Emma All year round country retreat, set in a massive 365 acres
Murrayshall Country House Hotel and Golf Club are just over three miles away from the city of Perth, but it feels like a million miles away when you are surrounded by acres and acres of stunning Scottish countryside. In fact, the Murrayshall estate covers a full 365 acres.
Originally built in 1664, Murrayshall House was initially owned by Sir Andrew Murray. The house was modernised in the 18th and 19th Centuries and then in 1973, it was transformed into a luxury hotel which now has 4 stars.
If you are a golf lover then a visit to Murrayshall Country House Hotel and Golf will be heaven for you. There are two courses, an 18 hole and a 10 hole course, and a driving range. The courses are quite hilly but you can hire a golf buggy to make things a bit easier, though you don’t need to be a golfer to appreciate the views and walks around the estate or the all-important 19th hole!
For those who are seeking something a little different, Murrayshall utilises the River Tay for other outdoor pursuits including salmon fishing, paddle boarding and kayaking, guided walks and luxury picnics around the estate can also be organised – there are two hill walks to MacDuff’s monument and the Lynedoch obelisk, but if that sounds like far too much exercise then you can sit in the library and pick a book.
A wide selection of books are available and I picked Agatha Christie’s The Pale Horse for my reading material, as it had just been on TV. Sadly we were only here for one day so I didn’t have enough time to get into it.
@foodieexplorersA tranquil getaway at Murrayshall Hotel, ##Perthshire ##gifted ##fyp ##fypã‚· ##scotlandtiktok ##LetsGetBackOnTrack ##chillout♬ Emotional (Instrumental) – BLVKSHP
Bedroom
Our Superior Room for the night had views over the tranquil gardens. Bliss, just what we were needing after a year of looking at four walls!
Our room was a good size with a large comfortable bed, couch, WiFi, flatscreen TV, tea and coffee facilities plus bottled water.
There was also a wardrobe with plenty of storage space for clothes and accessories.
Bathroom
A fully tiled bathroom with face cloths, hand and bath towels and a towel radiator for warm, cosy towels.
Of course the all-important toiletries…ishga is derived from the Gaelic word for ‘water’. The range uses hand-harvested seaweed combined with local spring water and light base oils such as sweet almond or jojoba, essential oils like rose geranium or lemongrass, and nourishing moisturisers including cocoa and shea butter.
After a quick freshen up, we decided to have tea out in the Courtyard. Our bedroom was peaceful however the weather and view from the terrace persuaded us to spend more time out here.
From here the views look over rolling hills in Perthshire towards the mountains of (we think) Ben Vorlich and Ben Chonzie.
Not a bad place for a cuppa and it was properly brewed too!
The land around Murrayshall Country House Hotel and Golf Club is predominantly geared towards golfing but there are plans afoot for a new spa and leisure facility, an outdoor pursuits area, a new golf academy, an indoor games room, premium glamping pods and lodges, phew, which would make this a real getaway destination in itself and not just a hotel and golf course. Look out for deer on the estate as well.
Time for a pre-dinner drink? We didn’t get the chance to relax in the bar as we spent so long outside admiring the view!
So, it was straight into the Lynedoch Brasserie for dinner (below). As you can see the restaurant area is decorated in a contemporary style, with a balance of traditional and modern colours. The view from the Lynedoch Brasserie is stunning as well and looks west so you can watch the sunset whilst enjoying dinner.
Lynedoch Brasserie at Murrayshall Country House Hotel menu
A wide range of dishes is on offer, so surely something for every taste?
Starters
To begin, we picked the pea and broad bean tartlet with feta, poached duck egg and truffle. A light starter that suited the weather perfectly. Crisp tart base with creamy feta melting in with the truffle.
A bridie was listed on the menu, which is fairly unusual for a restaurant so decided to give it a go. It was a leek and blue cheese bridie served with piccalilli. The pastry wasn’t as puffy as we would have liked, however, the leek flavour inside was top notch and the piccalilli was certainly fruity and tangy.
Main Courses
North sea cod with butter-poached leeks, Finnan haddie and smoked cream. All the things we love, leeks, fish and a bit of smokiness. The smooth and buttery mash was delicious here soaking up the fishy, creamy, leek sauce. We had also ordered a side of garlic butter new potatoes, as well you can never have enough good tattie, can you? And just as well we did, as their soft and fluffy insides were ‘mwah.
Keeping the bridie theme going we also had a posh sausage roll. This was Carnoustie pork fillet, cabbage and bacon, apple and foie gras sausage roll with pear sauce. One of those in-between summer and autumn dishes that could go either way. Just like a homemade sausage roll, the puff was perfect this time with a filling that you are unlikely to find any time soon in Greggs!
Desserts
We always seem to be full after 2 courses but somehow find room for something sweet…
Blairgowrie strawberries, vanilla panna cotta, crushed meringue and berry sorbet. If you look in the dish you will just see the panna cotta on the bottom, with the sorbet, meringue and strawberries atop. A light and sweet end to the real with a zing from the berry sorbet just to keep me awake after all this tasty grub.
When there is dark chocolate on a menu, Mr Foodie is there, so guess who ordered the Dark Chocolate and Raspberry Parfait? It was really good; it’s a flavour combination that always works well.
By this point, the sun had set and we just had time for a walk around the grounds before heading off to our room. Sadly it was too cloudy for a dramatic photogenic sunset.
It’s getting chillier at night but the hotel still looked cosy from outside.
And so it was back into the library to try and make some headway with that book (it’s a bit of a weird read).
Breakfast
After a peaceful night’s sleep (it was so quiet) it was time to make our way down to the brasserie again. This time for breakfast.
Thankfully buffets are back so we could help ourselves to various juices, breakfast cereals and pastries.
A full Scottish was ordered for Mr Foodie with scrambled egg. Well executed and good to see a Lorne sausage here, but no tattie scone. 😕
Eggs Benedict for myself with honey roast ham. A competent eggs benedict, which had just the right balance of meat/sauce and muffin, as in not covered in hollandaise sauce drowning the flavours. We both left the table feeling full.
Verdict
Murrayshall Country House Hotel is somewhere that is perfect for a foodie break as well as a romantic night away. If you are a golfer then that’s an added excuse for staying over, however, even us non-golfers will appreciate the hotel, with its stunning views especially from the Lynedoch Brasserie and the Courtyard terrace. The peace and tranquillity here are matched by the countryside. You really wouldn’t think that you were so close to Perth. We would happily stay here again.
If you decide to stay here for a few nights remember that Scone is just 1.5 miles away, where you will also find Brown & Blacks and the Scone Arms for alternative food and drink options and Perth is only 3.5 miles away.
For nearby visitor attractions, Scone Palace, Perth Racecourse, The Black Watch Museum, Huntingtower Castle, Stanley Mills and Kinnoull Hill are a short drive away.
TL;DR
+ Large country estate with great views
+ Interesting food menu, all courses tasty
+ Comfortable bed, good shower
+ Filling breakfast
+ Library with lots of books
+ Lots of outdoor activities with more planned for the near future
– Awkward to get to without a car, but that’s also a bonus!
Where
Murrayshall Country House Hotel and Golf Club,
Scone,
Perth,
Scotland,
PH2 7PH
Transport
There is no public transport direct to the hotel. The closest you can get is with the Stagecoach 7, 7A and 7B to Scone or the 57A which runs between Perth and Dundee. The nearest stop is on Perth Rd 1.5 miles away. We took a taxi from Perth.
Click here for Traveline Scotland Journey Planner
Reservations
Book direct with Murrayshall Country House Hotel and Golf Club.
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Disclaimer: we received a complimentary one-night DBB stay.
