Name: Gartmore House
Address: Gartmore Estate, Stirling, Stirling, Stirling, FK8 3RS, United Kingdom
Rating: 8

24-hour reception

Elevator/lift

Smoke-free property

Heating

Gift shop

Garden

All Spaces Non-Smoking (public and private)

General

Non-smoking rooms

Room service

Family room

Rooms

Accessibility features

Accessibility

Luggage storage

Services and amenities

Internet access

Internet

English

Italian

Polish

Languages Spoken

Library

Hiking

Fishing

Recreation

Free parking

Parking

Fax and copy machine

Meeting and presentation facilities

Business

Cycling

Sports

Family/Kid Friendly

Kids

Pets Not Allowed

Pets

Location

At the hotel

Botanic Gardens

Hunterian Museum

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

Glasgow International Airport

Centre for Contemporary Art

Tall Ship at Glasgow Harbour

Pavilion Theatre

Royal Concert Hall

Buchanan Galleries

Glasgow Science Centre

George Square

Lighthouse

Glasgow Cathedral

St Mungo's Museum of Religious Life and Art

Gallery of Modern Art

Glasgow Necropolis

People's Palace and Winter Gardens

Glasgow Green

Celtic Park

Gartmore House

Stirling

I didn’t know what to expect from the week and was nervous that my abilities would limit what I could contribute and gain from the week. The tuition from Ewa was fantastic for me personally as she started with the basics and the variety of textile media which could be used and with each example indicated how I could apply my new knowledge and skills to my own crafting skills. I learnt so much during the week and as one of the other tutors indicated I have enough materials and ideas to keep me going for the rest of my life!
I will forever be grateful to Ewa, I hope we will remain friends and I see her again on another course. I know other participants during the week lace making and water colour painting feel the same about their tutors and all the staff at Gartmore we friendly, supportive and interested in our accomplishments. My husband who accompanied me but did not participate in the classes enjoyed being able to check out the beautiful surroundings, chatting with other guests and generally relax around the Gartmore estate. Nothing seems too much trouble for the attentive staff.
Gartmore is indeed a unique environment for crafters with participants from all over the world.


Crafting at Gartmore

We had a fabulous stay at Gartmore House. The food is delicious, homemade and caters for all dietary needs. The rooms are spacious ,beautifully decorated and well supplied with everything you need. Coffee and tea are available 24 hours a day, together with lovely biscuits, cakes etc.
The courses are fully supplied and very well run. The evenings are interesting  and fun with activities provided. The views from the rooms are incredibly beautiful . All in all , we were delighted. Come to Gartmore!

Come to Gartmore House!

I visited Gartmore House in June and July 2023 for two different craft courses - leatherwork and wire work. Gartmore is a wonderful place to stay, th grand historic building and the lovely nature really makes it easy to relax. The staff has been exceptional and really made us feel welcomed and at home. Both classes I attended were great, too, and I learned very much from our patient and knowledgeable tutors. I can definitely recommend staying at Gartmore House.

Wonderful stay and course

Had an amazing week at Gartmore on the watercolour course! The tutor Kit was fabulous and I learned so much as a complete beginner. The class size was small allowing for one on one tuition and the structure of the classes was suitable to learn a lot without it being overwhelming. 

The setting was beautiful and peaceful and I loved the house and really felt like I could switch off and enjoy the class, getting to know the other guests and staff and the the intimate setting as the only guests were those of us on the course so it was good to get to know the others on the course.  

The food was delicious with very generous portions and good choices each day. The staff were all very friendly and really helped to welcome us for the week and there was a good choice of activities each evening without feeling like you were forced to do anything if you didn’t want to! 

All in all i would highly recommend Gartmore house for a lovely week away and hope that I’ll be back someday. 

