Aberdeenshire is one of the most celebrated parts of Scotland, and to go with the five star surroundings and activities, people deserve five star accommodation and services. In improving their Craigendarroch Suites, the Hilton Grand Vacations Club (HGV) has just ticked that box. Fraser Wilson reports.
Craigendarroch Suites, the Hilton Grand Vacations Club (HGV) sits in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park amongst some of Scotland’s most breathtaking surroundings.
The Craigendarroch suites, merge seamlessly into their surroundings with dense forestry broken up by the wooden clad lodges and timeshare facilities, which sit quietly on the horizon.
A project ten years in the making, HGV managing director, Richard McIntosh told Dram the initial vision has been realised a decade later – exactly as he had envisaged.
He said, “It was six-and-a-half-months work, costing £4.3m and we have pretty much done what we always thought we would. We’ve improved the suites, brasserie and restaurant, and modernised the main building. It’s been 10 years in the planning and we wanted to give a better return on the asset to the Hilton.
“It is a much better product and the finish is almost exactly what we had envisaged. It has followed my design brief in depth and we are now on the road we wanted to go down. “It’s no longer a hotel, it’s a resort. We can offer the timeshare we wanted to and we’ve improved the product.”
The hotel was closed from January this year as work began to develop the 45 hotel bedrooms into 32 spacious Vacation Club suites. The suites re-opened at the end of July and are now available to purchase or rent.
The main entrance to the building brings you to the reception, it’s vast and somewhat breathtaking, with stunning original wooden panelling and staircase married together by the parquet flooring. The 19th century build offers up a clean, modern, and luxurious reception. Key characteristics from the original build are still apparent, including the monumental stain glass window that looms over the main stair case.
The reception desks are a focal point with their clean, crisp, white marble surrounds.
Through the reception, guests can go up stairs to the suites or through to the restaurant, brasserie, and country club. Whilst some may think the wood is overbearing, the light coloured wallpaper and carpet at the staircase and reception desk, soften the impact.
The Keiller Brasserie and Lounge are new additions to the resort. Named after the original builders of the hotel, which was built in 1891, the restaurant is demure and classy, with good use of modern and contemporary floral decorations and muted leathers. The spacious restaurant has space for upwards of 35 covers.
The dining tables are made of the same marble as the reception desks and provide a clean, charming dining surface, contrasting the darker shades used throughout.
The restaurant is not too bright and has some amazing lighting arrangements which match the glass object d’art. This provides a nice ambience for diners, whilst the cream and chocolate coloured walls complements the stunning diamond faceted mirrored wall. The kitchen and serving area sits to the back of the restaurant, or left if you were to walk in through the side entrance.
On one level there are no windows to natural surroundings, but a glass finish allows for views out to the hall way and parts of the hotel.
Just across the way is the brasserie, which is expansive, but still very homely, with large, enveloping chesterfield sofas in chocolate fabric that contrast beautifully with orange armchairs and pouffes.
Copper wall hangings and a large mirror above a modern fire add stimulation and lightness to the room, whilst a spectrum of grey and silver coloured wallpaper ties the room together.
With the brasserie as comfortable as it is, it would be easy to forget about the beautiful surroundings of the Cairngorms, but a quick look out the windows brings relaxing views of the large, towering trees that almost fence in the building, broken up by paths, roads, and lodges, as well as the stunning 19th century building itself.
In a different section of the brasserie, high backed, tan leather chairs offer privacy and a slight formality, with white marble tables continuing the classy finish.
HGV have avoided the temptation to scream Scotland in their refurbishment, with a continuation of modern, contemporary leathers and colours throughout. Plaid is evident in the aprons of bar and kitchen staff, and nods to the homeland are there if you look hard enough. But this is just what was needed, says Richard.
“The décor and feel offers a local touch and a nod to the local community and surroundings,” he added. “But we are not overtly Scottish in design. We are contemporary in style, from our aprons to the upholstery. So far we have not had any negative feedback. In fact, the reaction we are getting from people when they come in is ‘wow’. People are delighted with the high class finish and the new luxurious feel brought from the furniture and grand bar.”
The venue stayed open throughout the refurbishment, the first major investment since Richard’s tenure started with the resort almost 30 years ago. Richard is adamant the resort is, “not a hotel anymore,” but what it is, is a resort with suites.
The rooms are located upstairs from the restaurant and brasserie, and are all finished to the highest quality, with the same attention to detail and colour scheme carried on effortlessly from the downstair improvements.
Large double beds, comfortable couches, warm surroundings, as well as some convenient self catering facilities, mean guests may never want to leave their suites. The guest rooms and suites are luxuriously finished, with complimentary WiFi and 32-inch televisions. Light autumnal colours, such as tan and beige coat the walls of the suites. Curtains and voiles were all supplied by Lanfine and mauve carpets which feature in the rooms have fine silver branch and leaf motifs.
Most of the upholstery and artwork draws inspiration from the natural surroundings of the Highlands.
The floral details are not just confined to packed vases, but are also a feature in wallpaper, rugs, throws and artwork. Subtle, silver wallpaper takes pride of place on the walls and the light marble used downstairs is replaced by dark marble in the bathrooms.
A nod to Scotland can be seen in the plaid on some of the bed cushions and throws, with dark fireplaces taking pride of place in the rooms, adding to the already homely feel. Dark wooden floors are broken up by light grey and white rugs, with dark brown leather couches offering a chance to relax.
The resort also offers an array of recreational amenities for children and adults alike, including a swimming pool, gym, sauna, spa, aqua aerobics class, as well as squash and tennis facilities.
The end product of the refurbishment far exceeds what HGV provides anywhere else. Indeed, Richard believes the Hilton West 57th resort in Manahttan, New York, which has 150 apartments, most closely reflects what they offer.
Alan McClure, director for architects Cunningham McLean, told DRAM, “We’re very happy with the end product. We’re happy because HGV are happy. They said it exceeded their expectations and it has brought a level of refinement to the venue.
“It’s a classic/contemporary style and is sympathetic to the building and the surroundings. It’s a timeless finish and relevant to the build as a whole. “It is a refined finish and our inspiration for it came from the location and surroundings. It’s warm and light, and very comfortable.”
As for being five star, Richard concluded, “We are not graded in the same way as hotels I have to say. But if we were to be classified now, I would say we are a four star hotel, with five star facilities. We always strive to be the best we can.”