11/11/2022
HOTEL
47. Gleneagles — Auchterarder, Scotland, U.K.
$$ | READERS' CHOICE AWARDS 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Set on 850 acres of Perthshire’s Ochil Hills, this grand sporting hotel is the perfect place for a fresh-air escape. As well as being home to three championship golf courses, it’s the launch pad for an invigorating range of country pursuits, from horseback riding to hiking, fly fishing to archery—all with the benefit of expert guides. Then there’s the hotel itself: grandiose, elegant, and reminiscent of its early heyday in the Roaring Twenties when it opened. The rooms, of which there are 205 and 28 suites, are magnificent—think heavy drapes, large windows with expansive views, free-standing tubs, and beds fit for a king. Take time to enjoy the giant spa and choose from eight bars and restaurants, including the Century Bar, which has a choice of more than 100 single malts on its menu, and the Art Deco Strathearn restaurant. And don’t worry if the Scottish weather takes a turn—Gleneagles offers complimentary Barbour jackets and wellies to guests.