golf heaven Drive just one hour outside of Edinburgh, along rustic churches and fat sheep grazing, and you’ll find yourself in a different setting entirely. Gleneagles Hotel, the epitome of Scottish hospitality (and host of the 2005 G8 Summit), sits on 850 acres of stunning countryside, showing off in every corner its many reasons for its multiple international awards. Chief among its famous amenities are three championship standard courses that are open year-round (it’s best to book tee times when you book the rooms), with eight PGA pro instructors. Its PGA Centenary Course will host the 2014 Ryder Cup. The resort is surprisingly family-friendly for an Old World-style getaway, with kids and teen zones, a superb spa and tons of “Scottish country” pursuits, such as a 2-hour rainbow and brown trout fly-fishing lesson (£80 per first guest and £50 for each afterward, up to four); equestrian classes (£50 pp for a group lesson, £65 for private); and Argocat lessons, which allows guests to learn how to operate the all-terrain, semi-amphibious vehicles over ditches, gullies, hills and more. Rates start at $442.50 per room per night through the end of September and include a full Scottish breakfast.
Edinburgh Lets its Hair Down
