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TRULY CHARMING COUNTRY HOUSE IN VAST ESTATE ▼

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► Estate setting in wide open Aberdeenshire countryside
► Art-filled public rooms with open fires delight
► Whisky Bar a treasure-trove indeed

Introduction
Aberdeenshire

We mell and mate
and syne we’re still
as the brou of a hill
that kens the leisor
of time’s ain meisor

from Quiet Passage by Robert Garioch

Pittodrie Estate extends surounds this historic house and sweeps up to the top of Bennachie, a range of hills reaching 1,733 feet. The best known, Mither Tap, has a vitrified fort at its summit and nearby is the Pictish monument, the Maiden Stone. There’s farmland and farms, forests and plenty country sports in this area known as The Garioch. Buchan Corporate Activities can arrange all the corporate and outdoor pursuits. Pittodrie House, a hotel for only two decades of its long timeline of adventure and change, feels timeless. Aberdeen, the ‘oil capital of Europe’, feels more distant than its drive of about 30 minutes. Inverurie, handsome and well-maintained, is about 10 miles away. The local village – a sleepy, atmospheric little place where time feels to have stood still – is Chapel of Garioch. They’ll be impressed if you pronounce it as it should be, ghie-rhie. With its new motto of Aberdeen: City and Shire this area is booming. Follow the whisky or castle trails for heritage galore.

A wee bit of history

The house has been built, restored, burned down, re-restored, singed again, and what not – typical in Scotland, and more often to do with marauding rivals than falling candles. The Marquis of Montrose set Pittodrie alight during the bloody Covenanting period. There’s a legend involving a ghost, a servant girl, flame-haired, who apparently casts herself annually down the stone staircase. There's much history and it all goes back over five hundred years to 1480, and more in fact as there was a castle before even then. The house we see now dates from 1675 in part, and 1850. The new West Wing was added to the rear in 1989 and gave 16 more bedrooms and the very attractive Ballroom set-up. Operated by Macdonald Hotels, ownership is shared with Theo Smith, a gentlemanly host. This is his home and he pays concerned attention to his guests. Theo’s family acquired Pittodrie in 1896 and his grandparents feature in the Drawing Room where their portraits hang.

Step inside...

The divine scent of woodsmoke from open log fires scents the air. Set in the foursquare tower heavy old doors open to reveal an octagonal Reception Hall. Busts mark each alcove. To the left, the Drawing Room: with parquet floor and big oil paintings, this high-ceilinged room with tall windows looking out to monkey puzzle trees and topiary has a grand, open fireplace. Deep matt red with squishy sofas, leather armchairs it features many an antique detail. The grand piano has the day’s papers laid out. Embellished metal standard lamps illuminate. Who’s the little boy in the evocative picture by the fire? Let’s throw another log on the fire while we ponder. The main Hall has a large, framed silver tapestry and other antiques. The Dining Room is to the left, while labyrinthine routes to the bedrooms start with the fine staircase here. By the stairs an art-lined passage leads to the superb Billiard Room with its enormous trophies, where whisky tastings can take place. Beyond, the Whisky Bar where no less than 190 Scotch malts nestle on rustic shelves in the pitch pine panelled room; another fire crackles here where light meals are served. We mentioned art at the start – and it is a major part of the real allure of the house. The Dining Room is a beauty and has in it hung remarkable paintings including one of wild boars fleeing through snow, and an enormous equestrian oil facing the log fire. Yes indeed, the public rooms at Pittodrie are charming.

Note: Theo has a long-established arrangement with Sir Thomas Lethbridge's retail collection (as also at Gleneagles) and as a result the house is richly provided with deeply enjoyable artworks, many of which can be acquired for a modest fee. These range from framed country prints and engravings through an array of humorous and witty illustrations guaranteed to generate a grin.

Bedrooms

There are varied room types including some quirky old house ones like The Day Nursery with its twin beds, glass cabinet of old toys, and shower / bathroom with bidet. Essentially the rooms at Pittodrie are either in the original house or the modern West Wing where four-poster bedded Executive Feature rooms are best. All have satellite TV, hospitality tray, shortbread, ice and fresh milk available free, toiletries; in the top rooms there’s a decanter of whisky. Wi-fi internet access is available in many rooms but not all. Tips: Rooms 3 and 11 boast round turret bathrooms with stunning showers and freestanding baths; room 3 has perhaps the better colour scheme but the views from 11 appeal to us. Also in the West Wing is 12, a lovely Standard Double Executive Room with smart bathroom; 13 which can be twin or double, an Executive Room with more space and views on two sides. Rooms 9 and 10 have wonderful views to Bennachie; we stayed in 10 and liked the extra space. Theo’s favourites are in the old house, the East and the South Rooms. Both are filled with antique furnishings. East is right at the front and faces the lawns, and it has a canopied half-tester bed. Erskine is a gracious old room with a four-poster bed and a small nursery off the main room; it also has a separate – and quite unique – Victorian bathroom with original tall, canopied spray shower and plunge features: fully working! Overall, there is comfort and charm, even if a few corporatey Macdonald brand touches and items of furnishing would have been better avoided. If you are coming with lots of luggage, do mention that you’ll need a porter for it can be a long haul.

