The Old Course Hotel, Golf resort and Spa
Old-World Luxury on the Scottish Coast – The Old Course Hotel, Golf resort and Spa overlooks one of the most famous golf courses in the world. The resort is located in the iconic Scottish town of St Andrews, northeast of Edinburgh on Scotland’s east coast.
Whether golf is your thing or not, the AA Five Red Star Hotel has a reputation as one of Europe’s leading resorts and will undoubtedly exceed your expectations of a UK hotel. This is one for the bucket-list. Believe me.
It’s a long old drive from Yorkshire to St Andrews but good things come to those who wait and all that… We arrived at the Hotel and were checked in swiftly by the lovely reception team and shown to our room. Now, I have been fortunate enough to stay in some very nice hotel rooms prior to this trip but I wasn’t quite prepared for this…
We were staying in one of the Old Course suites, with panoramic views from the floor to ceiling windows across the 17th green and beyond that, the Fife coastline. The room itself was the epitome of Scottish grandeur; a large lounge area with sofa and easy chairs plus kitchenette, leading through to a very generously sized bedroom. The en-suite off the bedroom was a big as an entry-level hotel room and came complete with a hydrotherapy bath big enough for two. Silk-lined walls throughout the suite underscored the fact that this was a very special place to be staying indeed. Old-World Luxury on the Scottish Coast.
The Old Course Hotel is also home to the only Kohler Waters spa outside of the USA. Comprising of an impressive thirteen treatment rooms, a 20m indoor swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool/sauna and an ultra-luxurious rooftop hot tub. We were treated to a Kohler Waters signature full body massage during the afternoon after a lazy two hours in the spa complex and all I will say is this: If you are a seasoned spa-seeker, or just in need of some down time to relax and replenish your mind and body, a visit to this world-class spa should be on your radar.
When it comes to dining and drinking options, The Old Course exceeds expectations once again. No less than six different venues are offered, from the cosy Jigger Inn serving up hearty home cooked pub classics to the 3 AA rosette rated Road hole restaurant, where the best of Scottish seafood and grills can be savoured whilst enjoying views over the Old Course and coastline.
We has a dinner reservation at Sands Brasserie, a classy restaurant on the ground floor with a really special atmosphere created by the low lighting, booths, and wide spaces between the tables. Due to the clever layout, you can be confident of an intimate dining experience even if the restaurant is at full capacity. Champagne and canapés on arrival set the tone for what was an exceptional dining experience; the highlights being the West Coast Scottish mussels and a mouth-watering flat iron steak with peppercorn sauce expertly cooked by Head Chef Gary. I would encourage you to opt for the wine pairing if it is available, our waiter Ciprian was charismatic and effortlessly knowledgeable when it came to the wine list, and ensured that each pairing brought out the best of both the food and the wine.
Old-World Luxury on the Scottish Coast
Waking up the next morning to the light spilling through the windows in our suite and looking out at the view of the North Sea is not something that I will forget in a hurry. A visit to The Old Course Hotel is an experience to be savoured, and guaranteed to leave you with lasting memories of a very special little corner of Scotland.
The Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa
St Andrews
Kingdom of Fife
Scotland
KY16 9SP
Tel: 01334 473371
Email: [email protected]
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