Situated in the heart of Scotland, Perthshire is the near-perfect destination that offers a little bit of everything! There are rolling hills; rugged heather-clad mountains; mysterious lochs; salmon-full rivers; Iron Age settlements; the remains of Roman encampments; and some rather grand castles and great houses. The region offers golf courses, waterways you can fish, and a myriad of opportunities for walking, cycling, watersports and all sorts of other adventures. Perthshire’s varied appeals means our recommendations for the best places to stay in Perthshire are a very varied lot too, with a number of manors turned country house hotels, golf resorts, pubs-with-rooms, updated inns, and cosy B&Bs. There really is a property for any taste or budget!

Perthshire edges up into the Highlands (indeed it's known as the gateway to the Highlands), incorporating the southern edge of the Grampian Mountains and the Cairngorms National Park, gorgeous Loch Tay and the Tummel Valley — there’s striking scenery throughout the area. This is where you can find excellent walking, climbing and hiking opportunities.

Many visitors also come here to visit the many distilleries. To help you see them all there’s a route called The Whisky Trail, which winds through conservation villages in the south towards the Cairngorm National Park in the north, tasting all the way.

If you’re looking for the best places to stay in Perthshire for families don’t overlook Perthshire’s many pubs-with-rooms. These are often friendly, cosy settings, with family-friendly atmospheres and great access to highlights like Scone Palace, the Scottish Crannog Centre, Blair Castle, Drummond Castle, and Dunsinane Hill, made famous by Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

The Best Places to Stay in Perthshire

For a Special Occasion

• World famous Gleneagles Hotel is a beautiful old grand dame resort hotel in a stunning Perthshire setting, surrounded by championship golf courses. It may be luxurious but it is also perfect for a family holiday offering the opportunity to try falconry; take a riding lesson; go clay pigeon shooting; play tennis or go fishing, swimming or cycling; or use the pitch and putt course. There’s also a range of dining options and an expansive spa.

For the Views

• Built in the 1800s, The Inn at Loch Tummel is a stylish pub with rooms with stunning views of the loch. The decor is cosy, and rustic with charming original details throughout. The food and drink are excellent too. Ideal for walkers, or for anyone craving a sense of space.

For a Countryside Escape

• With its hip, vegan restaurant and yoga yurt, Saorsa 1875 feels like a rather contemporary take on a country house hotel stay. Is 11 rooms and suites are individually decorated, leaving room for some sultry, grown-up designs, as well as some classic country chic. The location, in Pitlochry, invites an outdoorsy crowd, but it's also a good bet for anyone looking for an opportunity to unwind.
• The Steading is a tranquil, three-room B&B hideaway in unspoiled woodlands outside Aberfeldy. This is a wonderfully minimalist structure, inside and out, with exposed stone and wood cladding, white walls, velux windows and a cosy fireplace in the sitting room. All of the rooms enjoy lots of natural light, and have large, contemporary bathrooms. Ideal for walkers and romantics.
• Kinloch House Hotel is a stately home turned family-run country house hotel, just outside Blairgowrie, with lovely sweeping views and acres of its own land. The creeper-clad mansion is decorated in traditional style, with eighteen rooms and suites, and several grand-yet-cosy living rooms. The fine dining restaurant offers daily changing menus with dishes created from the best local products.

For Families

• The Meikleour Arms is a pub-with-rooms and cottages just a short walk from the River Tay in Meikleour. The cottages in particular make an excellent base for a family escape — and they’re conveniently close to the hospitality of the pub and its restaurant. This traditional Highland pub has been given a sophisticated makeover, and now features imaginative lighting and coir matting, as well as period art and antiques and perfectly chosen Farrow & Ball colours. There are 11 bedrooms inside, and five cottages in the village and on the estate. The cottages all have self-catering facilities, but guests are welcome to try the impressive full Scottish breakfast, and the AA Rosette award-winning cuisine in the restaurant.

For Walkers

• Cuil an Duin is a three room B&B (plus two self catering cottages) converted from a really charming, period house set in sprawling, mature gardens not far from Pitlochry. This is an excellent pick for walkers, but also for fisherfolk. We like the elegant, traditional decor, and welcoming communal spaces, which include a lounge with a grand piano.

For a Highland Escape

• Fortingall Hotel is an Arts and Crafts country house turned ten bedroom hotel, surrounded by the landscape of Scotland’s longest glen. The warmly furnished guest bedrooms are upstairs — we recommend the Superior Rooms, because they have the best views. And downstairs there’s a restaurant, which serves up exceptionally well prepared local fare, and a cosy sitting room filled with interesting books and antiques.
• Mhor 84 is a chic pick in the heart of spectacular Rob Roy country, within the Trossachs National Park. Its 14 rooms and suites are decorated in an eclectic and funky way, with contemporary art, design furniture, and cool retro and vintage finds. The restaurant serves the best local produce. Three of the rooms are dog friendly.
• Knockendarroch is a luxurious hotel in a beautiful spot in Pitlochry. Its 12 rooms are all uniquely decorated, with good solid taste, and just the right amount of tartan. The restaurant is known for its gourmet offerings made from the finest local produce.

For Romantics

• The Old Manse of Blair is a characterful, 23 room hotel converted from a country house near Blair Castle. The rooms are individually decorated with contemporary flair that incorporates bold colours and contemporary art, statement wallpaper and huge mirrors. The contemporary Scottish restaurant is an award-winner, and you’re just down the road from the Harrods-of-the-North, the House of Bruar.

For Sports

• Ballathie House Hotel is a country house hotel, in a stunning setting on the banks of the Tay River. Beyond the turrets, large windows, and 41 traditional bedrooms, is the salmon and brown trout fishing, and the world-renowned game shooting, that make this a popular spot for sportsmen and women. The restaurant is also an award-winner, and the views are really something. Convenient for the golfers too.

Best B&Bs

• Craigatin House is a chic B&B on the outskirts of Pitlochry: an historic stone house, with a contemporary wing, set in two acres of woodland. The property now has 13 guest rooms — including some in the stable courtyard. All of the rooms are stylishly decorated, but number 11 is the grandest, with huge windows and a wood-burning stove. The breakfast is impressive. Ideal for explorers of all kinds.
• Brae House is a peaceful B&B in an elevated position overlooking the River Tay in Aberfeldy. There are just three rooms, all decorated with comfortable, homely simplicity. There's a welcoming sitting room with lovely views over the water, and breakfast is a friendly, communal experience.

Prefer a Private Apartment or Cottage?

• If you'd prefer the privacy of a self-catering option then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

• Want to fly to Perthshire?

• There are quite a few airports you might consider when planning your trip to Perthshire:  Edinburgh International Airport and Glasgow Airport are probably the ones to check first. If you’re travelling from London by train you’ll probably leave from Kings Cross, and travel via Edinburgh. There's a daily direct train which stops in both Perth and Pitlochry.
• If you want to hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
• Perthshire’s many attractions span the seasons, but the most popular time to visit is summer. This is a great time to visit: you’ve got a chance of seeing some Highland Games events, and this is the busiest time of year for festivals and special events. If you’re not tied to school holiday travel, and especially if you’re a keen walker, spring and autumn are excellent too — spring for the sunshine and wildflowers, and autumn for the colourful foliage. Whenever you’re visiting Perthshire rain is possible, so it’s best to be prepared.

Still not sure where to stay?

• Refine your search to just the best places to stay in Pitlochry or Aberfeldy
• Expand your search to include the best places to stay in Scotland’s Highlands and Islands
• Or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.

Weather

Monthly Weather in Perthshire