Gemma Mackenzie tried luxury country house living and was delighted with what she found
If a special occasion is looming or you just fancy a night away, then look no further than Killiecrankie House.
Located just over two hours away from Aberdeen, and just over an hour and a half’s drive from Inverness, this four-star country house hotel is a real treat.
Located near Pitlochry at the Pass of Killiecrankie, the hotel is owned and run by Henrietta Fergusson.
Attention to detail is unbelievable and the service is second to none.
Attentive staff are on hand from the moment you set foot in the hotel until the moment you leave.
Set in four acres of wooded grounds, the hotel has eight double and two single bedrooms.
We stayed in a beautiful, tastefully decorated double bedroom with a large comfy bed.
After settling in, we ventured out to explore the nearby area: there’s lots on offer, ranging from a wander around Pitlochry and its quaint boutiques and cafes to a visit to the magnificent Queen’s View offering breathtaking views over Loch Tummel.
If whisky takes your fancy, why not visit the nearby Blair Athol Distillery or Edradour in Moulin, which is Scotland’s smallest distillery.
There’s also plenty on offer at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre which puts on shows throughout the year.
One thing you definitely mustn’t miss is dinner at the hotel.
We were seated in the lounge, where we enjoyed a nice cool, crisp gin and tonic while perusing the magnificent four-course menu.
After making our choices, we were left to enjoy our pre-dinner drinks and served some canapes to get us started.
When dinner was ready, we were whisked through to the elegantly decorated dining room, where our wine was awaiting our arrival.
For starters, I opted for the Crottin goats cheese and Stornoway black pudding tartlet, while my other half went for the tian of crayfish and avocado with cherry tomatoes and lime crème fraîche.
We both then opted for the pan-fried fillet of Aberdeen-Angus beef, served with Lyonnaise potato, griddle spring onions, mushroom duxelle and a red wine jus.
For dessert, I had the white chocolate and Grand Marnier panna cotta with orange jelly, shortbread and strawberries, while he opted for the warm blueberry and frangipane flan with vanilla ice cream.
Once dessert was over, we were invited to help ourselves to the cheese selection from a dresser in the dining room. And, of course, a glass of port was an absolute must.
All four courses were delicious and we found fault in nothing.
Following dinner, we went to the bar for a nightcap before heading upstairs to sleep, where we were greeted with a turned-down bed complete with hot-water bottles.
After a good night’s sleep, it was sadly time to leave, but not before a hearty breakfast, again served in the comfortable dining room.
Often, hotels excel at dinner but breakfast is a bit of an afterthought. This wasn’t the case at Killiecrankie.
Excellent service and food was on offer again, and after fuelling up on lovely pastries, yoghurts and a cooked breakfast, it was time to check out and say goodbye to this tranquil slice of Perthshire with a culinary twist.
Dinner, bed and breakfast packages start from £120 per person.
Currently, the hotel is offering special festive deals:
Christmas break: £630 per person in a single or sharing a double room. Includes Christmas Eve afternoon tea and four-course evening meal, Christmas Day lunch, various celebratory tipples, Boxing Day lunch, entertainment, archery and more. Deluxe rooms may be available at a small supplement. Three nights from December 24, 2015.
New Year break – A three-day programme between December 30 and January 3. Prices from £630 per person to include a welcome afternoon tea, Hogmanay dinner, local ceilidh, New Year’s Day brunch and more. Extra nights are available at £115 per person per night. Deluxe rooms are available at a small supplement.
For more information visit www.killiecrankiehotel.co.uk