Food

The Dining Room with its fire and genuinely stunning oil paintings, and the Orangery with its glass ceiling, are venues for dining. Pre-dinner drinks in the Drawing Room, with canapés, and Theo usually on hand to take the food and wine order. The wine list is good and has both interest and value. Dinner offers a choice of about 5 at each course and includes a soup / sorbet intermediate. We faced the fire and thought, really, what a splendid place in which to dine. Having had a local Glendronach malt our appetites were sharpened. Warm Confit of Duck Leg with Plum Chutney and Star Anise Essence was a suitably flavoursome and generous way to begin. Also on offer: salmon, melon, haggis, or salad. For the intermediate we went for Mushroom Soup scented with Nutmeg. For mains the hotel was offering beef, lamb, salmon, chicken and pasta and the Braised Shank of Highland Lamb with Pea and Mint Puréed Potatoes, with separate vegetables including delicious crispy-fried cauliflower (yes, we’re Scottish), was a generous dish even if the lamb could have been cooked a shade longer. Pudding, hot and cold, brought up the rear. Nice cooking and the privileged yet relaxed setting adds up to a successful evening. Although lovely in summer on long northern nights, Pittodrie is perhaps at its best when there’s a chill in the air and the fires delight and the warmth and colour of the house express a warm welcome. Jess, a lovely local lady from a farming family who has been serving guests here for over 25 years, brought coffee and petits fours to us in the drawing room after dinner.

Breakfast

Breakfast here is good. Macdonald have worked away at raising the standard of their break-of-day meal and it shows. An attractive buffet offers fresh fruit, cereals, pastries, four juices, honey and preserves. To the table is brought the hot fare such as porridge, haddock and poached egg, kipper or full traditional grill. Tables are all attractively set and the room a delight. On busy weekends the service can be a little slower but that is only to be expected. Relax. Not many places offer breakfast in a room with the feel of a gallery – and an open fire.

Leisure

All manner of country sports and modern pursuits such as 4x4 offroad driving are available. Just ask the hotel. Archaeolink nearby is highly recommended and may well lead you off in some fascination directions. There are distilleries, castles and country villages. Aberdeen is a fine city and worth exploring; its theatre is a gem. Try Haddo House and don't miss Fyvie Castle. Or just stroll in the grounds where the Walled Garden is a peaceful oasis.

Receptions and events

Pittodrie has a superb Ballroom facility complete with separate lounge bar (with log fire, of course) and dedicated entrance. Refurbished beautifully in 2005 this atmospheric setting is ideal for business or corporate events. It is just like having an event in a castle... it has that feel to it.

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Links
Here are some useful local websites

Archaeolink

Haddo House

Craigievar Castle

Castle Trail

Glendronach

Aberdeen Tourism site

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Reviewer's View
Here's a personal view from the hotel's most recent reviewer

Gary McLean says…
“I've known Pittodrie over the years and from first visit really rather fell for its easy-going and slightly bashed elegance. These days it is looking very smart indeed and the public rooms are amongst the most enjoyable of any Scottish country hotel. The old house bedrooms are elegant and, if you follow our tips above, you'll find the right room for you. With log fires aglow in 3 public rooms it's a hotel to enjoy and not just use for a sleepover. The dining room is a joy to the eye. Oh - the verse by Robert Garioch, at the top. Well, I admit it's included on the flimsiest of excuses – his shared local name. He was of course a writer or makkar contemporary with Sorley Maclean and Sidney Goodsir Smith. But as he wrote in Lallans his lines ring true, to me, with the feel of Bennachie and The Garioch.”

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REVIEW STATUS & MERIT AWARDS This establishment has now been fully reviewed by the Guide and any HotelReviewScotland.com™ Merit Awards will show above, beneath the address details. We also list the latest ratings and gradings for this business from other guides and organisations. One or more of our experienced reviewer team has stayed at this establishment, spent time with the management, and the Guide is receiving reader and industry input from one or all of: online Reader’s Reviews; Comment Postcards; and Voting in The Scottish Hotels of the Year Awards. All entries are carefully monitored. The lead star grading has been awarded by the Scottish Tourist Board / VisitScotland. As the hotel is a Full Member of HotelReview™ Scotland the Look & Book Box™ links are LIVE.

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