Winter trips on our way south to board Iona, visiting Gleneagles and Chatworth house

Expected to take it easy once l retired, but soon realised that you actualy work harder.

Albeit in a different way - Tend to emerse yourself in various projects, which then seem to take up the hours.

Had been waiting months for the delivery of a 3m long canopy for the deck. It arrived the day after we got back from our cruise.

So we were rushing about like headless chickens. Not only did it need erecting, also had a flue and Covid jab booked, the cars water pump went on the blink and needed replacing, and more time consuming and stressful, l needed to get packed for the forthcoming cruise. Phew.

As we packed the car, awning fitted, all other jobs completed, l was definitely ready for another well deserved break.  When booking all these trips, they seemed fine on paper. Then the gaps in between each trip are filled with other snippets, gems of activates and projects.

Result, luxurious exhaustion.

Judith had arranged breaks on our journey to Southampton. Overnight in Gleneagles. Visited in the past, but never stayed before. Looking forward to it. Then drive to Chesterfield, the town famous for its crooked church  spire, for an overnight. Then it’s a day at Chatsworth house to see the Christmas decorations and market. After which we pop in to see sis, staying overnight in Leicester before driving down to pick up the cruise ship, Iona.

A full and hectic itinerary, but better than driving down all in one hit.

Driving to Gleneagles was a challenge due to horizontal rain. But the warm welcome from the hotel took our mind totally off it.

As we entered the imposing entrance you felt the grandeur of the old house. Positioned amongst manicured grounds and the very imposing golf course it stood regally against the backdrop of the ever darkening clouds.

Greeted by a magnifient Kilt clad doorman. His personality shone through the dismal weather with his whit and warmth. Escorting us through the imposing doors into the grand entrance hall. We feel the style underfoot as the deep piled carpet pulled you into the old world elegance.

Every member of staff  engaged with you. A revelation in this day and age of frenetic lifestyles. Time started to  stand still as we were taken back in time to those grand Edwardian country houses: fortunately withant the stuffy collard formality.

After going through the simplest of registrations by the smart receptions come host. My new best friend. We were metaphorically taken by the hand and lead through all that lay before us, with options and alternatives to experience. By now we were totally under the Gleneagles spell.

Imaginative Christmas decorations going up

Tree going up in sections. From all accounts it takes days to be completed. Perhaps more in these winds.

That what you call a public toilet

We lounged in front of the roaring fire in a bubble of tranquillity. That was until it was time to be whisked away in a Range Rover to the shooting range, and a great hour of trying to get arrows onto the target, helped by some great coaches. After mugs of hot chocolate it was back to the leisure club to luxuriate in the leisure pool. Before freezing our heads and anything else exposed in the enormons external jacuzzi. Not that you have to get cold when reaching the experience. The pool actualy links through a heated screen to outside. You just lean back and float into it. Once our skin started to wrinkle, it was time to head up to our boudoir, our suite for the night.

Waiting for the Range Rover to take us to our archery

And what a room, large, sumptons, big enough to host a football team. With all the necessary gagets and add ons you would expect from this quality of hotel.  Coffee machine with pods, coffee bags and instant. Covering all preferences. Numerous types of tea. Definitely not the usual dust in a muslim bag. The room had character, comfort and amenities by the shed load. 

The bathroom was truly enormous.  Walk in shower, free standing claw foot bath in the centre . Not quite big enough to house the whole team, but plenty of room for two. Double basins, so no squabbling in the morning. And of course, a mountain of fluffy white towels.

This is a bloody great golden eagle. Poor chap had to keep resting his arm on a walking stick to support the weight.

Dinner, so much choice to be had. The Strathearn, elegant yet rather old fashion main dining room. The Birnham American/Italian grill. The laid back relaxed Dormy house. Or if you really wanted to go lavish, the 2 Michelin stared Andrew Fairlie. 

Opted for the relaxed Dormy. Especially as we were in outdoor gear, having been to the  falconry show and the torch lit forest walk. In fact the latter was cancelled due to high winds and heavy rain. So instead sat around the open fire, wrapped in blankets drinking some delicious heart and body warming cocktails. Then in for a plate of fish and chips. They were fantastic. But £70. Did include a beer for me and a wine for Judith.  Nevertheless, compared to the Andrew Fairlie at £600, it was a snip. Although you would get the seven course tasting menu and a wine flight for that. Another time perhaps.

Bed loomed. It had been a long and eventful day. We were enveloped and snuggled down in minutes. Only to be awakened by what sounded like a rugby team in the Jacuzzi outside. (We had left our window open) Some of the jokes were quite good. But it wasn’t long before silence rained and sleep beckoned once again.

8 am coffee made and then it’s the use of the giant bath in the centre of the bathroom. Such luxury, piping hot water, bubbles up to my chin. After twenty minutes soaking, emerge, pink and wrinkled and ready for breakfast.

Nothing left on the plate. It was so good.

Definitely chose well. If we had eaten so much for dinner we couldn’t have done breakfast justice.

It was a buffet, unlike any l have experienced before. And l have seen a lot in my travels. 

The display was mesmerising. A never ending array of goodies. From fruit, fresh presses, jams, cereals, compotes. Even fresh honey still in its comb, ready to be sliced. Fish in all manner of guises, cured, smoked. cheeses, smoked and cured meats, breads & pastries. And that’s before you reached the hot selection. If that wasn’t enough, you could choose umpteen specialities from off the menu. 

My idea of heaven, grazing, small morsels, all the various tastes. Breakfast became an experience to be savoured at length.

Two hours of nibbling and grazing fulfilled my need to experience everything available. 

Although l did give the bloody Marie’s and Buck’s Fizz a miss. I was driving after all.

Something to be fixed in my mind for eternity. Or until we return once again. 

Value for money? In reality the staff, its location, activities and definitely the breakfast made it so.

What a magnificent day, arrived early. In fact the first in the car park. So early nothing was open, although plenty of activity as people were getting stalls prepared and house hosts were arriving in their period costumes. So we had a walk by the river and up the hill to see the village on the other side of the valley. 

The deer were all moving out into the sun. Can’t blame them, there was a frost this morning.

Looking back across the river towards the house. 

All the stalls preparing for a busy day

We had a timed ticket, to keep numbers at a manageable level. We were fortunate to be in as soon as it opened. Then we just took our time, often retracing our steps to ensure we didn’t miss anything.

A tree of memories and wishes.

A flying Hare sculpture. One of many throughout the grounds

Love the modern chairs. The host told us that this table is used on a regular basis when the Duke entertains.

Even more sock for Santa to fill

Throughout the rooms you will often see a little gnome doing something he shouldn’t 

His feet are just popping out of the chimney

The tour flashed before our eyes in a jiffy. In some respects would have like to start from the beginning again. But then we had the grounds to explore. And they were just as magical.

Waited until it was dark to enable us to watch the light show. A spectacular animated light show that transformed the house into a giant advent calendar. Truly magical.