Atholl Villa

The Atholl Villa Guest House is housed in a 150-year-old Victorian stone house located on Pitlochry’s main street. Interior decor, while in keeping with the Victorian property, might be a bit dated, but the overall effect is warm and inviting. A cozy open fireplace presides over the lounge where an overstuffed couch and elegant upholstered chairs inspire lingering. A soft color palette accentuates the sunlit space and complements various gold-hued knickknacks, a chandelier, and gilt-framed paintings and mirror. The adjoining dining room gets lots of natural light from windows that span the width of the room and overlook the lovely garden. An exposed stone wall adds an atmospheric touch.

The hotel is situated on the main street, Atholl Road, of the small Victorian town of Pitlochry. The street is lined with restaurants, bars, shops, and several other hotels and inns. The bus and train stations are an eight-minute walk from the property. The location is a bit busy, so some traffic and train noise might be audible, as the railway is nearby. The area is surrounded by scenic countryside, hills, and mountains, and there are lots of outdoor activities to do in the area, such as hiking and walking one of the many trails or golfing at the Pitlochry Golf Course, which is a three-minute drive from the property. Nearby sights worth visiting include beautiful Blair Castle (a 13-minute drive) and the Blair Atholl Distillery, about a 10-minute walk. Edinburgh is an hour and a half away.

The hotel’s 10 rooms vary in size but all share a lovely, soft color palette of cream and beige hues paired with wooden furniture and muted gold details, such as brass chandeliers and gilt-framed oil paintings. Large windows illuminate the spaces with natural light. Some of the rooms include original features, like fireplaces, and most have work desks and wardrobes. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, tea- and coffee-making facilities (plus free cookies), and free Wi-Fi. Modern bathrooms are covered in attractive beige tiles, and have walk-in showers and heated towel racks; limited toiletries are provided.

Family rooms are also available for guests seeking extra space, as well as a private one-bedroom apartment (sleeping up to four people) with a living room and kitchen. The semi-detached apartment is located in the garden and has its own private entrance and parking. The kitchen is equipped with a fridge, microwave, toaster, and tea- and coffee-making facilities. The homey living room area has a flat-screen TV and a selection of books and board games.

The hotel has a cozy lounge with a fireplace and comfortable seating. A full Scottish breakfast that includes traditional Buckie smoked haddock and Scottish smoked salmon, as well as fruit, yogurt, cereal, and porridge, is included in the room rate and served in the adjoining dining room that overlooks the garden. Free Wi-Fi is provided throughout the hotel, and free parking is also available.