Hotel
Mar Hall Golf & Spa Resort
Sign in
Kylie, Beyonce, Brad Pitt, Ed Sheeran. Just some of the famous people who have graced this resort near the River Clyde on the outskirts of Glasgow. Kylie, in fact, was one of the first guests to stay after it reopened in May 2025 following a $38 million renovation. Mar Hall was originally built as a country house for a gentleman, later became a hospital for wounded soldiers during the First World War, before opening as a hotel in 2004. It is located between the city center and the port of Greenock, from where cruises depart around the British Isles. The hotel is located 10 minutes from Glasgow airport.
Appearance
Subscribe to the Traveler newsletter
The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Register now.
Set in 97 hectares of wooded grounds and an 18-hole championship golf course, Mar Hall was designed in the 1820s by Sir Robert Smirke, architect of the British Museum in London. Beyond the solid Neo-Gothic stone exterior, the radical renovation marries reclaimed elements such as Canadian oak paneling with modern decor, from muted to kaleidoscopic. The swoon-worthy centerpiece of the hotel is The Gallery, a long room with patterned ceilings, exotic carpets, a marble-topped champagne bar and fireside seating where guests enjoy a wine-filled lunch and afternoon tea. Browse the unique paintings here and around the hotel, which showcase more than 400 pieces by Scottish artists, as well as examples of the Clyde-built sailing ships that would pass by.
the room
Timeless beauty meets modern cool in 74 rooms and suites. Some face the river; others, like my Deluxe Suite, overlook the fountain-adorned gardens of Sir Charles Barry, who designed London’s Palace of Westminster. Wooden floors, high ceilings and a super king bed are the highlights of my room, along with a coffee machine and a luxurious bathroom with a walk-in shower and separate tub. You can also soak in the hotel’s spa, Ishga (“water” in Scottish Gaelic). It has a heated pool, saunas, steam rooms, a large gym and treatments using Hebridean seaweed.
Food + drink
Scottish ingredients, including seasonal herbs and vegetables, dominate the dishes in the Dining Room, where you can tuck into, say, Orkney scallops and aged Perthshire beef at dinner and then return for a full Scottish breakfast, Argyll toast or cakes and yoghurt drizzled with honey from the farm’s bees. Small plates are served next to Slainte, a groovy bar with colorful fabrics, a wall of herbs and cocktails and Scottish gins and whiskeys. There are wood-fired pizzas at Il Posto, which is next to the golf course.
Outside + close
Mar Hall’s lively staff organize activities such as locksmithing, ax throwing and clay pigeon shooting but don’t miss Glasgow itself. The organizers of the 2026 Commonwealth Games have excellent galleries, museums, parks, bars and theatres. You can also make a side trip to Dumbarton Castle and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. If it’s raining, browse coffee table books in the hotel’s elegant library and play pool in the billiards room downstairs.
Judgment
Rustic setting. Bonnie’s interior. It’s amazing to find such a beautiful place as Mar Hall so close to Scotland’s biggest city.
Important
Mar Hall, Earl of Mar Estate, Bishopton, Scotland. Bed and breakfast from £225 ($427) per night. Take a look marhall.com; visitscotland.com
Our rating out of five
★★★★½
Highlight
A dead heat between the Gallery and views towards the wooded hills on the River Clyde.
Low light
You’re a little out of the loop without a rental car. A taxi to Glasgow city center costs £40 ($76).
The author traveled as a guest of Visit Scotland.
Steve McKenna located in England, but usually attracted to sunny climates. He has a special love for Mediterranean Europe, Southeast Asia and Latin America.
