TRAVEL DUMFRIES DIVE IN: The spa and
leisure facilities at
the Cairndale Hotel
and Leisure Club
offer an ideal space
for relaxation.
A STATELY VISIT
W
Karla Sinclair enjoyed the red- hen visiting a town
or city for the first
carpet treatment at a traditional time, it’s important
the stay is done
Scottish hotel with excellent right. Well, in my
opinion anyway,
spa and leisure facilities the inaugural visit
leaves a lasting
impression.
The opportunity for me to venture to
Dumfries arose earlier this summer. It was
one I couldn’t pass on, particularly since it’s
an area I was yet to explore.
My boyfriend and I wound up on Academy
Street after a lengthy bus journey to the town
– our chosen transport due to a cancelled
train.
The stop meant we had a mere five-minute
walk to our hotel, Cairndale Hotel and Leisure
Club, which required us to wander through
parts of the centre.
It was charming, and one notable aspect of
the area is the substantial variety of shops –
from those selling handmade dresses and arts
and crafts, to independent book and charity
stores.
A food market was up and running, too,
selling cheeses, fresh fruit and vegetables,
seafood and home bakes.
The centre is clearly thriving and there
were plenty of people wandering the streets.
The Cairndale Hotel and Leisure Spa has a
Room with a four-poster bed and a view of the hotel garden. royal look about it on the outside. The main
20 | Saturday, October 1, 2022
entrance played home to a red carpet during
our stay. I’m not sure if this is a yearlong piece
of decor, but it was a lovely touch.
Inside was no different. I love a traditional-
style interior and I got just that.
A spiralling staircase paved the way to the
accommodation. There are classic, family, spa
king, and superior rooms, as well as suites.
For us, it was a lavish four-poster room. It
had so much character and charm and almost
instantly, the pair of us commented on how
much we felt at home.
There were period and modern features,
including everything from complementary
refreshments and nibbles to bathrobes and
slippers and a full marble bathroom.
There were also large bay windows
overlooking the front of the establishment,
as well as high ceilings.
But we didn’t have long until it was time
to tuck into a selection of dishes from the
restaurant.
THE HOTEL HAS CLASSIC,
FAMILY, SPA KING, AND
SUPERIOR ROOMS, AS
WELL AS SUITES
Guests can choose to dine in Reivers Restaurant, Forum Cafe Bar or Secret Garden
The hotel’s art deco-style stairway leading to the spacious rooms.
The hotel boasts a number of different areas
to fill yourself up with traditional Scottish and
British food, as well as your favourite tipples.
The Reivers Restaurant, Forum Cafe Bar
and Secret Garden are among them.
For us, we were seated inside The Reivers
Restaurant for all of our meals.
The restaurant was an impressive size and
there were guests of all ages enjoying their
dishes on night one.
Drinks ordered, our focus shifted to the
food menu. There was everything from ham
hock terrine and pan-seared sea bass to breast
of chicken and sirloin steak.
My boyfriend and I are more fond of
savoury than sweet, so opted for starters and
mains rather than a dessert.
On the starters front, it was stir-fried king
prawns and soup of the day – lentil. As for
the mains, lemon and pea risotto and breast
of chicken were the chosen dishes.
Night two was a tad different with us opting
for two mains – supreme of salmon and slow-
braised beef cheek – and a cheese board.
The cheese board was recommended by
our server, who provided us with a significant
amount of information on not only the food
and drinks at the hotel but also Dumfries
itself. It was superb and something we were
very thankful for.
Our dinners were faultless, and I don’t say
that often. My lemon and pea risotto was one
of the best dishes I have had this year, while
Fresh and wholesome food is on offer.
my boyfriend couldn’t stop praising his slow-
braised beef cheek and, of course, the cheese
board.
Another key thing to note is how fantastic
the prices of the dishes are for the portion
sizes and high-quality ingredients.
Our buffet breakfasts were of the same
calibre. Scrambled eggs, sausages, hash
browns, croissants, bacon, black pudding, you
name the breakfast item and it was there for
the taking.
All in all, an excellent dining experience.
The only minor fault was the lack of a cocktail
menu.
Food and drink aside, the morning and
early afternoon of our second day at Cairndale
Hotel were spent in the spa and leisure club,
which boasts a 14-metre pool, well-equipped
gym, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi spa.
It was fairly quiet, making for an incredibly
relaxing few hours.
And a touch I absolutely adored is that you
can request a glass of prosecco to enjoy while
in the jacuzzi.
The rest of our day – excluding our dinner
– involved us galavanting around the town
centre.
Our visit left a lasting impression – we slept
well, enjoyed the mouthwatering food and
couldn’t have been attended to any better by
the team.
I would return to Cairndale Hotel and
Leisure Club in a heartbeat.
TRAVEL
FACTS
Accommodation:
Cairndale Hotel and Leisure
Club, English Street,
Dumfries DG1 2DF
Tel: 01387 254111
Web: www.cairndalehotel.
co.uk
Offers: The Cairndale Hotel
and Leisure Spa is offering
winter breaks for less than
£65 per person per night,
including access to its
heated pool and other leisure
facilities.
Between November and
March, stays at the 91-room
family-owned hotel are from
£139 for two nights, £199 for
three nights and £259 for four
nights (£64.50 per person per
night). This includes breakfast
plus a £20 dinner allowance.
recommends…
4 days from
£469pp
TOUR CODE AB865
Loch Long Hogmanay
Travel by coach from Aberdeen,
Inverurie and Stonehaven*
Departs 30 December 2022
See out the old year and ring in 2023 with a 4
day getaway - and let someone else do all the
work while you get down to the business of
partying! Our base is the enchanting Arrochar
Hotel, a former coaching inn that hugs the
banks of Loch Long and boasts picture
postcard waterfront views.
•
WHAT YOU’LL LOVE
A scenic excursion to Loch Lomond where you
can enjoy some free time by the shore
• Live entertainment each evening
• New Year’s dinner with a glass of fizz followed
by haggis, neeps and tatties after the bells
• 3 nights’ hotel accommodation with dinner,
bed and breakfast staying at the Arrochar Hotel;
coach travel throughout from your selected
pickup point and services of an experienced
tour driver
To book call 0141 483 1447 and
quote Press and Journal
For a brochure, call 01224 338004
and quote AB865
Visit www.dcttravel.co.uk
Tour organised by Glenton Holidays (ABTA and ATOL protected). Single room
supplements may apply and availability of single rooms can be limited. All
tours subject to availability. *Additional pick-ups may also apply. When making
an enquiry about the holidays shown in this advertisement we may pass your
details onto our participating tour operator partner to contact you regarding
your enquiry.