Intro

Perth, with its magnificent new Concert Hall at Horsecross, is at the heart of Scotland geographically. The river Tay wends its way through town and all around are the attractions of Perthshire: hills and mountains, lochs and glens, castles and visitor attractions. Perth, Scotland after which Perth, Australia is of course named, is an easy hour from Edinburgh and almost as simple to get to from Glasgow. It’s on the way north on the A9 so is a sensible stopping-off point on the way into the Highlands or Inverness.

Perth markets itself as the ‘perfect centre’. The town centre itself is compact and offers good shopping in a 'Scotland in Bloom' award-winning environment but isn’t full of rich pickings hotel-wise, with this Guide only recommending two other city hotels (Parklands Hotel and the Express by Holiday Inn). Indeed, there are some we really wouldn’t advise at all... including one with a reasonable tourist board rating we stayed in recently which was awful.

But on the western edge of the well-off city, handy for the ring road or routes to the north, you’ll find Huntingtower – best known today for its hotel, no doubt, but also for the beautifully-maintained, mediaeval Huntingtower Castle (this links to the delightful Marie Stuart Society website!) - a place with a colourful past. Two families, the Ruthvens and the Murrays, made it their home and it also played host twice to Mary Queen of Scots and also to her son James VI, who became James I of Great Britain.

Huntingtower Hotel sits in 6 acres of grounds and has an attractive, wooded setting featuring a small river and bridge – and a resident group of characterful ducks. It’s a pretty setting for a hotel with an undeniably handsome appearance. Arriving at night you’ll find the buildings attractively lit and welcoming.

The hotel

Owned by the 6-strong, Scottish Portland Hotels company, the hotel has the atmosphere of a period Edwardian structure with its rather English-looking half-timbered façade and dark wood gabling.

The Conservatory Restaurant sits to one side of the main house, a bright and airy place usually open 7 days a week and serving light and full meals; a nice place for a spot of Sunday lunch, adding an al fresco feel to dining. Light lunches can in fact be served on the lawns outside, during the summer... tables and chairs with sturdy green umbrellas sit out awaiting. Just mind the ducks don't pinch your sandwiches.

Stepping inside, the hotel has a strong country feel, the décor featuring fine Scottish staples such as tartan and panelling, hunting, shooting and fishing paraphernalia. Nice and comfortable… and often pretty busy: the hotel is popular and attracts a real mix of folk – country types, business people, reception guests, weekend breakers.

The various public areas around the Hall and Reception have good seating including traditional Chesterfield furniture. There are ample corners and spaces in which to catch up on a selection of newspapers over a coffee or a drink, perhaps.

Beyond, the relaxing, tartan-carpeted Cocktail Bar offers tub seating at tables and comfy sofas in the windows. A decent selection of malt whiskies adds to the appeal. The Oak Room restaurant is off to one side - more about it below - while there's the aforementioned Conservatory option, too, for dining.

The hotel is well-known for its suitability to host events: meetings and conferences can be held in one of the 5 Meeting Rooms or the main Huntingtower Suite, which is also a great favourite for Perth weddings. These facilities are also on the ground level. The hotel can be busy at times with wedding guests and there's a display stand promoting the business of nuptials right as you step in the door. But brides are fussy, and there's good reason for the hotel's popularity.

Bedrooms

An imposing oak staircase dominates the hall area leading up to the refurbished bedrooms of the 34-roomed hotel, including the coveted Honeymoon Suite. Tip: the best rooms are the redesigned ones overlooking the landscaped gardens.

Overall, the hotel offers 16 Executive Bedrooms, 3 Cottage Suites (ideal for dog owners) and 15 Classic Bedrooms Rooms. Only one room does not have a bath and shower. There's a single Family Room although the Executives all have fold-down sofabeds so can sleep a child.

The Honeymoon Suite, while bigger, is very similar in style to all the refurbed rooms. We were impressed with these revivified rooms: an appealing combination of contemporary interior design with the traditional, for example combining leather furnishings with really lovely tweed plaid curtains and cushions, modern lamps and dark wood furnishings. Ensuite bathrooms are excellent: enjoy a power shower or soak in a freestanding bath.

There is a distinct difference between the older fashioned rooms and the new-look ones. Non refurbed ones are quite adequate but the newer ones are very nice indeed. There is no air con so in hot weather you might want to pre-arrange a fan.

Dining

The Oak Room is the very attractive dining room. It's formal but not formidable. The walls are entirely oak panelled and the windows nicely dressed with heavy, opulent tartan trimmed curtains. It's all very Scottish and the pictures just add to the plush, trad feel.

Head chef Bill McNicoll, formerly of red-starred Kinloch House, is experienced and well-known in Perthshire. His set dinner menu is £27.50 for 3 courses and allows some flexibility to mix and match.

When we dined for 2007 we found the food good on all counts, in particular a smoked haddock dish which was superb. The menu is traditional, offering a good choice of local meat and game - not massively adventurous but done to a very high standard. We know chef and from our reviewers' experiences and feedback are happy to award a GoldPlate™ this year.

The wine list - extensive and impressive - is selected by Hamish Martin of well-rated Inverarity Vaults and Malcolm Ogilvy of Forth Wines. Particularly impressive are the explanatory notes which are conversational in tone. In a world of wine snobs it's refreshing to find an enthusiastic list that is informative without being patronising. It's worth browsing simply to enjoy comments such as that a Riesling has sadly 'fallen victim to a world of fashionable drinking'. Wines of all shades start at £13.95.

Leisure

The hotel does not have a gym but Perth is on the doorstep quite literally and is well set up with leisure centres, pools, a famous curling rink, golf courses and more country sports than you could shake a shooting stick seat at.

Links

We hope that you find these links helpful:

PerfectPerth.com

Perth Swimming Pool

Dewar's Centre

Perthshire

Receptions / Events

The hotel offers a very successful wedding or conference room, the Huntingtower Suite, which can seat up to 200 theatre style or 150 for dinner. There's a wedding / event planner on site. There are 5 meeting rooms of various sizes, each named after ducks or game birds.

The Reviewer's View Gary McLean, also Clement Wilson

"Huntingtower Hotel's location is very appealing and helps make the hotel very popular for events. Easy parking, decent function rooms and a hotel with really very attractive public rooms - lots of rich panelling, comfy sofas and tartan drapes - makes for a good package. The restyled bedrooms are very handsome. With a steady, respected head chef in the kitchen the food is good, too. In the summer, sit outside and relax."

Awards / Look & Book Box™ status This hotel has not yet been reviewed by the Guide and any HotelReview™ awards will only be published after a full Review Visit by an Accredited Guide Reviewer. Any star grading has been awarded by the Scottish Tourist Board. As the hotel is a Member of HotelReview™ | Scotland the Look & Book Box™ features are ONLINE.

Your opinion? There’s a link to a Reader’s Review form at the top and left side of this page. It only takes a moment to send the Guide your views via the small panel that will pop-up. You can be as brief or as fulsome as you wish! Your views go to the Editor, who will acknowledge your response within a few days. He may edit feedback. Reports do not go directly online. You can be named or remain anonymous. At Scotland’s most-read hotel guide we greatly value the tremendous feedback we have from our readers. Thanks!

Disability Information: To be published with Review.

Ghàidhlig: Bidh Ghàidhlig ri fhaighinn an seo a dh’aithghearr! Tapa leibh.

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