Atholl Palace Hotel

First discovered the Palace on a research trip in 2019. Fell in love and adore return visits whenever possible. Afternoon tea with my parents for a treat was a particularly lovely experience. The staff here especially at dinner are absolutely first rate; exceptional. The pudding wines are lovely and the lobby is somewhere we could just sprawl on a sofa all day watching the open fire grow toastier by the minute in winter. The views are magnificent, spa is great - added unusual bonus of a cold plunge pool - great for the immune system - but sadly haven’t seen the spa operational since the pandemic. Really homely and grand - stepping into a bygone era where a hotel is an adventure and everyone takes a pride in their work. Don’t miss out on the beautiful grounds. They’re remarkable whatever time of year you are visiting.

Great cosy and welcoming hotel. We enjoyed our stay. Rooms were cosy & spacious and had everything we needed with stunning views. Sunday carvery and breakfasts were excellent: lots of choice, great quality, good service and more beautiful views. Spa treatments were amazing, thank you Joanne!

This hotel is in a perfect location to access Pitlochry. We enjoyed last minute overnight stay and felt very welcomed by the 2 friendly staff on reception. We were offered a shot of whisky 🥃 on arrival which was a nice touch. The glen view bedroom had a stunning view and I loved the decor. It had been recently done by the look of it. We had wished that the windows opened though as it was a very warm night and even with the small fan provided running flat out it was warmer than we like. The floorboards are very creaky but this is to be expected in a property of this age. It added to the character. We didn’t find staff after reception to be very warm or helpful. Interactions were harsh and it was as if you were invisible. Happy to talk to one another over you or through you as was the case at breakfast. This requires improvement. In addition staff dress needs to be monitored and improved as staff appeared scruffy in the bar and breakfast area which was very off putting. The heat in the bar area was like a sauna and so we chose to sit in the open plan reception area that evening. It was pleasant but sofas and chairs are in need of a refurbishment and touch up. We didn’t visit the pool so I can not comment on that aspect of the stay. Breakfast was ok- the coffee was a nice blend. Plates for the buffet breakfast very hot which I like. Usual breakfast buffet items present. Croissants 🥐 could be fresher and bigger. Staff disinterested and talked amongst themselves all the time. The hotel attracts coach trips so do take that in to consideration as it can mean a lot of people arriving and using facilities at the same time. Overall a pleasant stay, however staff other than front of house at reception need a lot of work to bring them to a 4 star level service provider. It’s a shame as it did impact our stay greatly.