Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 12 on 19/1/2004.

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Splendour at Pitlochry

Hotels don't get much more grand than Atholl Palace in Pitlochry, says Brigid James

Pitlochry’s Atholl Palace Hotel rises in Scottish baronial splendour from its 48-acre grounds of woodland and parkland.

Situated under one hour’s drive north of Perth on the south side of the Highlands, the hotel’s setting, both within its own grounds and in the swelling mountainous landscape, is spectacular, and it provides an ideal base for discovering the great history and landscape of the west Highlands.

At around 200 years old, the Atholl Palace is an imposing yet attractive building, rising high above the sweeping driveway. Inside, all bedrooms are smart and comfortable, having been recently refurbished.

On entering the hotel, the lobby provides an atmosphere of elegant yet cosy charm, with open fires roaring during the colder months and a predominant theme of dark, rich reds coupled with bronze and gold.

Straight ahead through the lobby is the dining room, one of the loveliest rooms in the hotel. The far wall is comprised of huge windows, revealing a stunning panorama of woodland with the River Tummel winding below – a view so beautiful that it might even distract you from the excellent cuisine on offer.

In the hotel restaurant, you will find great service and a menu that makes the most of local and typically Scottish delights such as Aberdeen Angus beef, smoked salmon, haddock, and, of course, haggis, with truly delicious results.

Vegetarians also have a reasonable choice. Desserts, again, come highly recommended, and tend towards the more traditional, but are c.....

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By Brigid James

Section : Best of Scotland

Page number : 64