The Gailes Hotel and Spa

Gailes Golf:Leisure is home to a well-equipped gym and studio classes. Both are mainly for members, but there are plenty of other ways to get moving during your stay. Golfers can head to Ayrshire’s only Toptracer driving range, with 30 floodlit bays (including two heated VIP bays for chilly evenings) and technology that tracks every shot, just like on the pro tours. There’s no need to book, and you can even hire clubs. 

For gentler exercise, the beach is just minutes away, with sweeping sands and dunes for a bracing stroll in the sea air. Hire a bike from the hotel to explore the cycle routes and coastal paths nearby, or follow a stretch of the Ayrshire Coastal Path as it traces the shoreline.

Up for something more adventurous? Hop on the ferry to the Isle of Arran and tackle Goatfell, the island’s highest peak, for spectacular views across the Firth of Clyde. Back on the mainland, the woodland trails and waterfalls of Kelburn Estate make a rewarding day out, with a castle painted in vivid colours by Brazilian street artists.

Get your first taste of The Gailes in the Si! Spa Lounge, where robes are very much welcome. It’s the setting for many of the packages’ poke bowls and afternoon teas, and it also serves breakfast, light bites and a signature sharing board through the day. At one end, the Champagne and cocktail bar is ready to pour a glass of fizz whenever the mood strikes.

Staying overnight? Dinner is served in Coast Restaurant & Bar, a relaxed, nautical-themed space with naval maps and fishing rope overhead and views across the gardens. The menu celebrates local flavours, from Scottish seafood to hearty grills, and the desserts are worth saving room for, especially anything with Arran ice cream. 

For something more casual, GG’s Coffee Shop & Sports Lounge does great coffee and cake by day. Later on, it turns into a laid-back spot to catch the match, with Chesterfield sofas and a pool table for a friendly game.

There’s no swimming pool, but you won’t be short of water. The indoor vitality pool has bubbling jets aimed at all the classic stress spots, and it’s entered via softly lit steps. Outside on the spa deck, the sheltered hydro pool lets you soak under open skies whatever the Ayrshire weather is up to. Pack your swimwear because you’ll be in and out of the water all day!

Yes! The Si! Spa Lounge is a robe-friendly zone, serving breakfast, light bites, poke bowls, sharing boards and afternoon tea, plus fizz and cocktails from the champagne bar. Just change before heading to Coast Restaurant & Bar for dinner.

Yes, the spa offers pregnancy treatments from 12 weeks, including a dedicated pregnancy spa day. However, the heat and water experiences aren’t suitable during pregnancy, so check with the spa when booking to plan your visit.

Robes and towels are provided with spa packages, but bring your swimwear and a pair of flip-flops. In a bid to cut waste, the spa no longer provides slippers. If you forget, you can pick up a pair at spa reception for a few pounds. Just make sure to leave your phone in your locker, as the spa is a phone-free zone.

The Gailes sits on Marine Drive, between the towns of Irvine and Troon on the Ayrshire coast, around 40 minutes from Glasgow. The contemporary hotel is set in landscaped gardens with a pond, fountain and outdoor pavilion. Championship links courses stretch beyond, and the Isle of Arran rises on the horizon. The beach is just a few minutes away, perfect for a sunset stroll. 

The Gailes is a true family affair. Malcolm and Karen Simpson founded SimpsInns in 1996 with a single inn in Troon, before building The Gailes from scratch on a greenfield site in their home town of Irvine. Today their sons Jack and Lee help run the business, and The Gailes is the flagship of the group. Si! Spa opened in 2021. Its name is Spanish for “yes”, which is exactly what you’ll want to say when someone suggests a spa day here!

It really is. Si! Spa has taken Scotland’s top spa title at the Scottish Prestige Hotel Awards three times, most recently as Scotland’s Best Spa Hotel in 2026. It’s also been named Boutique Spa Hotel of the Year by beauty industry bodies BABTAC and CIBTAC. The 2026 win even earned a congratulatory motion in the Scottish Parliament, which is quite the accolade for a spa that only opened in 2021.

Yes, and spa break guests are in for a treat, as packages include a stay in one of the hotel’s newly refurbished Superior rooms. Designed with contemporary elegance and refined finishes, they come with a king-size or twin beds, a brand-new TV, tea and coffee facilities and complimentary WiFi. The upgraded bathrooms feature sleek walk-in showers and modern fittings, and many rooms look out over the hotel’s landscaped gardens. It’s the perfect spot to sink into after a day of pampering.

Plenty! Practise your swing on the floodlit Toptracer driving range, book a lesson with the resident PGA pros or hire a bike to explore the coastal cycle routes. Further afield, you can hop on the ferry to Arran, visit clifftop Culzean Castle or explore the area’s seafaring past at the Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine.

It does. The spa holds Safe Hands for Cancer accreditation, and its therapists are trained to treat guests living with or recovering from cancer, so you can relax knowing you’re in caring, capable hands.

The spa and leisure facilities are for guests aged 16 and over, so grown-ups can enjoy their downtime in peace. But the hotel welcomes families, with spacious family rooms that can be set up with king or twin beds plus truckle beds. 

Yes. The spa’s treatment rooms are accessible, and there’s an accessible changing room and toilet. The hotel has level access and accessible parking, and accessible bedrooms have a lowered bath with a shower over. If you have specific needs, the team will be happy to help when you book.

While your four-legged friend can’t join you in the spa, the hotel is very dog-friendly. Dedicated dog-friendly rooms come with handy extras like doggy doors, mucky-paws towel stations and water bowls, and dogs even get their own dining options. There’s a supplement of £15 per dog, per night, and you’ll need to call the hotel in advance to book. They’re welcome in GG’s Sports Lounge and on its terrace, plus the nearby coastal paths make for brilliant walkies!

The hotel doesn’t have its own course, but golfers are still in for a treat. It’s surrounded by championship links, with Western Gailes, Gailes Links and Dundonald Links on the doorstep. Royal Troon, Turnberry and Prestwick, the birthplace of The Open, are close by too. Back at the hotel, there’s a floodlit Toptracer driving range, a putting and chipping area and resident PGA professionals for lessons.