Head to Falkirk for the mother of all pampering weekends, writes Cheryl Livingstone
I do love a weekend away and the chance to stay in a hotel. But one thing I really don’t like is how breakfast is always on really early. Getting up early is the one thing I don’t want to do while I am holiday.
So when I heard the receptionist at the Macdonald Inchyra Hotel in Polmont say breakfast was on until 11am, I knew it was going to be a relaxing weekend.
I was staying at the hotel for two nights with my mum to experience the new spa package as an early Mother’s Day present – the perfect weekend of pampering from juicy steaks in the Steak Club, elegant afternoon tea and a spa treatment to round off.
We arrived late on Friday night following a magical mystery tour of Grangemouth. It was pitch dark by the time we arrived but we could still make out the grand outline of the hotel. After checking in – and hearing those magic words about breakfast – we made our way up to our very spacious room to unpack and then head down to the bar for some food.
STEAK CLUB
The public areas of the hotel certainly live up to its four-star accolade. The bar is a stunning contemporary room that was buzzing with people. With a glass of Prosecco in our hand, we began to have a look at what we would have for tea. It being a Steak Club, there really was only thing I wanted – and that was a steak. An 8oz fillet steak with hand-cut chips, mushroom, tomato and some peppercorn sauce
to be exact. My mother agreed. And for a starter, I went for barbecue ribs with a whisky honey glaze while my mum tried the sweet potato and parsnip soup.
Both meals arrived and looked beautifully presented – and after our first bite, I can say they both tasted beautiful too. The meat on the ribs melted away and unlike some ribs I have tried in the past, there was plenty of meat on those bones too. After my mother had eventually finished her giant pot of soup, we were ready and waiting for the main event. Again, presentation on arrival was excellent and one bite of my medium-well done steak and I was in heaven. My mother, unfortunately, had to send her steak back as it wasn’t cooked the way she had asked, but within a short time another one was brought out, this time perfect, along with complementary onion rings. Our waiters were all lovely and very helpful and made us feel looked after from the moment we sat down.
With our bellies full – too full for dessert, I couldn’t even bring myself to look at the menu – we headed back to our room for a night of relaxation in front of the telly.
The next morning, we woke to sun streaming into our room, and after getting ready headed back down to the restaurant for some breakfast. On offer was a great continental buffet and a traditional cooked Scottish breakfast. Just what you need before heading out to explore the surrounding area.
We spent our morning in Falkirk’s town centre doing some shopping, and later we headed back to the hotel for more food – this time an afternoon tea. The three-tiered stand included a range of sandwiches, mini cakes and scones with clotted cream and jam, all washed down with a hearty pot of tea.
Presentation again gets top marks and the food itself went down a treat. An afternoon tea is always a lovely alternative to your typical lunch. And in the surroundings of the hotel’s stylish restaurants, soothing music creating the perfect relaxed atmosphere, it was just perfect.
We spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing in our room before getting dolled up to explore Falkirk’s nightlife where we had an amazing Indian dinner at Sanam Tandoori Restaurant.
AROMATHERAPY STONES
Sunday morning provided the cherry on the top of the relaxing weekend– a full-body aromatherapy stones massage.
The treatment is one of many available at the hotel’s spa, along with other leisure facilities such as a swimming pool and gym.
The massage was absolutely amazing from beginning to end. My sore wrist and crunched up shoulders felt fantastic afterwards and the staff couldn’t have been nicer. The facility offers spa days and after just an hour of treatment, I can safely say I will definitely be back for the day-long experience.
THE HOLIDAY
Macdonald Inchyra Hotel and Spa, Grange Rd, Polmont, Falkirk FK2 0YB. Tel: 0844 879 9044 / www.MacdonaldHotels.co.uk/Inchyra
The spa package is priced at £104 per person per night and includes overnight accommodation, award-winning breakfast and dinner in the restaurant, fluffy robes, slippers and towels and a 30-minute treatment per person from a choice of: Elemis Deep Tissue Back Massage, Elemis Taster Facial, Lime and Ginger Salt Glow, Pro Collagen Hand and Nail Treatment or Sole Delight Grooming for Feet.
Stay on a Sunday and enjoy late check-out the next day and a chilled glass of Prosecco on arrival.