Editor’s Pick / LLM Exclusive News June 2026 Weekend / Hotel Reviews Hotel Review: Crieff Hydro, Crieff, Perthshire in Scotland / By Katie Wood

I recently stayed two nights in one of my favourite hotels. It’s in Perthshire, Scotland.

OK, I’m Scottish and you’ll no doubt think, therefore I’m biased, but I’m not.

Having travelled to over 140 countries over the past 43 years, I’ve stayed in literally thousands of hotels – several of them, truly, the apogee of luxury; some mediocre and many truly horrific (well, I did backpack for 18 months round Europe to write my first of 39 guidebooks ‘Europe by Train’ – could have been called ‘Bordello-Dives of Europe’ but I did come across some gems so my next book ‘Cheap Sleeps’ was an amalgam of them).

No, this one I’m telling you about is not five-star, and no, it’s not got a Michelin-starred restaurant, but it is charming, sentimental for me (I regularly took my sons here from babies through to them leaving home for uni).

It has an unbeatable amount to offer families and is excellent value for money.

The family-owned Crieff Hydro is a part of Scottish history. It has served guests for nearly 160 years and is now in the care of the sixth generation of the Leckie family, and the parents and four adult children all still work full-time in the hotel, as their forebears did before them.

Crieff Hydro was built in 1868 and opened by Dr Thomas Meikle as Scotland’s first hydropathic hotel

People return over the decades for the incredible array of activities for both children and adults, the good food, comfortable rooms and affordable prices. It has the most multi-generational clientele of any Scottish hotel because it truly caters for everyone from babies to great-grandmothers in its 215 hotel rooms and 56 lodges.

The hotel sits atop a hill with spectacular views across the rolling Perthshire countryside. Located an hour’s drive from Glasgow and an hour and a half from Edinburgh, apart from all the activities on offer at the hotel, there’s also a lot to see and do in this beautiful part of Scotland.

On my ‘Must See’ list are three wonderful places: Scotland’s oldest working distillery Glenturret, dating from 1763, is a six-minute drive away. At the end of your tour you can sample a drop of the hard stuff, and enjoy a snack in the restaurant.

Next, the wonderful, historic Innerpeffray Library – the first lending library in Scotland, founded in 1680, with countless first editions from around the world – is a 15-minute drive from the hotel. They offer guided tours for £10 and you can handle the precious, historic books under supervision.

The handwritten Borrowers’ Registers are a record of everyone who’s ever borrowed a book since its inception. Round off your visit walking the Heritage Trail down by the River Earn.

The other one not to miss is the magnificent Drummond Castle Gardens –  a five- minute drive. These immaculate formal gardens are ‘Scotland’s Versailles’ and were featured in the blockbuster movie ‘Rob Roy’.

The 20-metre main swimming pool is always popular and has dedicated times for children

Crieff Hydro was built in 1868 and opened by Dr Thomas Meikle as Scotland’s first hydropathic hotel. Interestingly, the tap water to this day at the hotel tastes as good as it gets – no need for expensive mineral water here.

A massive refurbishment in 2025 saw around five million pounds invested in the six restaurants and bars, and I also noted an impressive difference in many of the rooms.

The Hydro boasts a cinema, a magnificent Ballroom and a 120-year-old Victorian Winter Garden with panoramic views.

Sometimes it’s described as a ‘super-posh Center Parcs for the middle class’ but, no, that really doesn’t do it justice because the resort oozes history and class and is aesthetically very pleasing with beautiful grounds.

If you’re over 50 years old it will transport you back to halcyon holidays past: the weekly ceilidh, family discos, quizzes, live music, but overall, it’s just the sheer gentility of the place that makes me so incredibly fond of it. It is utterly charming.

A massive refurbishment in 2025 saw around five million pounds invested in the six restaurants and bars

Due to the religious background of generations passed, it used to be ‘dry’ (ie no alcohol), but it’s now moved with the times and it’s definitely not today!

The old joke was that when you checked in to ‘The Hydro’ you could hardly hear yourself at Reception for the ‘clink, clink’ of the bottles being secreted upstairs to rooms by the porters.

The 900-acre estate encompasses a scenic and challenging nine-hole golf course, a river for fishing, and ‘Action Glen’ which, if you’re travelling with youngsters, will be a part of ‘The Hydro’ you will get very used to. Here you can find over 30 outdoor activities to tire out even the most hyper youngster.

They’ll have a good time; you’ll have a good time. What’s not to like?

They can enjoy Alpaca trekking, axe throwing (!), Highland cow experiences, an air rifle range, an adventure park, arts and crafts, an actual fort, quad biking, archery and a ‘Safe Room’ where kids (and adults!) will delight in trying to steal the world’s largest diamond before the guards find you.

Horse riding, lamb feeding, quad biking, a gym is also available, as well as six tennis courts and putting. Oh, I nearly forgot, there’s also a high treetop adventure on a zipwire.

I had probably blanked that from my memory deliberately as I, stupidly, took it just after a very large, indulgent Crieff Hydro breakfast…..

Crieff Hydro has served guests for nearly 160 years and is now in the care of the sixth generation of the Leckie family

When I was there the weather was kind but if it isn’t, fear not. While you might be perfectly happy to snuggle down, read a book, go for a swim, massage or watch a movie, if you’ve kids, forget it.

That is when the ‘Bunker’ with its pool table and golf simulator and ‘Glen’s Den’, with teen-friendly arcade games will come into its own.

The 20-metre main swimming pool is always popular and has dedicated times for children (to escape the little darlings completely spend £30 and you can enjoy a swim, steam, sauna, Jacuzzi in the beautifully restored adults-only Victorian Baths, from 1905).

The Spa is popular with locals and guests, so do book ahead. The therapists are friendly – as indeed all the staff – and good at what they do. (A special shout for Lauren’s massage skills and Eammon and Danny’s waitering skills).

Every parent knows that keeping children happy is essential if the adults are to be allowed any faint glimmer of relaxation and contentment, and this is where Crieff Hydro excels. You will be grateful for a Kids’ clubs called ‘Big Country’ which offers two hours of free supervised childcare daily for guests’ children and all sorts of fun.

Then there’s ‘Little Country’ for children under three with loads of toys and a soft play area (parental supervision required).

For kids between two and 12 they can even go off-roading in their own mini four-wheel (supervised; don’t worry!).

The food is good, and menus are varied and will please all ages

The food is good, and menus are varied and will please all ages.

‘East’ is the Asian option restaurant, with delicious Asian-fusion dishes including small plates such as tempura samphire, Javanese sticky chicken and Malaysian prawn laksa curry.

The traditional Meikle Restaurant has everything from chateaubriand (which, by the way is delicious) to fish ‘n’ chips. Prices range from £21 to £70 (for two) for a main course, and it’s this variety that suits every budget that keeps this hotel in the most loved and visited in Scotland.

Factbox

Hotel rooms require a minimum two-night stay. Prices from £164 to £183.20 per person.

Lodges require a three-night minimum stay. Best value is the midweek four night option for up to four people. Prices from £175 to £247.

Address: Crieff Hydro, Strathearn House, Ferntower Road, Crieff, PH7  3LQ,
Phone: 01764 655 555
Email: sales@crieffhydro.com
Website: crieffhydro.com

To book self-catering lodges: crieffhydro.com/self-catering

To book overnight stays:  crieffhydro.com/rooms