Have you ever wanted to stay in a hotel that looks like a castle? Well, this could be your chance. Atholl Palace Hotel in Pitlochry was originally built as a hotel, but because of its turrets, it looks like a castle – especially for travellers who bypass the castle on the road. The hotel has a wonderful location, as it's located on the slopes of Ben Vrackie: a mountain in Perthshire, Scotland. The highest point of this mountain is 841 metres.
So Atholl Palace Hotel is located in Pitlochry, which is within the county of Perthshire. And Perthshire is part of the Highlands: a mountainous region in the northwest of Scotland. In our opinion, the Highlands are the most beautiful part of Scotland. Why? Because nature there is very unspoilt and diverse. And this makes it unbeatable. If you like a rugged landscape with hills and mountains, then the Highlands is your place to go.
(Click here to skip to the room review)
FYI: The picture below is taken in Dalnaspidal, Pitlochry. It's a great example of wonderful nature!
Furthermore, in the Highlands, you’ll find many beautiful lochs and rugged coastlines with views over the North Sea. And if that’s not enough, let me say a few things more. The Highlands is also amazing for seeing mythical castles, exciting adventures, and rare wildlife. No matter what time of the year you’re planning to go, the scenery will always be epic.
You’re here to know if Atholl Palace Hotel in Pitlochry is worth staying at. Well, then you're in the perfect place. Let's get started and find out:
- How it’s like to be in the hotel
- How good are the restaurants and the rooms?
- Everything you can do on the inside
- Is Atholl Palace Hotel value for money?
About Atholl Palace Hotel
The hotel has a long history as it first opened its doors on 7 June 1878. And it didn't always function as a hotel. During the two world wars, it housed two schools which relocated from vulnerable areas in the UK. So you can tell it functioned as a protective castle for students and teachers. You can still learn about this and the story of the Atholl Palace in the museum on the garden level of the hotel.
Atholl Palace has been made possible thanks to an investment by the Irish-based Castle Hotel Group. With this investment, they wanted to turn back a long period of slow decline. Besides, the hotel has been completely restored to what it is nowadays: a much-loved hotel with a 4-star grade. We’ll see if they’re worth the 4 stars.
What’s for sure, is that the location is excellent. Pitlochry is a historic small town that’s actually within the heart of the highlands. This gives you an ideal starting point to explore the rest of the Highlands. Pitlochry is a charming place to be, where the River Tummel flows to the Tay. And because the hotel overlooks wooded parkland grounds, the surrounding hills, and the town, you’ll get magnificent views.
P.S. Once, Atholl Palace Hotel was called the Athole Hydropathic during Victorian times: a large country house. Because it’s been restored, you’ll still experience many features of this traditional large country house – with the Victorian style still being present!
Atholl Palace restaurant
As soon as you get inside Atholl Palace Hotel, you’ll experience a warm welcome within a historic atmosphere. It’s very spacious and the restaurant looks nice, with its paintings on the wall, the curtains, and the furniture. The interiors are all on a Victorian theme as the hotel existed during Victorian times.
The menus in the restaurant are lovely, the food is of excellent quality, and the service is professional. The staff is very friendly and experienced. You'll feel like they pay attention to all guests, and they don't rush anything. Combined with the charming surroundings when you look through the window, you'll for sure have a relaxing time eating here. There's no need to eat somewhere else for a better experience.
Atholl Palace rooms
Thanks to its stunning location, most hotels have beautiful views. Good to know is that every single room is unique in its views and charm and many of them come with fabulous vistas over the Perthshire countryside, including their award-winning gardens Do you prefer a room with mountain views? Or do you want rooms with superb views over the valley? Both are possible.
What I highly love about Atholl Palace Hotel (because I'm a light sleeper), is how wonderfully quiet it is. So if you put a high value on a quiet, good night's sleep, then you will sleep fabulously here.
All rooms have these aspects in common:
- Private bathrooms
- Telephone
- Tea and coffee-making facilities
- Hairdryers
- A LED TV
Even though Atholl Palace hotel has a long history, the rooms have a modern look.
Good to know: there’s an elevator which serves the main floors. Not all rooms can be reached with the elevator though. But this brings enough choice to those with mobility issues, too. Moreover, there are rooms at the garden level. This brings you the benefits of easy access to the gardens and the Spa and leisure facilities. But more about that later. Let’s first dive into the rooms.
Single rooms
The single rooms could be smaller than the double rooms, but they look cosy and clean. Besides, the beds are very comfortable and you'll also get a bath. The single rooms are ideal if you'd like to stay alone in this hotel, or if you want a separate room for yourself.
At this time of writing, the single rooms are unavailable for booking. So instead, you should go for a double or twin room. The benefit of a double room is that you'll get a more spacious bed!
Double and twin rooms
Whether you’re planning to stay with 1 or 2 people, the (standard) double and twin rooms are your ideal choice. These are en-suite bathrooms with fair sizes and of course a comfortable bed. Furthermore, you'll get plenty of towels and even slippers and bathrobes. Because there was a spa, remember?
Costs? As an example, I choose a 1-night stay in March. The cheapest price for the double room here was £180.00 per night. The prices differ strongly per month and per season. For the latest prices, please use the button below.
