SUBSCRIBE & SAVE Less than $3 per week View Profile The Explainer Talking Points The Week Recommends Newsletters From the Magazine The Week Junior Food & Drink Personal Finance All Categories Newsletter sign up Culture & Life the week recommends Escape to the Scottish countryside at Dunkeld House Hotel Roam, revive and relax at this luxury hotel in a wooded riverside Perthshire estate Newsletter sign up Picture-perfect setting: Dunkeld House Hotel sits in 280 acres of woodland (Image credit: Dunkeld House Hotel) Catherine Garcia, The Week US 29 April 2025 The staff at Dunkeld House Hotel in Scotland know how to greet guests well: with a dram of whisky and a smile. And it's a welcome I thoroughly appreciated, after taking planes, trains and automobiles (oh, and a tram) to get to this gorgeous country house hotel, just outside the picturesque Perthshire town of Dunkeld. Dunkeld House Hotel, on the banks of the river Tay and once home to the Dukes of Atholl, makes an impression even before you step foot in the lobby: the entrance is at the end of a long driveway, and anticipation builds as you wind your way past massive lawns and thick wooded areas. Subscribe to The Week Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives. SUBSCRIBE & SAVE Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox. From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox. Once inside, the hotel feels more like a (huge) private house, filled with cosy nooks where you can curl up with a book or have a quiet conversation with friends. Stained glass windows add a colourful touch to the wood-panelled reception area, and the adjacent sitting room is charming, with dark toile wallpaper, leather seating, an antler chandelier and a fireplace just waiting for a roaring blaze. Why stay here? The Duchess Suite at Dunkeld House Hotel, Perthshire (Image credit: Dunkeld House Hotel) The hotel's 100 rooms and suites are bright and airy, putting a modern spin on the traditional look in the reception and sitting areas, with patterned headboards and large illuminated bathroom mirrors. Some rooms have special touches, too, like the brass bell above the boat-shaped bed in the Bothy Suite, the stunning balcony view from the Duchess Suite (pictured above) or the in-room, window-side, freestanding rolltop bath in the Birnam Suite. I stayed upstairs in a spacious Superior Room, with a double bed and seating area. After dropping my bags, I curled up in one of the chairs and opened the windows, letting in the cool, fresh air. This turned out to be a wonderful people-watching spot: I spent several minutes watching guests arrive for a wedding, dressed to the nines in their finest kilts and gowns. Who needs to turn on the TV when there's a fashion show taking place down below? Roomy, marble-clad bathrooms, with locally made toiletries (Image credit: Dunkeld House Hotel) There is a delicate balance when it comes to filling a hotel room with amenities: you need the right amount of necessities and fun extras to make guests happy but not overwhelmed. Dunkeld House Hotel does a fine job, with essentials like hair dryers and bottled water offered alongside Nespresso machines, comfy robes and slippers, and swanky toiletries. The locally made shower gel and shampoo were especially lovely, filling my roomy, tiled bathroom with a gorgeous fresh scent. Things to do The pool and hot tub at the hotel's spa (Image credit: Dunkeld House Hotel) Exploring the property is a must but carve out plenty of time: Dunkeld House Hotel sits on 280 acres of woodland, so there is a lot of ground to cover. As soon as I was settled into my room, I made a beeline for the path along the river Tay and started strolling, soaking it all in. The sun filtered through the trees, and all I could hear was the rushing water and chirping birds. It was so peaceful, and I could imagine how this scene changed with the seasons: always beautiful, but in a different way. Nature is inescapable here, and the hotel offers guests several outdoor activities, including clay pigeon shooting, salmon fishing, quad biking, archery and a Land Rover offroad driving experience. Those who prefer some indoor pampering can book a spa treatment, many of which use seaweed-based products from the Scottish organic skincare range, ishga. Popular choices include the Hot Stone Massage and the Luxury Seaweed Bath. There is also a steam room, a sauna, a heated indoor pool (pictured above) and a hot tub. Eating and drinking Time for tea: the Orangery, overlooking the river Tay (Image credit: Dunkeld House Hotel) There is a lift to whisk you to and from the ground floor but I recommend taking the grand staircase instead. Gliding down from your room is more fun and really makes it feel as though you are making an entrance, even if it is just for breakfast. That's how I arrived every morning, refreshed from a good night's sleep and ready for some tea and a Scottish breakfast. The breakfast buffet, in The Stag brasserie, offers all kinds of eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, cereals, pastries, yoghurt and fruit. Everything is piping hot and tasty. There are also baskets of packaged snacks available, if you want to grab something for the road. For lunch and dinner in The Stag, and snacks at the Hotel Bar, the chefs create seasonal menu choices from Perthshire produce. Fruit, vegetables, salmon, scallops, venison and beef are locally sourced and, yes, haggis is also an option – in the form of bonbons. Discovering Perthshire, a Scottish wonderland Scottish hospitality shines at these 7 hotels Edinburgh, Scotland: where history ambles alongside the present Afternoon tea in the Orangery (pictured above), a conservatory-like space filled with floral upholstery, potted plants, skylights, and windows out onto the lawn and river beyond, was a particular highlight. Small sandwiches, scones and an assortment of delicious sweet treats are presented on lovely serving plates and trays, along with the loose-leaf tea of your choice. This was a decadent meal, and I was happy to box up the leftovers to enjoy later in my room. The verdict Wildlife aplenty – both real and in bronze (Image credit: Dunkeld House Hotel) This was my first trip to the Scottish countryside (and Scotland in general), and Dunkeld House Hotel made it an experience to remember. Credit goes to the friendly staff, who went out of their way to answer questions, make suggestions and offer a smile when passing by in the halls. It's easy to become so enthralled by the gorgeous scenery and comfortable accommodation that you forget the outside world exists. It's the perfect place for truly getting away from it all. Catherine Garcia was a guest of Dunkeld House Hotel and Visit Scotland Explore More United Kingdom Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Catherine Garcia, The Week US Social Links Navigation Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Liverpool's Anfield redemption: how did they do it? Talking Point Arne Slot's blueprint and standout player performances guide the Reds to record 20th league title ByRebekah Evans, The Week UK Codeword: April 29, 2025 The Week's daily codeword puzzle ByThe Week Staff Crossword: April 29, 2025 The Week's daily crossword ByThe Week Staff You might also like 7 essentials to pack for your perfect sun-kissed beach day The Week Recommends Leakproof coolers and comfy chairs are a must ByCatherine Garcia, The Week US 5 films as rip-roaringly good as the books they are based on The Week Recommends These movies stack up well against the source material ByTheara Coleman, The Week US Fonab Castle: a regal stay in the Scottish Highlands The Week Recommends Prepare for the royal treatment in Pitlochry ByCatherine Garcia, The Week US Desert wellness in Scottsdale: the best of Arizona's Old West The Week Recommends Boost body, mind and soul in this hub of healthy living ByKari Wilkin, The Week UK 5 'slow TV' shows for overstimulated kids The Week Recommends In an era of fast-paced content and short attention spans, the slow TV movement can be a boon to parents ByTheara Coleman, The Week US How to travel with your dog The Week Recommends These tips will help both of you have a great time ByCatherine Garcia, The Week US Horse around across the globe with these liberating horse-centric activities The Week Recommends These graceful animals make any experience better ByCatherine Garcia, The Week US 7 tranquil hotels worth the (sometimes extreme) trek The Week Recommends Find serenity off the beaten path ByCatherine Garcia, The Week US View More ▸ Contact Future's experts Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Advertise With Us The Week is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street