Scotland’s Last Mansion, Now An Elegant B&B.

Said to be the last mansion house built in Scotland, Craigellie House is a gloriously restored B&B with two guest bedrooms (one with an extra sofabed so ideal for families) near Blairgowrie. Just two minutes from the farming town of Alyth, this is a place to breathe fresh air, listen to birdsong, admire dark night skies and watch red squirrels in the trees.

The property has been beautifully renovated by your hosts, who moved to Craigellie in 2018. First they restored Craigellie’s self-catering wing: then they moved on to modernising the B&B accommodation. Now there are two guest bedrooms, both recently renovated with en-suite shower rooms, tastefully decorated and extremely comfortable. The Yellow Room has a UK king-sized bed as well as a sofa bed so is ideal for a couple or a family with two children under 12 – who are welcome. The Green Room has twin beds which can be joined to make a super-king.

Downstairs there’s a sitting room exclusively for guests: a place to put your feet up in front of the wood-burning stove, play games or relax in front of a TV. Formerly Craigellie’s  Billiards’ Room, it has plenty of space and magnificent views of the garden. There’s a table in the bay window where breakfast is served. Your morning meal is invariably a highlight, freshly made with local ingredients: the eggs come from the garden’s own chickens and the meats and fresh fruits are as local as possible. Special diets can be catered for with prior notice. This is also where evening meals are served if you opt to eat in. New guests are greeted with tea and home-made cake – and in fact they can have these every day of their stay if they wish. Craigellie House isn’t licensed but guests are welcome to bring their own drinks, and you can even get your laundry done for a nominal charge. To stay here is really like being a house guest in a country manor.

After years of intensive restoration the grounds are now getting back to their former glory: a blaze of colour in summer and a natural playground year-round. There are lawns for games of Croquet, herbaceous beds, woodlands and a paddock. Buzzards soar overhead, red squirrels play in the trees, there are pine martens around and there’s wildlife galore at the end of Craigellie House’s drive, in the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) that is the Den of Alyth, a scenic little gorge cut by Alyth Burn known for its upland oak woodlands. Walks are from the door: up to Alyth Hill for lovely views or across the Bamff Estate, where it’s possible, on lucky evening walks, to spot the resident beavers.

There’s further accommodation for up to four adults and a couple of children in a separate wing of the house that is let on a self-catering basis.

Craigellie House B&B suggests:

Larger parties can also book our self-catering East Wing. If both B&B rooms are booked alongside the self-catering it may be possible to bring everyone together for communal breakfasts. Please ask if you are interested in doing this. For more information click through to craigellie.co.uk.

Email Craigellie House HERE or visit their website HERE

Pricing

Price per room per night, based on two sharing including breakfast Yellow Room - £155 (single occupancy £145) Green Room - £145 (single occupancy £135). Check availability and book online here. Dinner: Simple 2-course supper (soup and salad or salad and pudding) - £25. Full menu - 2 courses £35; 3 courses £47.50 View menus here.

Location

Craigellie House is beautifully set close to both the Cairngorms National Park and the Angus Glens. There is much to do in the area and Craigellie House makes the perfect base from which to explore. Just a stone's throw away the magnificently beautiful Angus Glens have wonderful rambling opportunities. The Cateran Trail, a must for serious walkers, can be easily reached on the hill above the house. Those who are looking for mountains to climb will not be disappointed as the Cairngorms National Park is close by with Driesh (947m) and Mayar (928m) being the closest Munros. Glenshee ski centre is just a 45 minute drive away, offering winter skiing and summer walking opportunities. The surrounding country lanes are cycle-friendly with options for all abilities and aspirations, whether that be a meandering family day out or a strenuous uphill challenge. Bikes and e-bikes are available to hire nearby. There are several castles & palaces within easy reach, including Glamis, Scone, Blair, Dunnottar, and gardens of interest include the Japanese Garden at Cowden and you can even book a Scottish Tea Garden tour. Even the east coast is less than an hour away by car, and Edinburgh 90 minutes. For a full range of things to do in the area check Craigellie's own web page. Liz is an excellent cook - she trained as a nutritional therapist - and evening meals here are something of a highlight. Despite Craigellie's rural location there are some lovely local options offering a range of culinary styles. Nearby (a 30-minute walk if you like, or a 5-minute drive) is the Lands of Loyal Hotel in Alyth with its unique and exquisite dining rooms offering an extensive a la carte menu featuring traditional yet imaginative dishes. For good pub grub there is also the newly refurbished Alyth Hotel, in the heart of the village. Slightly further, but still within 20 minutes, and you come to the Meikleour Arms, beside the famous beech hedge planted in 1745 and recognised as the highest in the world. This delightful pub and restaurant offers delicious and beautifully presented country fare with an emphasis on local produce.

Reviews

"This was our second stay at Craigellie in 2020 and we had a wonderful, relaxing time. Our hosts yet again couldn't do enough for us ... you honestly cannot ask for more. Alyth itself is a very pretty little town ... We enjoyed visiting nearby locations - Reekie Lin waterfall and Killiekrankie to name but two and had some lovely walks without having to go miles to find them. Craigellie ... remains the best we've seen. We can't recommend highly enough!" Jeremy and Elaine, August 2020

Accreditations

VisitScotland 5*