The Pineapple Hotel is a famous landmark located between Falkirk and Airth, in Scotland. The hotel’s surprising architectural design leaves no one indifferent, for part of the building is inside a giant stone pineapple.
The Hotel is located near the small town of Airth, famous for its eponymous castle. If one looks at the hotel building from faraway one will be astounded to see a large, 15 metre high statue of a stone pineapple. If one approaches for a closer look, they will realize that the pineapple is only one part of the hotel, since the two wings of the main building sprout from either side of the pineapple. The main building has a classical Palladian design. The hotel dates from the XVIII Century and its curious design is due to the fact that during those times, pineapples were considered to be a truly rare delicatessen and stood as a symbol of power and hospitality. The giant pineapple also symbolizes horticulture, since when it was first built, the owners of the mansion were trying to grow pineapples in the cold Scottish soil.
The “most bizarre building in Scotland”, as the hotel is known, is located on the territory of the large Dunmore Park, although it is separated from the park by a large iron wrought gate. After one crosses the gate and walks down the winding path towards the mansion, they will be surprised to acknowledge that the large stone pineapple is really a house with windows, a door and a curious façade. The pineapple, intricately carved from stone, is located in the middle of both wings, with trees standing in its shadow.
The hotel or summerhouse is inside the pineapple itself and has plenty of natural light. The summerhouse also has its own patio with hammocks for sunbathing, as well as a table with chairs where guests will be able to enjoy their meals. The patio has impressive views towards the park.
The pineapple can be rented as a summerhouse. The main entrance is in the middle of the pineapple, although the rooms spread out in the wings from either side of the pineapple. In one of the wings guests will find two bedrooms and a bathroom, while the other side houses the kitchen and the living room. One of the guest rooms has a double bed, while the other bedroom has two twin beds. All rooms are furnished with with exquisitely hand carved wooden furniture, while the walls are full of decorative paintings representing classical hunting scenes. The pineapple has four chimneys which are disguised as ancient stone vases. The spacious living room has a large chimney with many chopped wooden logs which can be lit during the colder evenings.
The hotel does not have its own restaurant, but guests will be able to use the well equipped kitchen in order to cook their meals. There is no television at this hotel, and this is the reason why it is so popular amongst those travellers who want to relax and completely disconnect from the globalized outside world.
The hotel is located in the countryside and there are many forests and woods nearby. The hotel also has several acres of gardens as well as an orchard. Near the hotel stands the small Scottish village of Airth, which is only a mile away from the Kincardine Bridges. Airth is also well known for its castle and the ruins of the Elphinstone Tower. The pineapple hotel itself stands inside what used to be Dunmore Park, a magical place with the best views towards the Scottish moors. Nearby guests will also find the city of Stirling, famous not only for its castle, but also for its small shops, traditional pubs and many restaurants.
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