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Activities
Off Road Driving
Gleneagles has two off road courses close to the hotel. Designed by some of Britain's leading off-road specialists, they incorporate natural and purpose built obstacles to include water splashes, ditches, escalating ridges, gullies and steep gradients.
Under expert guidance you will learn techniques such as hill climbs, controlled descents, wading and traversing slopes, as well as general vehicle handling over rough or wet terrain.
Scenic Safari
Take the high road with an instructor at the wheel to access stunning highland scenery on private estate roads and tracks. Departing from the front door of the hotel, the safaris take guests for half day excursions to a remote, beautiful and exclusive hill farm, accessible only by private invitation from the landowner. Leaving public roads behind, the Land Rovers climb high into the hills to enable you to discover the wild beauty of the heather uplands and the magnificent vistas which are the quintessence of Scotland.
The instructor guiding you will point out Munros, lochs and lochans and historic landmarks, together with local wildlife. You will certainly see the native black-faced sheep, buzzards, rabbits and some of the varied songbirds, you may see grouse, black grouse, peregrine falcons, merlins, blue hares and red deer. If you are particularly fortunate you may even see a golden eagle, soaring majestically overhead. Your guide will also tell you about local lore and sporting practices, such as heather burning and the origins of tartan.
At a high point en-route, your instructor will stop to allow you to take in the view with a glass of champagne and, if you wish, a gourmet picnic, (additional charge), before you descend in the Land Rovers to the picturesque valleys, returning to the hotel by a different route. Binoculars and field guides are supplied and cameras are definitely recommended.
Discover Scotland
Discover Scotland bespoke tours have been put together exclusively for Gleneagles guests. They combine a varied selection of venues, hand-picked to provide you with a taste of the richness and variety of Scotland.
You will be driven in a Range Rover or Discovery, by an instructor from Off Road at Gleneagles. A combination of the instructor’s expert vehicle handling and his sound local knowledge enables him to link castles, distilleries and the best of Perthshire’s off-the-beaten-track shopping, with scenic, cross-country routes, especially selected to show you the best of Perthshire’s picturesque vistas.
Tours can be tailored to suit your special interests. If you are particularly interested in historic Scotland, we recommend that your journey includes a visit to Blair Castle, which houses one of the finest collections of Scottish furniture, paintings, china, arms and armory, dating from the sixteenth century. If you would like to visit some gardens, we will take you to Drummond Castle Gardens with their magnificent early Victorian parterre, with fountains, terracing and topiaries. If you would like to take the chance to stock-up on some of Scotland’s finest products, we suggest a visit to House of Bruar, which offers fine Scottish goods, including cashmere, an excellent food hall, fine sporting goods and a range of Scottish gifts.
Junior Off-Road
Junior drivers have a fantastic facility at Gleneagles - their own off road course and mini Land Rovers. Kids aged from six - twelve years can receive instruction from behind the wheel of Land Rover replicas and test their driving skills over a purpose built course designed to reflect the grown-ups' course.
The Land Rover replicas have been specially built for Gleneagles and are a quarter of the size of their parent original. The school is the first in the UK to offer junior off road instructions.
Lessons
Skills Lesson
Instruction is given in half-scale Series 1 Land Rover replicas. Once children have mastered the controls on level ground, they complete a circuit of off road obstacles, including log piles, sleeping policemen and a water splash on the purpose-built Junior course. Available for children six - twelve years old. Includes Junior Off Road Skills Test certificate.
Trials Lesson
Instruction on an off road trials course, culminating in a scored circuit, where points are deducted for touching gates, for reversing and for stopping. Includes Junior Off Road Trials certificate. A Skills lesson must be completed prior to a Trials lesson.
Combination Lesson
A combination of the above two lessons for the enthusiastic young driver.
Junior Driving Lesson
Children below the age of six, and as young as three, can learn to drive the cars in the grounds of Gleneagles. As well as being great fun, this is also an excellent learning opportunity for children, developing their co-ordination.
Cars conform to British and European safety standards and are fitted with a remote cut-off facility.
All Terrain Off-Road
Argos are all-terrain, all-weather, semi-amphibious vehicles. They are synonymous with the management of Highland estates in Scotland, allowing landowners to reach steep, rocky or swampy areas that are otherwise inaccessible.
At Gleneagles, teenagers from 10 years and up* and adults can learn to operate these incredible, eight-wheel-drive vehicles on land and in water on a challenging purpose-built course, for the ultimate off road experience.
*All participants must be at least 4 feet 6 inches in height
Gift vouchers for Off Road Driving activities can be purchased online.
Please note that cancellation for leisure activities with less than 24 hours notice will incur full payment
