Mar Hall Hotel Golf & Spa Resort review: experience luxury at this grand mansion in Scotland

Steve May

June 10

Arriving at Mar Hall Golf & Spa Resort, its imposing entrance looming before sculptures of stately stags, you half expect to be greeted by Claudia Winkleman, eager to designate you Faithful or Traitor.

Mar Hall hotel boasts all the grandeur you would expect of a Scottish mansion, albeit one with an 18-hole championship golf course on its doorstep.

Designed by Sir Robert Smirke, architect of the British Museum, in 1828, this spectacular five star residence caters for leisure escapes and spa breaks.

Over the years it's hosted a swathe of celebrity guests, including Liam Gallagher, Girls Aloud, Take That, and Kylie, and is popular for business travel.

A walk around the grounds does not disappoint. This mansion impresses from every vantage point.

Mar Hall Hotel Golf & Spa Resort – Rooms and Amenities

The resort boasts 70 bedrooms, with suites that are unapologetically lavish.

I stayed in a suite of Brobdingnagian proportions. The fact that it had a full size piano in the lounge, that neither looked out of place nor imposing, says much about the enormity of the space.

A large TV overlooked a splendid wooden table of indeterminate age, surrounded by chairs and sofas, while the dining table could easily accommodate a gathering of the clans.

The adjoining bedroom with four poster overlooked manicured gardens, while the double-sinked bathroom, with shower and tub was a good hike away.

Mar Hall wears its heritage well. There's no doubt you're staying in a building with considerable history. The mansion, which served as a hospital during the first and second World Wars, became a hotel some two decades ago, before falling into Dubai-based ownership in 2023.

Mar Hall is a now-and-future visit. It's undergone recent refurbishment, bringing a fresh outlook to its reception and lounge, but there's still plenty of change in the pipeline, as it undergoes a £15 million investment.

Gym and leisure facilities have been overhauled, with new cardio and fitness equipment; there's a 20 metre swimming pool, plus sauna and steam rooms. During my visit, the Spa was midway through a revamp.

Phase two plans also include a new wellness suite and spin studio, scheduled to open in 2025. There are plans to place a central bar in its long lounge. The Earl of Mar golf course boasts new buggies and fresh bunker sand.

Mar Hall has also announced its intention to build a suite of woodland lodges, complete with private entrance, outdoor terrace and hot tub. Guests will have access to bicycles to tour the grounds and neighbouring Luss Estate.

Mar Hall Hotel Golf & Spa Resort – Dining

Foodies won't be disappointed. I enjoyed a superior tasting menu created by Executive chef, Tony Tapia.

It comprised crab with buttermilk, Isle of Gighar Halibut with asparagus and parsley, Angus beef with aubergine, tomato and garlic, and lemon tart with raspberry sorbet. All every bit as scrumptious as it sounds!

The Cristal restaurant menu includes pan seared west coast scallops, pan roast fillet of Scotch Beef, grilled salmon fillet, confit of duck leg. Ingredients are sourced locally, whenever possible.

Breakfast is buffet style. There's no à la carte menu option, something I would like to see added in the future.

The lounge menu is loaded with hearty crowd pleasers, including smoked salmon, prawn cocktail, steak pie, and towering burgers. I can vouch for the North Sea haddock with chunky chips, and the sticky toffee pudding is an indulgent delight.

Mar Hall Hotel Golf & Spa Resort – Location

Mar Hall resides within a 240-acre ancient woodland estate. The setting is idyllic, yet the hotel is just 10 minutes from Glasgow International, making it a great base to explore the Lowlands at leisure.

It's also within striking distance of Glasgow, should you want to visit Kelvingrove Art museum or do some shopping.

Of course you might simply opt to stay put. The beauty of its location should not be underestimated. The River Clyde flows nearby (don't be surprised to see a cruise ship passing by), mist rolling reliably down the Kilpatrick Hills.

Keeping with the idea of Mar Hall as a destination unto itself, there's a range of activities available for visitors. I enjoyed an off-road adventure in a Land Rover Defender, with 4x4 Adventures Scotland.

This exciting escapade brought home the spectacle of the nearby Loch Lomond landscape, my kilted Adventure Guides entertaining with anecdotes and banter along the way. Fast-boat adventures are also available, which sounds like an exhilarating way to explore the Lochs.

Mar Hall Hotel Golf & Spa Resort – Verdict

Mar Hall Golf & Spa Resort is a spectacular stay, and its Insta-friendly exterior a winning location. Ideally placed for leisure travel, the 18 hole championship golf course is an obvious attraction. We loved its inherent grandeur, and if you can spring for a suite, you'll live like a laird.