Our boss hit the big 50 and we whisked her away on a fab hotel stay to celebrate

IT’S not every day you hit the half century and turn 50.

When we heard our boss Carol was about to do just that, my colleague Nicola and I hatched a plan to whisk her off for a night of luxury and more importantly, fun.

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After an extensive search, we decided on the bright lights of Alloa.
Yes, really!

We packed overnight bags, obligatory GHDs, and within 40 minutes were winding our way up the drive to Inglewood House Hotel and Spa.

Set in 25 acres, this stunning Jacobean mansion house has been transformed into a lavish hotel and spa, a short drive from historic Stirling.

Completed in 1901, Inglewood House is bursting with character and unique architectural features — it is clear no expense was spared on what must once have been one of the finest private homes in Scotland.

We were welcomed at reception by the friendly staff and shown to our room for the night, the Alloway Suite. This was a big event, after all, so deserved the extravagance.

The room had a spacious bedroom area perfect for the three of us, walk-in wardrobe with original fittings and was complete with a lounge area including sofa and LCD TV. Perfect for those Instagram ‘Big 50’ pics.

We slipped into the complimentary bathrobes and slippers and popped the fizz — all very Sex and the City.

The hotel has also recently added some fantastic woodland lodges and pods perfect for family getaways, hen parties and group trips. Each beautifully appointed with its own charm and character, and complete with all modern facilities.

Relaxed and revived, it was time for dinner at Forrester’s restaurant which offers a stylish Scots menu taking seasonal inspiration from local produce.

To begin, Nicola and I enjoyed some delicious smoked salmon while Carol ordered the Indian chicken strips. There wasn’t much birthday chat going on while we devoured these yummy starters.

For our main course, Nicola — never the cheap date — went for the steak. She gave it the big thumbs up while stuffing her face. The birthday girl stuck with the Asian theme and opted for Thai red curry — one of the best she’s had, apparently, and it was pan roasted chicken for me.

All exquisite.

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The service was exceptional and every dish was presented beautifully to the table in no time at all. A ten out of ten from us all.

There’s also a brilliant selection of wines to choose from, with prices starting at under £20 for the very reasonable Inglewood house vino.

After dinner we headed to the lounge bar. With a huge range of Scots Gin to choose from it would have been rude not too.

In the morning, after a luxurious night’s sleep and being the wonderful colleagues we are, we had booked Carol a birthday treat in the spa.

A shoulder and back massage. The luxurious boutique spa and leisure club is the perfect place to let your cares dissolve away.

With Carol relaxed following her pampering it was time for more food. The hotel offers a traditional Scots breakfast or you can order something a bit more health conscious from the extensive menu.

Sadly, it was soon time to check out. While our stay was short, it was most definitely sweet.

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With time to explore the local area, we discovered there’s mountain biking nearby, a ski centre in Tillicoultry and Go Ape in Aberfolye for the more adventurous

But when you’ve hit the big 5-0, something more sedate is required.

So we headed for Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument and then a gentle walking trail around the Ochil Hills, as we definitely needed to walk off all those calories.

As we headed back to reality we vowed to return when the next one hits her half century — we’re just not revealing who that is!

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