Spending the Holidays at The Gleneagles Hotel, Scotland

Spending the Holidays at The Gleneagles Hotel, Scotland
As part of the festive programming, the resort will offer new authentic experiences including everything from a lavish pre-holiday Scottish dinner and European Christmas market to festive family holiday activities and a traditional Hogmanay Ball. Situated in a Scottish countryside only one hour from Edinburgh and Glasgow, the luxury hotel appeals to guests of all ages and is easily accessible to US travelers looking for a holiday home away from home.

Pre-Holiday cheerful events and offerings

To kick off the season, Gleneagles will host a sparkling Christmas dinner and party at The Dormy Clubhouse on Saturday, Dec. 5. Guests will enjoy a lavish three-course Christmas dinner inclusive of sirloin of Scotch beef, roast onion jus, smoked haddock, parsley risotto and more while serenaded by a live band.

For those looking to shop for loved ones, they need not go far. On Dec. 12 and 13, Gleneagles will host its annual Festive Market. Handcrafted arts and crafts, ceramics, bespoke artworks and luxury jewelry, photography and locally sourced artisan food such as Scottish tablet (fudge), Christmas puddings and Scottish artisan cheeses and oils will be available for purchase from 45 different vendors. If guests want more than just Christmas and New Year's at Gleneagles, they can take a piece of the resort home with the Gleneagles Collection. A stunning range of luxurious genuine leather goods, items include the Traveller Holdall (£550), the Riviera Handbag (£450) and Traveller Luggage Tag (£25). These products are sold exclusively at the Gleneagles hotel and online.

For a joyful musical evening, on Sunday, Dec. 20 the resort will present a pantomime adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's classic "The Jungle Book.” Guests can indulge their senses with pre-show drinks and canapés in The Glendevon Room before moving to The Gleneagles Suite for the performance.

Christmas/New Year's festive family activities

A full day of celebratory activities is planned for Christmas Eve, encouraging families to experience year-round Gleneagles activities, such as ceramic classes, air rifle shooting, golf swing tutorials and more while the little ones can own a pony for the afternoon. Santa's elves will stop by to pick up wish-list letters from young guests before families head to the ice rink to watch a professional performance. Cocktails and fireworks will top off the evening before Christmas Eve dinner, complete with caroling by the Soul Nation Choir.

On Christmas morning, children will welcome Santa to the hotel and follow him to the magical Grotto where presents await. Christmas lunch, featuring a silhouette cutter artist, magician and mind reader, is followed by a traditional Christmas Day Gala Dinner Buffet. Featured dishes include fresh fruit, oysters and lobster as well as roasted lamb rack, potato gnocchi and venison casserole. A charcuterie station is also available for wine and cheese lovers. Guests can then visit The Bar for late-night music and holiday cocktails.

Additional holiday activities are available. The full schedule includes champagne tasting, cookery classes, fortune telling, dance lessons and more.

Ring in the New Year with Bells at Hogmanay

Guests are invited to celebrate New Year's Eve at the annual Gleneagles Hogmanay Ball in the Dormy Clubhouse. The celebration begins with cocktails in the Front Hall before enjoying a true Scottish Hogmanay dinner, which in Scotland is the celebration welcoming the New Year. The celebration consists of a four-course dinner and a live performance of Celtic and contemporary music played using bells. The ultimate grand finale of the year, the Gleneagles Hogmanay Ball is the perfect way to ring in 2016, with musical performances, dancing and fireworks complete with a late night buffet feast.

With so much to explore and discover, Gleneagles also offers the following holiday packages:

Christmas Crackers package

  • Three-night accommodations from December 24-26; Plus, enjoy a 4th night complimentary stay on December 23 or December 27

  • All meals and entertainment including the Christmas banquet & Boxing Day Ceilidh at The Dormy Clubhouse

    • Boxing Day is a holiday traditionally celebrated the day after Christmas. Gleneagles is celebrating with a full day of programming from falconry and hawking to Scottish country dance lessons.



  • Rates start at £3,565 per room, based on two persons sharing a Sovereign room


Hogmanay / New Year Heroics

  • Three-night accommodations from December 30 – January 1, 2016; Plus, enjoy a 4th night complimentary stay on December 29 or January 2, 2016

  • All meals and entertainment

  • Rates start at £4,340 per room, based on two persons sharing a Sovereign room


Half Way Holiday package

  • Three-night accommodations December 27-29

  • All meals and entertainment

  • Rates start at £590 per room, based on two persons sharing a Sovereign room


These packages include complimentary airport transfers for guests arriving and departing from Edinburgh or Glasgow Airports. Transfers must be pre-booked with the resort sales team. To book a stay at Gleneagles, please call toll-free 1-866-881-9525 or e-mail: resort.sales@gleneagles.com.

Visit website: gleneagles.com