Indulgence Redefined: Exploring the Tranquil Oasis of Gleneagles Spa – A Review
Having previously dined at The Gleneagles Townhouse located in central Edinburgh and experienced the culinary delights of their Spence restaurant shortly after the opening of their 33-bedroom sister property in June 2022, my anticipation grew for a spa visit upon learning about its opening. However, it came as a surprise (later) to discover that access to the spa was exclusively for residents
When I was given a gift voucher for a Spa Day (the choice of any 80 minute treatment, a two course lunch in The Wellness Café, and access to The Spa and Health Club facilities) from ‘Mrs’ ThePrivateTraveller, he said he’d phoned the (Gleneagles) Townhouse and the voucher was for there. I booked within days by emailing the address on the voucher (as below), again thinking this was for The Townhouse in Edinburgh, and turned up the following week expecting a lovely relaxing afternoon of a spa lunch followed by a treatment. I was then going to be joined for dinner in town, to make an afternoon/evening of it. That plan went by the wayside, when I turned up advising the staff on the door that I was there for a spa day.
The magnificent entrance to The Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder
They said that they didn’t do spa days there, but I should go in and check with reception - to cut a long story short, I think there had been confusion all round as indeed the spa there is only for residents and members. While it can be a good thing having bookings centralised, it can make it harder to know what’s what. We’d been set off on a path thinking central Edinburgh as that was who ‘Mrs’ TPT had thought he was talking to, they’d obviously thought that only the main Gleneagles property had spa days, therefore it was obvious it would be Auchterarder only. From this then being booked online, neither party had actually specifically mentioned a location! As it was, that was the end of my first spa day (without the spa), but thankfully online booking for a favourite of mine (OneSpa Edinburgh) came to the rescue and I went there instead. With the booking being at Gleneagles Auchterarder, there was no way I would have got there in time on that day.
It took a bit of time to get a suitable date (more for me vs them), but since we didn’t get to try out the wellness facilities when we last stayed at the main Gleneagles property (in 2020 when there were all the Covid restrictions), I was keen to try this out. I also think the spa in its current form, was only opened in 2021, so after our stay anyway.
Why choose The Gleneagles Hotel for your spa break?
This is a large hotel, and can be quite family orientated, but it’s in fantastic surroundings with great facilities, and if you’re into golf in a big way, I’m sure you’re probably already aware of Gleneagles. After my spa day which, after an initial rocky start last year with the wrong location, was amazing and it really made me want to go back and stay, without all the Covid restrictions this time. Ideally I probably wouldn’t choose a Bank Holiday weekend, as the pool area when I was there was quite ‘kiddy’. That said, the spa area is completely separate (and adults only), as I’ll explain below, and even within the pool area, there is a dedicated separate (and decent sized) adults only pool and thermal suite.
I’ve yet to try out The Townhouse, I’m thinking I will just book a night there to try out the stay part of the hotel, and in particular the residents only gym, spa and Club lounge; even though we do live only a few miles away.
The relaxation courtyard at The Gleneagles Spa
Why book The Gleneagles Hotel with The Private Traveller & Classic Travel?
By booking through my affiliation with Classic Travel, you would be able to secure a number of additional VIP benefits with their Virtuoso rates.These included:
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Daily full breakfast for two guests per bedroom
$100USD equivalent Food & Beverage credit utilized during stay (excludes Restaurant Andrew Fairlie and In Room Dining, not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Early check-in/late check-out
The well appointed snacks area of the gents relaxation room
The Spa at The Gleneagles Hotel: The Important Details
Location - The Gleneagles® Hotel, Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland, PH3 1NF
Contact - playground.planners@gleneagles.com
Opened - 1924 (Hotel), New Spa 2021
Treatment - Spa Day (The Highland Healer – Hot Stone Massage - Nurturing. Grounding. Tranquil Mind.)
Cost - £265 Spa Day (50 or 80 minute treatment also available - £175/£225)
Time - I arrived at 9am, with treatment 11:45am and lunch 1:30pm
Spa website - https://gleneagles.com/spa-wellness/
Hotel website - https://gleneagles.com/
Wellbeing facilities - Male and female thermal areas (crystal steam room, sauna, experience showers, relaxation room with snacks), then a joint large spa pool and relaxation courtyard. Separate leisure complex (though accessible next door with robe on) - two swimming pools (family & adult), outdoor spa pool, thermal suite (Herbal Sauna, Himalayan Salt Sauna and Steam room). Separate beauty lodge - Bob & Cloche.
