Having completely zhuzhed up the hotel and golf club to bring it up to wow-factor standards, the team at Trump Turnberry has turned its attention to a pretty row of Edwardian cottages on the resort. Adding a great family-friendly element, these new holiday hideaways are the perfect blend of relaxed informality and luxurious self-indulgence.
Their position near the clubhouse means families, couples or golfing friends can dip their toes (literally, in the case of the pool) into everything the five-star Ayrshire coastal resort has to offer, retreating to their own space, timetables and eating habits when required.
Each cottage suite has at its heart a comfy living room, a supremely
well-equipped kitchen (with lovely Churchill stonecast pottery), two generous double bedrooms and three large flatscreen TVs. There is WiFi, of course, and another welcome gizmo, MyAway, an app that transforms the giant flatscreen into a player for your phone ... halfway through a box set on Netflix? No problem. There are board games supplied too, if you want to impose a no-screens-on-holiday policy.
Self-catering means your timetable and your menu is your own. Fussy eaters, slow eaters and cornflake snackers can all be happy here. However, there are tempting dining options on site – with everything from burgers in the bar to a full gourmet experience at the 1906 restaurant. Even the continental breakfast is a wonderfully indulgent affair – healthy fruit, tender smoked salmon and a Bloody Mary station with Holy Grass vodka from the Dunnet Bay distillery in Caithness.
And on the topic of booze … a drink in the spectacular Grand Tea Lounge and Bar at sunset is an absolute must. The mixoligists’ bespoke and classic cocktails are just the right accompaniment to the drama of the sinking sun.
Well known as one of the finest golf resorts anywhere, this will not disappoint aficionados. While the Ailsa steals the spotlight, the newly developed King Robert the Bruce course is also a stunner – the 9th and 10th are unrivalled for drama. Young ones can get into the swing on the Wee Ailsa pitch and putt and, for those keen to develop, the Golf Academy services await.
There is a tonne of fun on site: the outdoor adventure team is ever ready to whisk families away for archery, quad biking or riding across the sands (the cottage suite comes with a £50 credit). Channel the spirit of Robert the Bruce by exploring the ruins of his boyhood castle, or pop into the iconic Turnberry lighthouse where the sheltered Halfway House provides the perfect place to stop for a cuppa. If weather is against you, head to the pool and spa with its soothing coastal views … swim, enjoy a long soak in the hot tub or indulge in muscle-soothing treatments.
The cottage suites are also close to a perfect family-scale walk across the beach at Maidens and through the woodlands to Culzean Castle and Country Park. The shimmering sands frame dramatic sea views while the woodlands are home to songbirds and bluebells that make the scramble up the little cliff paths well worth the effort. The rewards are many: views to Ailsa Craig and Kintyre; a pond where moorhens, tufted ducks and swans go about their routines; a walled garden and orangery; a romantic stately home; a cafe and two adventure playgrounds.
The famous rocky island of Ailsa Craig is your constant companion at Turnberry – take a closer look on a boat trip from the nearby Girvan harbour. The Robert Burns Birthplace Museum is a 20-minute drive away … or a little more if you take the stunning coast road.
Frankly, there is no way the family will be fed-up. And we haven't even discussed the massive sandy beach beyond the clubhouse. Pack a bucket and spade is all I’m saying.
Travel facts: Turnberry cottage suites From £285 a night; for four people including £50 towards activities or creche. Guest discounts on dining, spa and golf. Call 01655 333994 or email villas@trumpturnberry.com Outdoor adventure from archery to quad biking on site, plus family horseriding from
£150. Check www.turnberry.co.uk/outdoor-activitiesscotland
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