THE PERFECT SETTING

The Gleneagles Hotel is five-star luxury at its best, just outside Auchterarder in Perthshire. The minute you walk in the door you know you are in a special place. The Afternoon Tea is served in The Glendevon room, which has magnificent views across the hotel grounds and the Ochil Hills.

TIME FOR TEA

One for tea lovers, the menu has so many teas on offer - most of which I didn't know existed - but I am a bit of a traditionalist so I opted for The Glendevon Tea.

SAVOURY SUCCESS

The first tray to come out had red wine poached pear and blue murder cheese tarts with shaved brassica, salmon, capers and sour cream crisp bread, chestnut and apricot sausage rolls, Isle of Mull cheddar gougere and Haggis bon bons with whisky mayonnaise.

FINGER SANDWICHES

As if the above wasn't enough, we had turkey and cranberry sauce, duck egg mayonnaise and mustard cress and

smoked salmon and dill mayonnaise sandwiches.

SWEET TREATS

Firstly, we were served Dalwhinnie soaked apple & sultana and treacle scones with preserves and clotted cream. Also on offer was

chocolate, cinnamon and clementine gateaux, cranberry, white chocolate and lime leaf choux, chestnut and yuzu cake with whisky and vanilla, and if that was not enough mince pies, stollen and whisky fruitcake.

BOXING CLEVER

If you can’t finish all the desserts, and we didn't, the staff will package them in gift boxes to take away with you.

ABOUT THE AREA

Gleneagles is famous for its golf and has three championship golf courses, but it also boasts an award-winning spa, and has the only restaurant, the Andrew Fairlie, in Scotland to hold two Michelin stars. The hotel also offers endless events to keep you occupied, but if you want to venture out you can visit the Tullibardine Distillery, which is just over two miles away and Drummond Gardens is only six miles away.

The festive afternoon tea costs from £40 per person, and £45 from January. Visit www.gleneagles.com