Visited - May 2024
“A World of Wellness.......
Introducing the new Spa at Gleneagles, a soothing haven from everyday stresses, where the welcome is warm, the spirits are lifted, and the pursuit of balance is the only option on the menu.”
The main pool at The Gleneagles Hotel
The Gleneagles Spa Review
Spa treatment selection at The Gleneagles Spa
There was a whole selection of various treatments, which could either be enjoyed as a spa day (incorporating a treatment, lunch, and use of the facilities) or enjoyed alone on a resident basis. There’s the Gleneagles body treatments (mine was the Highland Healer), Dr. Barbara Sturm facials, and Tata Harper or Grown Alchemist treatments.
Being given the gift voucher for a spa day, I could have chosen from a (short) selection of treatments, and this already included use of all the facilities, a two-course lunch in the Spa Café, and a herbal tea after my treatment.
One of the many reception and relaxation spaces of The Gleneagles Spa
Spa facilities to enjoy during your spa day/stay
The facilities here were wonderful, as was the whole experience. I was conscious that our stay (again, back in 2020 with lots of Covid restrictions, where there was no spa and for the pool you had to make a specific appointment time, which we actually couldn’t get) wasn’t the best, but I was keen to go back to the hotel and to try out the spa day gift. From the great arrival (I’d decided to take the train for ease, and was met with a complimentary pick-up from the train station, literally 5 minutes from the hotel), to the welcome at the spa reception, everything just went like a dream.
After a very quick consultation card, which I completed in one of the spa reception lounges (there seemed to be so many, which gave a wonderful relaxed, spacious ambience about the whole spa), I was then taken into the gents changing area, given my locker (with a spa robe, slippers and towel already there) and also shown around the whole thermal suite, the various lounges and relaxation/waiting spaces, as well as the Spa Café, where we would have lunch (‘Mrs’ TPT wasn’t doing the spa day, but did come and meet me for lunch). More on this later, but we both thought the food was excellent.
The shared hydropool between either side of the mens and womens changing rooms & thermal suites
I asked about access to the pool, which was separate next door, and I was advised that I could just walk through to it (back out to the main [spa] reception area) in my robe. I did try this, albeit to get to the pool area you have to walk through, go up a staircase into the gents changing area there, to then go back down another staircase into the pools and thermal suite area. The spa area was an absolute haven compared to the swimming pool area - don’t get me wrong, this was still a luxury experience, but there was a bit of an air of the leisure centre about it, only by the number of people there and there being quite a few kids. The changing facilities there weren’t remotely like a leisure centre
The Highland Healer Spa Review, at The Gleneagles Hotel
Changing facilities
These were so well appointed and spacious. There was a great flow from the entrance with two luxurious locker areas (with vanity units and sinks), through to the shower area (three individual showers, though one was out of action when I was there), to the toilet and further vanity area, then it split that you could either go into the mens relaxation space (with snacks, water, and relaxation headphones) or through into the thermal suite.
Male Changing at The Gleneagles Hotel Spa
The spa treatment room
I was ready in the relaxation courtyard just before my treatment time (where there is fruit and water provided) and met by my therapist on time. My treatment room was just off from there - excellently appointed, with a shower and separate WC, a large treatment space with lots of storage and a very comfortable centrally-placed massage bed. I didn’t need this heated as I’d had all the thermal experiences beforehand, but the room was perfect temperature wise, good relaxing music, and though likely false, had the look of an illuminated window at one end.
My luxurious treatment room at The Gleneagles Spa
The Highland Healer treatment - what was it like?
This was a good treatment choice, and very, very highly recommended. On going into the treatment room, I was invited to take a seat in a relaxing armchair, and then given the choice of two oils for the massage. Since Covid, my sense of smell has been severely restricted, so I could smell nothing from the relaxing option but did get a sense there was something there from the uplifting oil, so I went for that one.
There was a great set up on a small wooden tray with three containers (honey, sea salt, and kernels) for a foot scrub, all local ingredients. I was given the option of having this foot scrub and massage first, before going on to the main hot stone massage, or to have a longer hot stone massage. I went for a longer body massage.
