With a guest register that includes Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, Bing Crosby and Luciano Pavarotti to name just a handful, Turnberry
Resort is arguably the most loved of luxury hotels in Scotland. The opulent resort underwent a multi-million pound renovation led by interior designer Mary Fox Linton ahead of hosting the 2009 Open Championship and she sympathetically restored the hotel to the vision of its original architect while at the same time adding modern luxuries such as plush inch-deep carpets, relaxing spa facilities and fine dining.
The entrance is at the rear of the imposing hotel which stands elevated above the golf course boasting majestic views across the ocean. Upon arrival guests are greeted by immaculate doormen who whisk away your luggage and place a bottle of bubbly on ice making it impossible not to relax the moment you step inside your room.
The décor at Turnberry Resort is traditional yet modern – a lot of the interior has a very art-deco feel with black furniture perfectly offsetting glass chandeliers and rich, textured furnishings. Everything about the hotel is grand; the hallways are wide; the ceilings are high and ornate and the staircases are sweeping, yet it does not feel too vast. The suites and bedrooms are equally grand and yet the soft tartan bead spreads and heavy tog duvets make them still feel warm and cozy.
Guest can slip into a fluffy dressing gown and slippers and pad downstairs to the gym and spa where Turnberry Resort offers relaxing aromatherapy treatments, but if you don't feel like a massage then you can grab a book and sit in the pool area on a sunlounger and enjoy views of the Scottish coastline.
During the day, dining at Turnberry Resort is fairly informal; after a strenuous round of golf on Turnberry's famous Ailsa Course guests can enjoy a hearty club sandwich and a bowl of chips in the Ailsa Bar and Lounge; this bar is also open until late if you fancy dining in a more informal setting. The bar at the hotel also serves beautiful dishes – and great bar snacks – if you want a more relaxed service one evening.
Turnberry’s 1906 restaurant epitomises fine dining. The location, the food and the wine all work in perfect harmony and the staff are welcoming and extremely clued up about the produce, the wine and the locality. The menu has a modern twist, but traditional dishes such as Steak Diane and Lobster stand out and are executed to perfection. The cheese board is really very impressive and the vast majority of the cheeses are from the local area.
Turnberry may be famous for its world-class golf, and rightly so – the Ailsa course is absolutely spectacular and gives any golf enthusiast a run for their money, but Turnberry Resort is about so much more than just golf. The service is second to none; the décor is luxurious; the dining is exquisite and the atmosphere is welcoming and relaxed. Simply put it is a heavenly retreat for anybody who steps through its doors.
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