The five-star hotel in Ayrshire has added brand new activities to its impressive portfolio. These include wellness and outdoor focused experiences such as yoga, kayaking, digital detox, canoeing and forest bathing.
The hotel is perhaps best renowned for its Hebridean Sea Safari, offering guests the opportunity to explore the Scottish isles in search of remote islands and rare local marine life. With 110 acres of gardens and local woodland, Glenapp Castle is the perfect staycation to reconnect with nature and to learn a new skill this year.
The news doesn’t stop there as the hotel eagerly awaits the opening of its brand new Penthouse Suite, the Endeavour in spring 2021. The team are also very excited to announce other developments at the hotel, including a brand-new restaurant / bar facility / events space in their walled garden, utilising the beautiful Glasshouse and original potting sheds, which they are hoping will be ready for Easter.
According to ABTA’s Six Trends for Travel in 2021, trips that enable holidaymakers to embrace the great outdoors are expected to prove popular this year. This interest in getting back to nature is even more pronounced when it comes to taking a domestic holiday. ABTA’s research indicated that of those who travelled in the UK this past year, a third are planning to take a local countryside break in the next 12 months, up from 28% in 2019. In addition, Covid-19 has made people realise that they do not want to wait for opportunities abroad. This trend will see people more willing to try out epic experiences and activities in the UK, in particular learning a new skill.
Glenapp Castle is a 17-bedroom luxurious Relais & Chateaux hotel tucked away on the breath-taking Ayrshire coast in Scotland. As well as its beautiful location, the Castle is renowned for offering an abundance of 65+ indoor and outdoor activities. From perfume making, archery, stargazing, foraging, fishing, mountain biking, an interactive falconry display, and even the chance to finesse one's Scottish Fiddling skills.
Along with a fear of overcrowded places, lockdown has left people yearning for the outdoors, wide open spaces and remote destinations. Similarly, wellbeing has never been so paramount. With this in mind, the team at Glenapp Castle were keen to introduce new experiences in the great outdoors with a focus on wellness to give guests the chance to get close to nature. The digital detox day, forest bathing, and yoga enable guests to do exactly that.
A digital detox is not just about switching off laptops and phones and taking a break from the mindless scrolling, it is also about focusing on reconnecting with the natural world and absorbing all its beauty. The Glenapp Castle instructors will lead guests on walks through the Castle’s ground while teaching them mindfulness techniques to replace time spent on their digital devices. Similarly beneficial is forest bathing - an evidence-based wellness practice proven to reduce stress and anxiety through connectivity with nature. With guided meditation and mindfulness techniques, guests will venture deep into the woodland areas of the Glenapp Castle Estate away from the buzz of everyday working life. The hotel is also offering outdoor yoga, the perfect way to take in the tranquil surroundings.
Those looking for something a bit different can try axe throwing (a historically Scottish lumberjack sport) or take up the Scottish Fiddle – one of Scotland’s finest instruments. Taught by local expert Mark Mitchell, guests will spend one-on-one time with him for a beginner’s introduction to the magic of the Scottish Fiddle - sure to get those toes tapping!
The hotel is situated besides the local Galloway Forest Park is one of the only four ‘Dark Skies Parks’ in Europe, where clean air and lack of light pollution results in amazing clear nights perfect for Stargazing. Guests at Glenapp Castle are fortunate to experience the same expansive skies from the comfort of the Castle’s Victorian Walled Garden. With a local astronomer on hand to guide guests through the millions of constellations clearly visible from the hotel, residents can use the Castle’s telescopes to immerse themselves in some spectacular stargazing whilst also enjoying a special Glenapp ‘tiddly’ hot chocolate, cosy blankets, night binoculars and hand warmers - this is sure to be a dreamy experience. On clear nights guests might be able to spot the Milky Way or even the mesmerising display of the Northern Lights!
The hotel also offers a whole host of unique water-based activities and perhaps Glenapp Castle is best renowned for its Hebridean Sea Safari, offering guests the opportunity to explore the Scottish isles in search of remote islands and rare local marine life. As well as the Glenapp Castle professional crew, guests are accompanied by Roddy Leitch, the boat’s exuberant skipper. Roddy was the longest serving RNLI Cox (lifeboatman) at Glenapp’s home port of Girvan, as well as being the former harbour master, so he knows the area like the back of his hand. Not only is his knowledge of the local area unparalleled, his expertise in the Scottish sea life is hugely impressive. Guests will love learning about the local marine life.
The Ayrshire waters are teeming with marine life, from basking sharks to dolphins, minke whales, and seals. Ailsa Craig, one of the stop-offs on the trip, is a beautiful wildlife sanctuary; home to over 40,000 birds, including puffins, guillemots, gannets and razorbills. Adding to its adventure list, the hotel now offers kayaking and canoeing as well as coasteering through hidden coves and the rocky coastline.
Glenapp Castle
https://www.glenappcastle.com
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