Amazing week at Gartmore on the Watercolour course 

Attended a residential watercolour class led by Steve Bretel. Had the most wonderful experience with like minded people. The class was small and intimate, there being only 5 of us. All materials were supplied, and were of a high quality. Tuition ran from 10am - 4pm. with an hour for lunch. Steve was a terrific tutor and I feel I gained much from him.
My bedroom 208, was spacious, spotlessly clean and lovely and warm. A kettle was provided for tea and coffee. (A 24hr complimentary vending machine also supplied hot chocolate as well as teas and coffees). It overlooked the front entrance, but I believe the best views were to the back, where, on a clear day, you could see as far as the Wallace monument.
The food was plentiful, freshly made with a varied menu. Meals consisted of  breakfast, elevenses, lunch, afternoon tea and scones and dinner. Alcohol was available on request.
Having said all of the above, the icing on the cake was the attentive, happy and caring staff. Nothing was too much bother and I felt I was treated like family. Truly a home from home experience where I didn’t have to do the washing up 😊.
I cannot recommend Gartmore House highly enough and would not hesitate to return.
( Steve….Italy ? )

Beyond all my expectations……fabulous.

I taught a wire work course there recently and absolutely loved the history and the story behind the old estate. Gartmore house offers something that is hard to find in Scotland with its extensive range of offerings in the arts and craft field. The location is perfect with incredible views and the hospitality was second to none. Great food, great banter and lots of fun to be had amongst like minded individuals. Hope to be back very soon!

Wonderful place, steeped in history

I have just completed a wonderful 5 night stay (including 4 days of brilliant slate mosaic crafting run by the talented Rachel Davies) at Gartmore House.  

This architecturally interesting and beautiful house, run by a charity focused on education, is gradually going through an updating programme.  The very much needed outside work, postponed by Covid, will look truly amazing once finished.  Inside, it’s worth exploring around the many huge rooms which are used as a mixture of lounging in and crafting in.  

I had upgraded my bedroom to a ‘hobby haven’ (room 206), which was well worth it.  The room was simply sumptuous, with three huge windows looking out over the stunning countryside.  A cup of tea in bed watching the sunrise through misty pastures and hills – gorgeous.  The room also overlooked fields of cattle and Jacob sheep.  Although their website suggests Wifi is not available in bedrooms – I had a very strong internet reception in room 206, as did other guests in their rooms, so I expect this has been upgraded since the website was made.  The bed was comfortable and the room so quiet at night-time you could hear a pin drop.  Covid meant you looked after your own room, but who nowadays needs sheets and bath towels replaced daily?!  If you wanted anything done or replaced, then the staff were more than happy to quickly accommodate.  Personally, I think all hotels should do this 👍.

The whole place was focused on the craft courses (3 different courses running during the week I was there).  Food, served canteen style, was delicious and plentiful (now on a diet).  Alcoholic drinks (generous proportions) were available.  
Outside there were many walks leading off in all directions, through woods or open countryside.  Some of the trees in the grounds must be centuries old, and I would expect the Spring and Autumn months would see an explosion of colour in the mixed deciduous woods, packed with rhododendrons and masses of other flowers.

Gartmore House is quirky and interesting, run by enthusiastic and welcoming staff.  As a venue for crafting, I cannot think of anywhere more perfect.

Perfect crafting venue

Attended mixed media painting course. Super tutor, wonderful accommodation,  great food from the canteen, friendly staff, beautiful scenery. Teaching is in small groups, suitable for all abilities. Tutor really communicated new ideas brilliantly  and I was quite inspired by the end.

Excellent for short courses

Beautiful location in need of TLC and professionally qualified staff. We had to clean and the towels were never changed because of Covid (?!)
The owner said that it is like being in a family but it is not a free stay.
Excellent watercolour course with Steve Bretel.
Catering needs to be reviewed.

Excelent watercolour course

We were down in Aberfoyle for a family wedding (3-4hrs away from home in Aberdeenshire) and unfortunately due to a glitch in the system, our original hotel in the Aberfoyle area cancelled our reservation. Initially we were panicked and stressed that we had no accommodation for a 2 night stay until the manager of the initial hotel sourced  us accommodation at Gartmore House. 
We were truly appreciative of the helping hand at short notice, the manager of Gartmore House turned the rooms around within an hour and made us feel especially welcome. 
The rooms at 18th Century Gartmore House were fantastic and comfortable, with stunning views of the gardens and Scottish countryside. 
Staff were extremely friendly and helpful. Breakfast was included in our stay and was delicious. 

Would highly recommend a stay here especially if Gartmore House opened up to the public as a B&B and not just for week long craft stays/workshops. It is honestly a beautiful building in a stunning location which would highly benefit from more tourism :) 

Again we are thankful for the helping hand from the team at Gartmore House and truly enjoyed our stay with you. 

Charis S

Gartmore House

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