Knock Castle Hotel & Spa

Reviewed by Janice Buchanan & Philip Smith from Glasgow

Knock Castle Hotel is a 19th Century baronial castle set in mature woodlands overlooking Crieff. On entering, we were made very welcome by Malcolm, the General Manager. There are bars and anterooms, including a lovely cosy nook for two tucked away in the bar which has smaller stained glass windows.

Our room had an impressive four-poster bed with beautiful oak furniture and deep red walls. Slippers and robes were provided. The sumptuous ensuite bathroom had a sunken bath for two with candles, great for a romantic weekend away. You can have treatments in the spa or relax by the pool, luxuriate in the jacuzzi or use the steam and sauna room.

The piece de resistance was the roof top restaurant with chef Jason Henderson who is also the owner of the castle. He won ‘Flavour of Scotland, Chef of the Year’ in May 2018. The menu was a delight. Everything is cooked to order and the views of the Strathearn valley were a feast for the eyes. The restaurant is a technology-free zone but I am delighted to say we managed to get through the meal without our phones. This made the experience of tasting our food more delightful.

This is a gem of a place and excellent for a relaxing/romantic break to get away from it all. It is so near Glasgow and Edinburgh yet seems a world away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. It is clean and fresh and everything that could sparkle, sparkled. I would recommend you don’t just take my word for it. Find out for yourself.