AS my partner Katie and I watched the sun slowly set behind the crest of the majestic Cairngorm peaks from our outdoor hot tub, it was hard not to be blown away by the moment. After a drive through a long winding single track road, filled with blind summits and narrow turns, we’d arrived at our destination and what a place it was. 6 Glen Clova nestled in the Cairngorms Credit: Supplied 6 The view from the hot tub was spectacular Credit: Supplied 6 The rustic furnishings really gave it that mountain lodge feel Credit: Supplied Just a couple of hours from Glasgow and a few miles north of the small town of Kirriemuir, Angus, sits the stunning Glen Clova hotel.
Surrounded by the barren hills of the Cairngorms national park , the hotel makes up a small cluster of buildings and lodges in the centre of a scenic valley. It’s about as far from the hustle and bustle of the city that you can get. The imposing beauty of the peaks all around make for a wondrous setting to escape and just relax.
The hotel offers everything from hotel rooms, to lodges and spacious holiday homes . We were lucky to have bagged ourselves the quaint Brandy Burn cottage, situated a couple hundred yards down the road from the main building. Read more in Travel BLISSFUL TRIP NC500 hidden gem & stately home near Balmoral make for perfect luxury getaway Stargazing in Yorkshire shipping container is the ultimate trip for cosy tranquillity It features its own private drive, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, dining room, kitchen and spacious living area - everything a small group or family might need for a more than comfortable stay.
Did I mention it has its own private hot tub? It’s tucked round the side of the garden, a perfect spot for looking out onto the rolling and serene hills as you soak and let the bubbles cure all of your aches and pains. The cottage also comes with lovely touches like the rustic furniture and a log burner, which really capture that feeling of a mountain lodge. We enjoyed a hearty dinner in the hotel’s restaurant just a short daunder up the road from our abode, where the lovely staff made us feel almost part of the family .
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Five unmissable places to visit in Scotland - from lesser known lochs to mystical isles Back in our living room, with its stunning bay windows which perfectly highlighted the incredible views and stunning natural beauty of the valley beyond, we watched the clouds roll in and blanket the peaks as the sun eventually set. After a great night’s sleep we wandered up to the main building to tuck into a tasty cooked breakfast , before making our way back down the to explore the nearby town of Kirriemuir. Birthplace of JM Barry, author of Peter Pan, and more importantly (to me, anyway) hometown of ACDC’s late great frontman Bon Scott, it was filled with lots of lovely shops and cafes, great for sitting and watching the world go by.
After visiting the statue of one of the greatest rock and roll frontmen of all time, left, we ventured further afield to explore Montrose and visited the fantastic Mo’ Fidelity Records. GO KIRRIEMUIR STANDARD hotel rooms at the Glen Clova hotel start from £130 a night. Brandy Cottage is available from £1,050 for five nights.
See clova.com . Bags filled with fantastic finds, and wallets significantly lighter we found ourselves yearning to make our way back to our cottage and soak in our private tub.
Staring at the hills , our troubles melting away, there really is no better place to escape to for the weekend. 6 The statue of ACDC icon Bon Scott was a real highlight of the trip Credit: Supplied 6 The warm bedroom was the perfect place to nap after a dip in the hot tub Credit: Supplied 6 The bothy bar made for a cosy and intimate atmosphere to enjoy dinner Credit: Supplied.