Family rooms (standard and large)
The family rooms have options for both 4 to 5 people in total. The family rooms are lovely, and the extra beds are comfortable as well. You won't get a usual sofa bed. A huge benefit of the family rooms is that they are extra spacious. They could even have two bathrooms, including a bath or a great shower.
Costs? As an example, I choose a 1-night stay in March in the family room for 4 people. The cheapest price for the double room here was £289.00 per night. The prices differ strongly per month and per season. For the latest prices, please use the button below.
Want to go superior?
If you’re planning to stay with two people, and you want that little bit of extra space and luxury, then you could go for a superior room. You’ll get a bigger bed and great views over the hotel grounds and beyond.
Atholl Palace hotel also has turret suites, which come with remarkable views. Within the turret rooms, you'll be guaranteed fantastic views: even a 360-degree view. There’s a spiral staircase that will lead you up to the lounge, which gives you the feeling of being in a real palace.
The costs of the superior room for two people are about £279.00 per night. As an example, I choose a night in March. The prices differ strongly per month and per season. For the latest prices, please use the button below.
All rooms have access to the hotel’s benefits!
No matter in which room you stay, you can make use of the many benefits of this hotel! You probably also didn't expect that Atholl Palace Hotel only had rooms and a restaurant because of its size. It’s so big, so there must be more than that. And you’re right. The hotel offers you everything for a great, relaxing stay. You will be treated as a real prince or princess in the spa for example.
Here's a summary of all the extra benefits the hotel can offer you:
- A spa with treatments, a spa bath, a steam room, a plunge room
- A gym and fitness room
- 2 swimming pools: one indoor that’s heated, and one outdoor which can be used during Summer
- 4 ‘’championship’’ tennis courts
- A museum
- Garden meeting rooms and a conference hall (perfect for business events)
- A snooker room
The swimming pool and so-called Lavender Spa are on the garden level of the hotel. Fun to know is that the water in the pools is filtered through a volcanic rock of Ben Vrackie. Remember that this was the mountain in Perthshire, that’s 841 metres high?
Entertaining events all year round
Don’t know where to choose from? You can always decide to be entertained! All year round, there’s something exciting happening within Atholl Palace Hotel. Think about Christmas party nights, entertainment with Voyage – The Abba Tribute, a Burns night (of Robert Burns, the Scottish poet), Hogmanay (Scottish for the last day of the old year), and Highland Tennis Championships.
The 2nd oldest tournament in Scotland has taken place on the grounds of the Atholl Palace Hotel in Pitlochry since 1896!
Self-catering accommodations
Do you still want to make use of all the benefits of the hotel, but stay inside a self-catering accommodation? Atholl Palace Hotel also has self-catering cottages, lodges, and apartments available. If you rent one of these, you can still make use of all the facilities within the hotel. Think about the spa, pool, tennis courts, pitch-n-putt, gardens, and more.
It's hard to pick a favourite as all self-catering accommodations are cosy, well-maintained, and tidy. But we love the lodges. All accommodations are family-friendly and there's lots of space around them. For example, you could stay in one of the modern built lodges in the old walled garden, or converted buildings on the estate. Think about the gate lodge and the garden cottage.
Note: the minimum required stay is 7 nights.
Examples of self-catering accommodations at Atholl Palace Hotel in Pitlochry:
- 1-bedroom apartment: about £180.00 per night
- One-bedroom lodge: about £200.00 per night
- 2-bedroom apartment: about £220.00 per night
- 2 bedroom lodge: about £260.00 per night
- 3-bedroom lodge: about £340.00 per night
- 4-bedroom apartment: about £400.00 per night
As you have to stay 7 nights, the total price for a week will be multiplied by 7.
Final verdict of Atholl Palace Hotel in Pitlochry
Because Atholl Palace Hotel in Pitlochry is such a special place, with so many things to do within the hotel itself (you don’t even have to leave Atholl Palace Hotel to fill your days), the hotel is perfect for any kind of person. It has something for everyone: unique hotel rooms, self-catering accommodations, and a wide range of activities to choose from. Do you want a relaxing day at the spa? Sure, go ahead and let the rest of the group enjoy themselves in the snooker room, swimming pool, or at the championship tennis courts.
Besides, walking around Atholl Palace Hotel and its wonderful gardens is an experience on its own. It’s located on the slopes of the mountain Ben Vrackie – so be ready for great mountain views as well! This is one of the fewer hotels we've reviewed that has so many things to do inside. But don't forget Pitlochry. This is one of Scotland's most beautiful areas to visit. With stunning scenery, rich clan history, and clean sparkling air, it's a must-visit in the Highlands.
Is Atholl Palace Hotel value for money?
When it comes to value for money, don’t only look at the rooms for the price. Look at everything else you get. All the things you can do inside, the Victorian style, the museum, the great food and restaurant, and the wonderful gardens and surroundings. That's what you pay for. Yes, the rooms are nice, tidy, clean, and many of them have great views, but these are not extremely special. So if I had to answer the question: yes, you'll get good value for money when you look at everything you can do. This makes Atholl Palace Hotel in Pitlochry definitely a 4-star hotel! That’s why I rate it with 4,5 out of 5 stars.
Besides, a stay in Atholl Palace Hotel means having an ideal starting point in the heart of the wonderful Highlands.
After Atholl Palace Hotel in Pitlochry
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