Guardswell Farm Hotel Review | Hotels Above Par

"Perched on a hillside in Perthshire, this family-run 170-acre farm of hand-crafted huts, cottages and a farmhouse is all roaring fires, misty mornings and far-reaching views across the River Tay; it’s refreshingly off-grid, where WiFi fades, the kettle sings on the Aga and the soundtrack is hens clucking, livestock grazing and a kettle boiling. Snuggled between Abernyte and Kinnaird, the Lamotte family have run the place since 2011 — Anna brings an eco-conscious, style-and-substance vision while Digby bottles natural Diggers Cider and steers regenerative farming — and their passion shows in every corner: Hebridean sheep, Shetland cattle, Angora goats, donkeys and free-range hens all play a part in actively restoring the land, with fleece and mohair spun into the farm’s yarn and eggs and hogget finding their way into the well-stocked provisions store. Because all accommodation is self-catering you’ll want to pre-order or raid the provisions store and Farmstand on arrival — firewood bundles, jars of homemade seasonal jam and marmalade, skeins of freshly spun wool and fully equipped kitchens are all ready for cosy, slow mornings — or request a breakfast basket with homemade sourdough and preserves, farm-fresh eggs, granola, Scottish yoghurt with compote and on-site pressed apple juice. Couples can hide away in Scandi-Scot chic huts — The Pendicle sits high with its own wood-fired soaking tub beneath an ancient apple tree, The Infield is an off-grid escape with a glass gable and stargazing window above the bed, and The Kailyard is a shepherd’s hut down a woodland trail with a wood stove and friendly sheep — while Guardswell Cottage sleeps four with a wraparound deck and soaring front windows to the Carse of Gowrie and River Tay, the Cotterhouse is a deceptively spacious four-bedroom fronted by a fire-pit, and the Farmhouse is a merrier ten-bed option centred around a red Aga; huts start from £110 per night and the site can host up to 30 guests across three huts and three houses. Dining is self-catering (think firepit marshmallows, Big Green Egg feasts and Diggers Cider chilling in the fridge), and amenities include log burners, fire-pits, Big Green Egg BBQs, wood-fired outdoor tubs, the provisions Farmstand (an old horse trailer honesty shop), wellies and board games to borrow and a tech-free ethos (no TVs or WiFi). Our favourite part is the family’s knack for getting guests stuck into the good stuff — spoon-carving and felted-fleece workshops, cheesemaking, yoga and seasonal supper clubs that turn the farm into a countryside gathering place." - Chloe Frost-Smith