DUNALASTAIR
Traditional Highland hotel in scenic Rob Roy country
BUILT IN THE LATE 1700s AS A COACHING INN by soldiers returning from the battle of Culloden, Dunalastair sits on the village square of a small Perthshire hamlet.
This is a solid Highland hostelry very much in tune with its surroundings. Chances are you’ll be greeted by a
crackling log fire or two as you walk inside – and you’ll be even warmer later after working your way through some of the 80 malts stocked in the hotel’s whisky bar.
Furnishings ooze
rustic charm and traditional Highland appeal. There’s plenty of wood panelling, tartans and antlers on the walls, not to mention imposing stained glass windows, a grand staircase and plenty of memorabilia. Contemporary comforts have been added without stripping away any of the building’s long-held character.
Don’t expect chic boutique here – old fashioned virtues prevail in Dunalastair's 28 bedrooms. You’ll find classic furniture and plenty of tweeds and tartans, while
corner baths, jacuzzis and roll-tops preside in bathrooms stocked with Arran Aromatics. Many rooms have four-posters.
Hit the spot
In the Highland hamlet of Kinloch Rannoch.
Bedtime
The Rob Roy room has been graced by none other than Liam Neeson. Follow in starry footprints.
Be savvy
Rooms at the back lack the fine views.
Be smitten
Tartans and tradition in Braveheart terrain.
A wee dram before bed
Box-office star Liam Neeson has bedded down here (you’ll see the costumes he and actress Jessica Lange wore in Rob Roy) and the Rob Roy room is something of a showpiece. Other come-hither bedrooms include Macbeth and Robert the Bruce, together with the Malt king-bedded spa rooms.
Dunalastair’s straightforward style infuses the cooking, too. There’s nothing flash or faddish about the dishes served up in the
baronial wood-panelled dining room, with its striking antler chandeliers. This is a place that has resisted jumping on the eponymous pesto-and-goat’s-cheese bandwagon in favour of good, honest cooking using the harvest on its Highland doorstep.
Have a wee dram before dinner (and maybe a nightcap later) but be sure to leave room for the
cheeses made by top Scottish cheesemonger Iain Mellis, which go down a treat with oatcakes. There’s a convivial little pub across the courtyard in a converted stone barn, where you could well get chatting with the locals or hear some live music later.
You’re right in the lap of scenic Scotland here:
tumbling burns, steep sided glens and the shores of Loch Rannoch are on your doorstep. Hospitable staff will go the extra mile, and it’s a great place to leave the hurly-burly behind and simply chill – or get toasty warm – with your significant other.
Outdoorsy types love it here, so expect to see plenty of boots, cycles and rucksacks. And if it’s an extra-special getaway,
Dunalastair’s Eden package has everything for today’s Adam and Eve – a tempting bottle of pink champagne, sinful choccies filled with guava, passion fruit and figs, and a wicked jacuzzi spa bath to be as naughty as you like.
Dunalastair was reviewed for Room for Romance by
Mark MacGee
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Dining in
Dunalastair’s Scottish baronial-style Schiehallion restaurant is suitably oak panelled and graced with hunting trophies. Chef Kevin Easingwood’s daily changing menus might include
seared king scallops or roast carrot soup to start, corn-fed chicken supreme served with rosti and a port wine jus, and
strawberry shortbread served with Chantilly cream. Leave room for the excellent Iain Mellis cheeses to round off.
Dining out
Pitlochry has some decent restaurants, and the House of Bruar is a good place for lunch out while you shop.
Where?
Schiehallion at Dunalastair
What’s cooking?
Roast rump of Scottish lamb, seared pigeon breast with Stornoway black pudding and iced caramel pot.
Dress the part
Take your Scottish country casuals
Top table?
Table six or seven next to the open fireplace
See & Do
There's an outdoor centre beind the hotel where you'll see plenty of booted-up hikers and hearty types planning on a day's white water rafting, pony trekking or mountain biking. You’re not far from Blair Castle, ancient seat of the dukes and earls of Atholl. Go and taste a wee dram at the Edradour distillery in Pitlochry – Scotland’s smallest – or hike up pointy Schiehallion mountain, overlooking the crystalline waters of Loch Rannoch.
Shop
Stock up with Scottish knitwear, hampers and outdoor clothing at the House of Bruar, ten miles north of Pitlochry on the A9, or head for the Victorian high street in Pitlochry itself.
After dark
Crack a yarn with the locals or enjoy some live music in Dunalastair’s rustic pub, in a converted stone barn across the courtyard.
Dates
August
Some of Britain’s top riders sprint into action at the Blair Castle Horse Trials.
September
Don your kilt and tartans at the Pitlochry Highland Gathering.
GETTING THERE
Location
The Square, Kinloch Rannoch, nr Pitlochry, Perthshire PH16 5PW
Parking
There is free guest parking
Trains
Rannoch station – 18 miles
Taxis
GBP 30 from the station (Rannoch or Pitlochry).
Airport
Edinburgh – 90 miles
Rooms and suites
28 rooms
Special features
Some rooms have four-posters and roll top or jacuzzi baths.
Also…
There’s an original Bothy pub in the old stable block, plus an outdoor activity centre.
ESSENTIAL INFO
Rates guide
GBP 115 - 230
Open/closed
Open all year
Check-in
3pm
Check-out
11am
Minimum night stay?
No
Breakfast
Full breakfast is served until 10am
Room service
No
Children
Welcome, but there are no special menus etc
Pets
Dogs welcome
Air conditioning
No
Languages
English, French and German
Wedding license?
Yes – based on exclusive hire of the property and for up to 65 guests.
Eco conscience
Dunalastair is a Green Hotel Bronze winner. The hotel also sponsors the village recycling centre.
Your contact
Peter Sim – manager