My magnificent stay shows Mar Hall has joined the ranks of Scotland's great hotels

Major General Robert Walter Stuart, 11th Lord Blantyre, returned from the battlefields of Egypt and Spain with a dream to create something timeless on Scottish soil. Sir Robert Smirke, one of the leaders of Gothic Revival architecture and the celebrated architect of the British Museum, was commissioned in 1828 to create a house that blended influences from Scotland with echoes of the grand salons of Europe. A distinctive building to defy expectations.

Almost two centuries later, Mar Hall has been reimagined with a £20 million redevelopment, turning the hotel and resort that opened in 2004 into a new destination resort, operating in the highest echelons of Scottish hospitality.

Mar Hall houses 74 luxurious guest rooms and suites, two restaurants, two bars, and a collection of grand spaces, cosy corners and hidden nooks to be discovered. About ten minutes from Glasgow Airport, it is often where tourists begin or complete grand tours of Scotland. It has also offered discreet luxury accommodation to visiting celebrities over the years, including Liam Gallagher, Kyle Minogue and Bob Dylan. It features an 18-hole championship golf course, private event spaces, state-of-the-art leisure facilities, plus a 20-metre swimming pool and spa.

The revamp – which was led by Glasgow-based firm Graven, also includes new additions such as a 24-person private cinema, Gaming Room and Billiards Room.

Lisa King, Design Director of Align Partners who led the design vision behind the transformation says: “It was a key focus for all involved that we should champion the best talent that Glasgow has to offer, from interior designer, Jim Hamilton of Graven Images, to the team at Timorous Beasties for our wallcoverings and fabrics, and Ali Smith at artpistol who curated the many walls of artwork, chosen from local emerging and established artists. Finally, Nichol Wheatly, a distinguished Scottish artist whom we commissioned to create four special pieces for the hotel, bringing with it another layer in the rich tapestry that makes up Glasgow’s creative talent.

“The brief was to revitalise Mar Hall, accentuating the building’s original qualities whilst also elevating the guest experience, breathing new exciting energy into the space, and creating something distinctly different. We wanted to create a contemporary feel of a grand house rather than a hotel, that will give a warm welcome to our guests and members, and deliver the very best of Scottish hospitality; putting the west coast of Scotland firmly on the map for both national and international luxury travellers.

“The project involves a complete overhaul of all guest rooms and public spaces, including the gallery, restaurant, bar, private event rooms, reception and main entrance, whilst also integrating new additions such as an exclusive members’ lounge, private cinema, and billiards room. Re-establishing the building’s connection to its surrounding landscape was also an important part of the brief, re-landscaping the gardens, and very much making the exterior an extension of the interior views.”

Here’s what we found during our stay in a suite at Mar Hall.