Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries
Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries – A family friendly central hotel in the heart of Dumfries and Galloway, with a newly refurbished Adult Only spa including a pool, whirlpool, sauna and steam room, plus lots to do nearby.
When you arrive in Dumfries the grand red sandstone of the Cairndale Hotel and Leisure Club really draws you in. The Cairndale is one Scotland’s largest family run and privately owned hotels, and recently celebrated forty years of being owned by the Wallace family. It’s got that family feel to it and the team recently invested in a series of upgrades, which are certainly apparent when you walk into the Art Deco style reception area. A very friendly hotel, so find out more below…
Pool & Spa – Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries
The hotel’s pool and spa area has just had £2 million invested in it. Luxury! Since the refurbishment this area is now an Adult Only space, so that’s a big change too. It’s possible to book Spa Days, Spa Stays and even an Afternoon Tea Spa.
Read – Things to Do in Dumfries with Kids
Rooms – Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries
The family rooms at The Cairndale are clean, spacious and quite traditional in terms of decor. The children were left some lovely treats to enjoy – these can include games, a cookie or Irn Bru. Our bathroom even had a TV in the bath so there are unexpected mod cons – it’s quite quirky watching the news in the bath! The luxury Noble Isle Scottish toiletries were definitely appreciated. We felt very at home.
Dining – Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries
The Reivers Restaurant (named after the cattle thieves who rampaged across the border territories of both Scotland and England) serves up good quality Scottish food. My starter of duck liver parfait was lovely, but I was particularly pleased with the pan roasted fillet of pork with maple glazed carrots, pancetta, sweetcorn puree and crispy polenta. Really tasty. Mr Husband’s breast of duck with asparagus tips and Savoy cabbage hit the spot too. The children’s traditional bangers and mash went down a storm. The food at dinner exceeded expectations, plus the staff were friendly and chatty.
Breakfast is a served buffet, with full Scottish available and a mix of cereals and yogurts. Quite straightforward really. Breakfast finished at 9am, perhaps a little early on holiday, but again the friendly staff set you up for the day.
Arriving
Ample free parking at the rear of the hotel makes life a little easier, there’s also an electric charge point nearby for those who need it. Check in was relatively straightforward and when we mentioned a restaurant we wanted to dine at the receptionist phoned ahead and booked our table. Very helpful.
Location & Things to Do
Read – Things to Do in Dumfries with Kids
Dumfries is a compact town and easy to explore on foot. The Cairndale’s central location means all the town’s attractions are within reach. Walk down to the river, visit all the free key Burns Trail sites, drop by the free local museum and galleries. It’s all very easy. The kids had a fantastic days at Dalscone Farm Fun, just 1.5 miles from the Cairndale – I’d definitely recommend this, the animals are just the tip of the iceberg.
The wider Dumfries and Galloway area has a lot to offer kids too, from a chocolate making workshop at the Cocoa Bean Factory to an explosive day out at a former munitions factory called The Devil’s Porridge! Lots to see and do.
Overall, the Cairndale Hotel and Leisure Club made us feel very at home, we loved the pool and had a very relaxing two nights here. I hope you make it to Dumfries soon.
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