Perthshire hotel offers a luxurious stay with a little hidden playground

SITTING out on Murrayshall’s sun-soaked courtyard with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc in hand overlooking the Perthshire countryside has been added to my list of happy places.

I could have lazed there for hours as the sun beamed down over the manicured hedges, deciduous trees and rolling hills in the background as my partner Ryan tackled the 18th hole on the greens below.

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I am an absolute sucker for a Scottish staycation and my boyfriend and I are enamoured with Perthshire, so a trip to this gorgeous country estate near Scone, once home to war hero Lord Lynedoch,  was a real treat.

Following a warm welcome at the check-in desk and a brief tour of the estate, we were shown to one of Balvaird House’s Lynedoch Suites.

Just 50 yards from the main hotel, we were met with our own lounge and dining area equipped with a flat-screen TV and Nespresso machine.

Our plush bedroom had a comfortable king-sized bed and great views of the well-kept garden below.

The ensuite bathroom had large skylight windows and vibrant blue tiles. The giant slipper tub provided what can only be described as the bubble bath of dreams.

After admiring our room for the night, we headed down to the golf course for Ryan to try out “Perthshire’s most beautiful golfing experience”.

Murrayshall golf course has been ranked No34 in the National Club Golf’s Top 100 UK & Ireland Golf Resorts and No11 in Scotland.

I tagged along to take pictures of the views before giving up on the ninth hole just in time for my spa appointment.

I booked in for an hour-long full body massage at the hotel’s quaint and tranquil Gate Lodge.

The friendly therapist used Scottish organic seaweed Ishga products for the treatment and I couldn’t fault the experience.

Then we took an afternoon stroll through the estate’s 365 glorious acres of countryside, returning for a well-earned drink by the wood–burning fire at the hotel’s intimate Barossa bar.

Dinner was in Murrayshall’s award-winning fine dining restaurant Eòlas, pronounced “olas” meaning “experience” in Gaelic and what an experience it was!

We started with a stunning plate of cod with peas, pancetta and lettuce before tucking into Highland venison with hispi cabbage — which was perfectly paired with a 2015 Rioja from Spain.

Next up was a cheesy take on a classic dessert called Panna ri(cotta) which was served with figs and honey and a gorgeous soufflé  with Blacketyside strawberries. All these dishes were enjoyed as we gazed out at the amber sun setting over the hills of Perthshire.

Murrayshall focuses on luxury and relaxation,  but it has recently added a little adventure to the mix to offer more of a “chill & thrill” type stay.

With the introduction of archery, axe throwing, canyoning, river tubing, gorge walking, white water rafting and quad bike treks — it’s become a little playground nestled deep in the Perthshire countryside.

Despite my questionable driving skills, we opted for quad bikes. I was a little nervous at first but our instructor put me at ease.

Soon enough we were boldly flying around the estate and even managed to ride up to the summit of the Lynedoch Obelisk to take in miles and miles of breath-taking views.

If my stay at Murrayshall didn’t offer up enough activities, the resort is currently undergoing an expansion which will see a new spa and leisure facility with eight treatment rooms, a spa pool, a spa cafe, a gym and studio, a leisure pool and outdoor spa terrace.

The transformation — due to be completed this year — also includes a new outdoor pursuits area, glamping pods and lodges.

That’s a good enough reason for us to go back.