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TRAVEL
Dreaming that a Valentine’s trip is in the stars
Meg Shaw falls in love
with The Cairndale Hotel
and Leisure Club - and
can’t wait to be back
H
OW many
times have you
experienced
amazing service to
be disappointed at a
subsequent visit?
Not so at The Cairndale Hotel
and Leisure Club in the centre
of Dumfries.
Our welcome at reception was
exemplary and the restaurant
team was attentive and
knowledgeable.
It’s so stress-free to know
parking won’t be a problem as
the hotel has a large, free car
park.
We visited the Barracuda
leisure club three days running
and were greeted by different
staff each time with exactly
the same warmth, quality of
service and information.
This level of consistency is
exactly why we genuinely will
be making a return visit.
A run in the gym followed by
a splash around in the 14-metre,
heated swimming pool and
whirlpool and a visit to the
sauna and steam room whetted
our appetite for a pre-dinner
Prosecco in the bar.
I didn’t get to try out the
Techno Bikes where you can
virtually cycle round some of
the world’s great cities and
tourist spots. I’m saving that
treat for another time.
We chose to have our
evening meal in the classy and
comfortable River restaurant.
I was very happy with my
choices of pear and Stilton
salad, sea bass and Eton mess.
And after a lovely relaxing
dining experience, we headed
into the function room
Cute and quirky bubble dining domes on the outdoor terraces
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where we sang along to the
entertainer and chatted to some
other guests from Carlisle,
Glasgow and Gretna Green.
Our room was spacious and
had a beautiful bay window
which enabled the room to be
naturally lit.
It was one of 91 at the
independent hotel, which is
a 30-minute drive from the
English border and 90 minutes
from Glasgow.
We’re not big breakfast eaters
so we passed on the full works, The River restaurant is classy and comfortable
which did smell delicious, and
enjoyed pastries and numerous
cups of coffee.
The hotel is undergoing a
makeover but the works did not
disrupt the hotel experience.
The weather was glorious
when we visited and didn’t get
a chance to sit in the cute and
quirky bubble dining domes on
the outdoor terraces. Another
experience we can add to our
list for next time.
This was my first visit to
Dumfries so we took pictures
by monuments, walked along
the river path and pottered
around the town centre. And
of course, ticked another
Wetherspoons off the list - The
Robert Bruce.
In case you’re wondering,
my Spoons favourites include:
The Caley Picture House
(Edinburgh); The Chief
Justice Of The Common Pleas
(Keswick); William Rufus Bubbly in a bubble dome
(Carlisle) and Cooper Rose The Barracuda leisure club boasts a gym, 14-metre heated swimming pool, whirlpool and sauna and steam room view constellations through and very soon. experience, or other trips,
(Sunderland). astrobinoculars, learn how Hopefully the hints to my call the hotel in English
Scotland’s national poet, to navigate and tell the time other half for a Christmas gift Street, Dumfries, DG1 2DF on
Robert Burns, lived and farmed years of his life in Dumfries taking a ‘pivotal role in shaping property. by the stars, and hear stories, of a Valentine’s Day treat have 01387 254111 or email sales@
locally, wrote some of his finest where his grave attracts many and securing the future of their The Cairndale always has a myths and legends. At the been heard loud and clear. cairndalehotel.co.uk or visit
works there and spent the final thousands of visitors each year. family business for the next full calendar of events - and hotel, they will enjoy dinner To book the Valentine’s cairndalehotel.co.uk
It’s no surprise The Cairndale generation.’ one that’s piqued my interest under the heavens in a heated
is award-winning. Matthew, a director of The is its heavenly Valentine’s glass fibre dome in the garden.
A recent accolade awarded Cairndale, had his first work experience. The package, which includes
to Matthew Wallace Junior, experience in the kitchens Dark Sky Rangers in two nights’ dinner, bed and
26, who has trained at some at the five-star Claridge’s in Galloway, one of the best breakfast with drinks and
of the world’s top hotels and London at the age of 16. The places in Europe to view the canapés, will take place over
restaurants, was the winner following year he won a work galaxies and planets in winter, the weekend of 6-8 January and
of the Next Generation Award placement on the concierge has teamed up with the 12th midweek from 14-16 February
in the recent Dumfries & desk at The Dorchester, century Caerlaverock Castle (including Valentine’s Day on
Galloway Life Awards. returning there for a placement and The Cairndale Hotel to the 14th). It includes transfers
The business is headed by year as part of his degree conjure up a two-night package between the hotel and castle,
his father, Matthew Wallace in International Hospitality of universe gazing and dining once besieged by an English
Senior, who has been the hotel’s Management at Oxford under the stars. army under King Edward I
general manager for almost 40 Brooke’s University. During his Among the attractions during the Scottish wars of
years. course, he worked at Raymond will be a full moon, starring independence.
Matthew Junior, currently Blanc’s double Michelin- appearances by the planets We reluctantly checked out,
managing a major upgrade starred Le Manoir Aux Quat’ Venus - Roman Goddess of where the weekend’s theme
of The Cairndale Hotel, was Saisons in Oxfordshire. Love - and Jupiter as well as the of superb, efficient, friendly
also shortlisted in the Next After graduation, he accepted brilliance of the Milky Way. and professional service was
Generation category of the a management traineeship in At Caerlaverock, seven repeated.
Scottish Family Business New York City at the Peninsula miles from Dumfries, a It’s therefore a given that I
Awards which recognises those Hotel Group’s flagship US maximum of 18 people will will be back to the Cairndale - A package of universe gazing and dining under the stars is available And so to bed: a beautiful bedroom