When you stay in the ancient city where peacocks roam free, you can’t expect anything to be more impressive, can you? But Garvock House manages to top that as the most impressive thing in this Fife city.
Nestled in the heart of Dunfermline, the charming hotel exudes elegance and tranquillity and from the moment we arrived, we were greeted with warm hospitality, Blue and Pip included. Throughout our stay, the staff at reception to the hotel’s ‘paw-lick relations manager’ Henry, made us feel right at home. Offering cheerful and genuine conversations and advice on the local area, a warm and friendly atmosphere is created that excites you about your stay.
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Our room was remarkable. Spacious with high ceilings, classic features and a gorgeous sash window which left the room feeling light and airy. It was the first time we’d taken Blue and Pip to a hotel and I must admit, there was an underlying tone of anxiousness which quickly disappeared when we entered our room and we were welcomed with a basket of dog treats, beds, and a list of instructions to make our dog-friendly stay as seamless as possible.
It was our first visit to the area and on the recommendation of the hotel, we headed down to Pittencrieff Park, in the heart of Dunfermline. Locally named ‘The Glen, the park is well known for its resident peacocks, and exudes historical and cultural significance. Full of woodland wildlife, walks and even play areas for children, the park offers something for anyone visiting Dunfermline. After a few hours in the park, which even the drizzle didn’t dampen, we explored the city further where we saw the famous Abbey and of course popped into the pub! Again, it is worth noting that Scotland has zero tolerance to drink driving so if you’re driving make sure you flip a coin for designated driver!
After an early start and an exciting afternoon, we had built up an appetite (dogs included) so while Blue and Pip indulged in one of the treats from their welcome basket, we got ready and headed for dinner in the hotel’s luxury restaurant. With the cold, dark evenings drawing in, the oak-panelled rooms and gorgeous open fireplaces are the perfect place to settle down for a luxurious winter supper. The restaurant is popular with the locals and it’s easy to see why! The food was superb, visually pleasing as well as delicious and there was more than a bit of food envy on our table! The smoked mackerel pate with Scottish oat cakes was a perfect introduction to a fabulous meal, the pan-roasted chicken with a succulent black pudding bon bon followed high standards and the sticky toffee pudding rounded off the meal perfectly. I was pleased we dined in the hotel’s restaurant our second night as I had to try the venison which had caused my food envy the night before- and I was not disappointed.
Breakfast followed much of the same tone. Indulging in a full Scottish breakfast, because there is no such thing as too much haggis, and as is practice on holiday, we overindulged in the wide range of fruits, cereals, and pasties on offer.
Garvock House is just a short walk away from Dunfermline City station and trains to Edinburgh run regularly so when our second day offered a welcome relief from a week of rain we jumped at the chance to visit one of the UK's most ‘dog-friendly cities’. The 30-minute train ride offers spectacular views of the River Forth and stops at both of Edinburgh’s stations. We arrived at Waverley Station, made our reference to The Avengers, and spent a full day there, taking Blue and Pip up the Royal Mile for the first time (Blue discovered he was scared of bagpipes), for a walk around Princes Street Gardens and even for pizza at Pizza Geeks. We had a fantastic day which ended in a train ride back to the picturesque Dunfermline.
Unfortunately the next day it was time for us to check out and head home. So after another full Scottish and some coffee, we reluctantly packed our bags and headed down to check out, sad to be going home, but elated at the sheer charm and joy we had experienced with our stay at Garvock House Hotel and our first trip to Dunfermline.
Garvock House Hotel offers a charming and elegant retreat, combining a unique blend of historic charm, modern comfort, and top-notch dining experience, to excel in providing a relaxing and enjoyable stay. The proximity to Edinburgh is the cherry on top of a very delectable cake, and we left with wonderful memories and excitement to return in the future.
To book your stay at Garvock House Hotel, call the hotel in St John's Dr, Dunfermline KY12 7TU, on 01383 621 067, email the team on sales@garvock.co.uk or visit www.garvock.co.uk.
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