I did everything... except lunch! My dinner and spa treat at Dunkeld House
I very rarely take myself for a treat, but I’ve had a stressful few weeks and I heard that Dunkeld House Hotel has been taken over and refurbished in some style.
I wanted to enjoy a country weekend and hubby and I decided we’d find plenty to do if we headed along the A9 and investigated.
What used to be the Hilton now is a classy independent, benefiting from a £3million makeover.
The spa treatments there sounded right up my alley, but I didn’t want to have to drag myself away immediately after unwinding, so I persuaded my other half the best thing to do would be wake up there.
Yes, earlier this year our wedding anniversary plans were cancelled when I twisted my ankle on the golf course.
Now recovered, we opted for this instead: Pounce on Dunkeld House Hotel, have dinner, stay the night, do breakfast and for me to pick a spa treatment.
When we followed the long elegant drive through delightful woods the daffodils were still holding on and evening sunlight lit the hotel’s crisp white exterior.
The new Riverside Restaurant, a stylish glass extension to the older building, was on our left as we came to the re-sited main entrance.
The hotel’s original red sandstone grand doorway with its 1900 carved datestone is a lovely way to breeze in and staff checked us in efficiently a reception.
We took in the grand staircase and restored fireplaces of the entrance hall. It felt both renewed and timeless. Stag antler fitments and hunting scenes were everywhere.
The plan was to eat early and hit the sack. We left our bags and headed straight for the restaurant.
A grand piano was being expertly played by a young American woman as we were shown to our seats.
We were the first in, so we got to soak up the atmosphere as the evening light faded gently on the river outside.
Choosing the chef ’s chicken liver pate, I enjoyed the truffle butter, toasted brioche and vegetable chutney side.
Hubby had the delightful duo of sea trout - one morsel cured, the other hickory smoked.
Keeping the fish theme going, we both opted for the pan fried fillet of plaice. It came with buttered new potatoes and lemon butter sauce. It was quick in arriving and very balanced flavours.
I liked my desserts, but having picked the Mille Feuille I regretted eating soft berry fruit out of season, when later in the year Perthshire provides such lovely produce.
Hubby did better, having a more local delicacy, an Iain Burnett, Highland Chocolatier raspberry and black pepper velvet truffle, combined with Aberfeldy 12-year-old malt whisky.
Two other first-class chocolate truffles from the Grandtully workshop and nice drams matched to go with them completed his whisky and chocolate experience (an extra £15, but we were celebrating!)
The meal over, we explored the hotel, finding our double room plush and comfortable.
I caught sight of my face in the porcupine-quill mirror outside the lift and accepted I needed an early night and a good sleep.
Revived, breakfast was a nice affair in the orange themed conservatory.
We could have spent all morning refreshing our plates with fresh fruit and pastries, but I left my other half with coffee and a paper and headed for the leisure suite.
Inside was an inviting pool, a gym and a series of treatment rooms.
I’d booked a full body massage, lasting an hour.
This one promises to relieve stress and combines Swedish massage with Ishga seaweedbased body oil.
As I stretched out I really felt the benefits. My full body massage was the business and I had the time to float away while in good hands.
I clocked that those with less leisure to play with could get The fish main served for dinner The swimming pool and spa area
an express massage lasting 40 minutes and costing just £30. That might be the best of all worlds for a returning Perthshire local looking for a relaxation fix.
Other treatments were available that also seemed worth returning for another time, like the foot experience or going all mermaid and getting a detoxifying seaweed body wrap.
The pool looked inviting and I saw it had improved steam rooms and a poolside jacuzzi. I didn’t want to mess up my hair, so I didn’t go in this time.
Smelling lovely from my massage, frown lines apparently gone and with that ‘you’re worth it’ feeling of wellbeing, I headed back to find hubby still getting to grips with the weekend papers.
Being in lovely Dunkeld, based on a country estate in the throes of late spring, we walked the meandering drive back into the town to explore the gift shops and the Cathedral ruin where amazing things are happening to restore its stone grandeur. Dunkeld House Hotel
A stunning choice of Scottish and International meals prepared fresh to order and complemented with a fantastic selection of wines, served from 6.30 to 9.30pm.
The 4-star country hotel accommodation boasts 100 bedrooms, all of which enjoy stunning views across woodlands and the RiverTay.
Served from 7am to 10am, the light Riverside Restaurant overlooks the water.
open to nonresidents from 7am 9.30pm, Monday to Friday, and 7.30am - 9.30pm Saturday and Sunday.
www. dunkeldhousehotel.co.uk
01350 727771 reservations@ dunkeldhousehotel.co.uk
01350 728372 leisure@ dunkeldhousehotel.co.uk