The Old Manse of Blair

We had an incredible stay at The Old Manse of Blair Hotel in the summer. The team were highly professional, yet very welcoming and friendly, offering some great advice and guidance on local sights and activities, and really made us feel at home. The location itself is idyllic, and the grounds are very well kept, with the horses and highland cows adding to the charm. The tables and chairs outside, along with the fire pit, offer a great way to spend a summer's evening as the sun goes down, while the well-stocked bar with single malts from near and far provides for a perfect way to unwind after a day stacked with travelling around the area. ||That the restaurant itself is a Michelin restaurant needs little further explanation. Simply put, the food was of exceptionally high quality, with the dishes exuding creativity and incredible flavours. Breakfast is a must too!||Regarding the rooms, they are done to a very high standard, are very comfortable, and were very well kept throughout our stay. We had a room overlooking the valley, which is highly recommended. ||We'll certainly be back on our next trip into the Highlands!

I was granted a room at Holly Cottage for one evening and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The room itself was very eloquent, the bed was extremely comfortable and the bathroom was perfect. The shower was notably excellent. The hotel itself has quite a cosy environment and the staff went above and beyond to meet the needs of myself and the other guests. I had a delicate matter regarding the tasting menu which was swiftly and discreetly resolved which I was extremely grateful for. The staff were excellent and the service truly couldn’t have been better. I would most certainly recommend a visit to the Old Manse of Blair - an exquisite venue suited to sophisticated guests.

Lovely stay. The rooms are wonderfully comfortable and quiet with many thoughtful touches to make your stay more relaxed and enjoyable. Location is idyllic, just down the road from Blair Castle. The owner is a perfect host. The breakfast was the best we had while in Scotland. Great whisky collection, a friendly coo, a crackling fire in the evening… what more could one want? If you stay here, be a guest worthy of the location and remember your manners. It’s a small hotel, and obnoxious guests can annoy others.

The surroundings are lovely and the house itself is beautiful. Our room was nice and comfortable, even though it was a bit noisy at times.||We were really looking forward to the dinner and had high expectations, as we’ve enjoyed many tasting menus before — but sadly, this one was a big disappointment. The food just wasn’t very good, and the presentation felt uninspired. The wines in the pairing were poured somewhere in the bar, and we never got to see any of the bottles, which took away from the experience.||The service wasn’t very attentive, and although they probably noticed we weren’t happy, no one really followed up. Overall, it just didn’t feel worth the money.||Breakfast, on the other hand, was delicious and nicely served — we really appreciated that — but unfortunately it couldn’t make up for the disappointing dinner.

Wasn't a disaster but pretty underwhelming to be honest, wouldn't go back. I was there for my first wedding anniversary and I asked a month before our visit about the menu as my wife is pregnant but no response. However, I wasn't worried as great restaurants are always able to accommodate. On the day of the trip they contacted me saying my wife would have to have either a la carte or veg tasting menu due to a couple of the dishes having seafood and it was "impossible" to swap out any dishes in the tasting menu despite the veg tasting having the same number of dishes. I was a bit confused as any fine dining restaurant I've ever been to has been able to accommodate dietary needs of guests but somehow this one could not. It was a real shame as we had booked a tasting menu specifically (and asked if this would be a issue a month ago). I would avoid if you are allergic to shellfish as they can't swap dishes in the tasting menu, still confused why? The food on the main menu was good but not exceptional, scallops cooked well (only 2 though ) but the broth wasn't exactly full of flavour, my fish was also bit bland. Deserts were a bit unmemorable. The 3 courses for 95 pounds is overpriced. A real shame the tasting menu looked good. Hotel itself was nice a good setting, rooms small but nice, service was overall fine but a tad condescending at times and felt pushed to an early breakfast time despite it being out anniversary and no mention of our anniversary despite me mentioning this on the booking form. For the price they charge the details should matter, bit of a tourist trap I think.

We just returned from our stay at The Old Manse of Blair and the property is exactly as pictured so I don’t need to reassure you that it’s beautiful. Our two rooms, the Bothy Suite and the Paddock, luxuriously accommodated our family of five (three kids ages 18, 16, 10) and had the most comfortable mattresses and idyllic views. The entire vibe of the property was country luxury and relaxation - with that said it’s not stuffy and kids are warmly welcomed. The Highland Coos were a huge bonus for my youngest and the staff gave her vegetables to feed them anytime she asked. Angus, the owner’s son and do-it-all guy, entertained us with stories about the Coos and introduced us to the other farm animals in residence while also giving us some history of the house and region. The staff is also a great resource for activities and restaurants in Blair Atholl. We’ve eaten at many Michelin rated restaurants and can confirm that the Manse’s restaurant serves elevated, five-star dinners rivaling top-tier options in major cities. Our dinner was expertly cooked with interesting flavors that really worked together and the service was attentive. Our kids were not as happy as us, and I would suggest eating dinner elsewhere if yours don’t usually like upscale food. Breakfast is more casual with two courses available and kid-friendly options. It was delicious and I highly suggest the Manse package and sell its granola. The only item I would add is pancakes because my kids would have loved more non-egg options. We highly recommend The Old Manse of Blair. It’s a gem that you won’t regret choosing.

Staying here was a dream! Anne and her team provided a warm and exceptional experience. Upon arrival we were greeted like family. After check in, Anne gave us a lift to The Bruar where we enjoyed lunch from the spectacular food hall and did some shopping. ||I booked the Georgian Suite, which was fantastic. A fire was lit for us in the sitting room each afternoon and kept going well into the evening. Peter took the most amazing care of us with cocktails and making sure we were all happy and satisfied with meals. He was so attentive to each and every guest. He really made our stay special. ||My room rate included breakfast and dinner. The food was absolutely incredible!! Chef was very accommodating, providing vegetarian options for my traveling mates. I’m still dreaming about the scallops and venison. ||Rooms are beautifully appointed, beds are very comfortable with soft linens and beautiful fluffy pillows. The manse becomes very quiet at night, so sleeping comes easy. ||It was a joy to have the coos greet us in the mornings and so fun to help give them their afternoon snacks.||Our visit was so peaceful and everything we could have hoped for! We wanted to stay forever!! ||Thank you to all of staff, we had the most wonderful stay!

Everything were beyond great, starting from the extraordinary staff who were all super friendly and helpful for anything we need, just to make us feel extremely comfortable. I stayed in the Walled Garden room and it was perfect as my luxury sanctuary from city life. The whole team of this Gem place is the secret that makes it so special. Thanks for a memorable experience and looking forward for my next visit soon.