of Glencoe and the Glencoe House Hotel may not be missing naturally. Discover the inspiring history of Lord Strathcona,”one of the British Empire’s foremost builders and philanthropists”, as well as the past of the unique five star hotel and the beautiful surroundings of the Scottish Highlands in the chronicles written by Donna McDonald.
If you like to get a short insight into the interesting life of Donald Alexander Smith and Glencoe House you may read more in our history section.
See you at your next visit at the Glencoe House Hotel.
Glencoe House featured in “Forbes France”
In the November online edition of the Forbes France magazine an article about the Scotish Highlands and the Glencoe House Hotel was published. The editrice Please note that this article was only published in French.
Festive Period Sample Menu
We are pleased to present our Christmas Menu for the festive period 2015.
Have a look at the Fesitve Period Sample Menu here.
Glencoe House featured in “The Herald”
Glencoe House is featured in The Herald – June edition: “Luxury – your guide to good living”
Please click below to read the full article.
Glencoe House in “The Herald” – Page 1
Glencoe House in “The Herald” – Page 2
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