Setting & grounds

Perth, with its magnificent new Concert Hall at Horsecross, is at the heart of Scotland geographically. The river Tay winds its way through town and all around are the attractions of Perthshire: hills and mountains, lochs and glens, castles and visitor attractions. Perth, Scotland after which Perth, Australia is of course named, is an easy hour from Edinburgh and almost as simple to get to from Glasgow. It’s on the way north on the A9 so is a sensible stopping-off point on the way into the Highlands or Inverness.

Perth markets itself as the ‘perfect centre’. The town centre itself is compact and offers good shopping in a 'Scotland in Bloom' award-winning environment but isn’t full of rich pickings hotel-wise.

But on the western edge of the well-off city, handy for the ring road or routes to the north, you’ll find Huntingtower – best known today for its hotel, no doubt, but also for the beautifully-maintained, medieval Huntingtower Castle (this links to the delightful Marie Stuart Society website!) - a place with a colourful past. Two families, the Ruthvens and the Murrays, made it their home and it also played host twice to Mary Queen of Scots and also to her son James VI, who became James I of Great Britain.

Huntingtower Hotel sits in 6 acres of quite glorious grounds and has an attractive, wooded setting featuring a small river and bridge – and a resident group of characterful ducks. It’s a very pretty setting for a hotel with an undeniably handsome appearance. Arriving at night you’ll find the buildings attractively lit and welcoming. Huge attractive garden and patio areas for al fresco wining and dining await you.

The hotel does not have a gym but Perth is on the doorstep quite literally and is well set up with leisure centres, pools, a famous curling rink, golf courses and more country sports than you could shake a shooting stick seat at.