It really was an excellent treatment, the massage was firm (and could have been firmer) and it was a great combination with the oil and then the use of hot stones. The bed was extremely comfortable and where usually I find a face hole can be quite uncomfortable and I’m looking forward to turning face up, but I didn't find this on this occasion. I didn’t quite fall asleep, though I became extremely relaxed, and before I knew it the massage was over and I was invited to sit up for some water.
Food & Drink
My spa package had included a two-course lunch, and at first I thought that the Spa Café was actually one we’d been to before out in the main hotel, right in front of the spa reception. It turned out that this was the Garden Café, so the Spa Café was new to me, and located right in the spa itself. This meant it was a very comfortable lunch still in my robe, with most of the other diners doing the same. There was an excellent choice of a starter and main, three choices for each, and a perfect vegetarian option for me on each.
The Gleneagles Hotel Spa Café Bar
I opted for the cauliflower tabbouleh with added halloumi to start (‘Mrs’ TPT the Scottish crab), followed by rigatoni arrabiata (fire-baked salmon too). There was a choice of healthy drinks, but also a small menu of wines, prosecco and champagne. Diet Coke wasn’t on the menu, but being his favourite, was available.
The Gleneagles Hotel: My review of the hotel
You can read my full hotel review here, but I will point out again (as it talks about in the review too), this was during Covid time in late 2020 and there was a huge impact by the restrictions being applied by the Scottish Government. This impacted the leisure facilities, timing of dining, no alcohol inside etc. In terms of the stay itself, it was a bit quirky with the room allocation and lack of hot water, but overall it’s absolutely somewhere I would go back to, and dining was amazing.
The majestic Gleneagles Hotel side
Despite the restrictions (no alcohol indoors, so no option to have a drink with dinner; and you had to have vacated the restaurants by 9pm) we had an incredible meal at Restaurant Andrew Fairlie. You can find my review of that here.
When I go back now and look at older reviews, I do find they look very dated as I’m now using a completely different look, and hopefully reviews have become a bit more informative, as well as looking better with more photography.
The Gleneagles Spa: The Highlights
There were so many highlights of this spa experience but here are just a few of the key points, which I hope you find a useful summary.
Location - I don’t go many places by train, but it was so easy to get to (and quick) - a train from Edinburgh to Stirling, with a quick change and then only two stops on to Gleneagles Station itself. I hadn’t expected to get a complimentary pick up, but it was actually a really nice way to arrive at this majestic hotel.
The spa welcome - quick, efficient and welcoming. I was changed and enjoying the thermal suite quickly after arrival.
The thermal suite - excellent crystal steam room, great showers (though the Ice Rain button was definitely hot rain instead); loved the huge spa pool at the end which I had to myself.
The treatment - excellently done, and just on the 80 minutes prompt.
The inclusive lunch - food was excellent, and a really nice addition having a glass of prosecco to go with it.
Such a wonderful environment, and a great reintroduction to the hotel.
Areas for improvement
I always like to go for a balanced review, and if there is anything I spot when having a spa experience that I think would have improved the visit, I’ll flag it here to be helpful.
Really not much to say here, other than it would have been good to have a wet shorts bag (‘Mrs’ TPT always does like a changing room spinner, and they did have one of those)
The changing room area was very warm (heated floor). It was really too warm, but equally the Scottish weather had just changed recently, from being quite cold, yet the day I was there it seemed to turn and be much warmer.
Shared hydropool with twin saunas male and female either side
Final thoughts on The Gleneagles Spa, Scotland
The treatment at The Gleneagles Hotel itself hadn’t been exactly what ‘Mrs’ TPT had intended when he gave me the spa day voucher for my birthday, but even although it took almost a year to get this organised, it was worth the wait. Not having been able to experience the leisure facilities when staying there before, it was good to go back and try this, as it was to return to the hotel. After the wonderful spa experience and the incredible weather when we were there, it really made me wish we had been staying again. The spa treatment has made all the more focussed on organising a stay at The (Edinburgh) Townhouse too, to compare and contrast.
Have you stayed at The Gleneagles Hotel before, or their Townhouse in Edinburgh? I’d love to hear your own thoughts and opinions on them as well as your impression of Scotland as a holiday destination.
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