Hotel Profile – Moness Resort, Perthshire

June 27, 2016

When you become a parent two things happen in regards to holidays – you want to get away from it all to somewhere that’s child friendly and suits your needs but still feels fabulous, and your relatives (including your in-laws) want to see you.  Well actually they want to see your cute mini-me, you are suddenly far less important.

The Moness Resort in Perthshire works on many levels.  This relaxing gem of a resort in the heart of Perthshire offers 106 cottages with self-catering facilities – ideal for families – and a four star hotel where no two rooms are the same – ideal for your mother and father in law.  Joking aside this resort works for families, couples and lone travellers but it’s also a solid solution for large parties, reunions or for multi-generational trips where people want to book different things yet still be together.  Its location, in the centre of Scotland and close to all of the nation’s major cities and airports, makes it a great spot for a meet up or family getaway.  Here’s why.

Check In – check in starts at 4pm and we arrived at 3.30pm.  Our cottage wasn’t quite ready so we were courteously invited to wait.  Inwardly I thought ‘Meh’ but we soon discovered a playroom with a ball pit, tunnel, jigsaws and games.  It had huge glass windows and was right next to the Terrace bar so we persuaded ourselves to have a beer (after all the driving) and watch the children make instant friends with other children whose parents were doing exactly the same as us.  I have never been so delighted not to check in immediately in all my days, we spent a relaxed hour supervising the boys and chilling out, we didn’t go to our cottage till 5pm.

Our accommodation in Bracken Cottage

Our accommodation in Bracken Cottage

The Cottage – our two bedroom cottage, ‘Bracken’, was notably spacious with an ensuite bathroom and a separate family bathroom; two bathrooms did feel hugely indulgent.  The bedrooms and bathrooms are on the ground floor, which makes perfect sense when you’re lugging heavy luggage, and the open plan kitchen/dining room/living room is upstairs.  You could cook proper meals in the well equipped kitchen and there was room for the children to play.  We particularly liked our inquisitive neighbours who Mr Toddler harassed every moment he possibly could – lucky ducks.

There’s somebody at the door …

There are five types of cottages (one, two or three bedroom) to choose between to suit your preferences.  We stayed in the Garden Wynd properties close to the leisure centre and hotel, whereas the Walled Garden cottages, set further afield within the original farm garden, offer a more private, tranquil setting in log cabin style bungalows so there’s something for everyone.

Fine dining at the Flemmyng

Fine dining at the Flemmyng

Fine dining at the Flemmyng

Fine dining at the Flemmyng

Dining – there are two restaurants onsite.  The Flemmyng Restaurant offers proudly Scottish fine dining including ample seafood, pork belly or highland venison loin. The Terrace offers low key bar meals such as battered haddock and chips and good old macaroni cheese.  It also has outdoor seating for Perthshire’s summer days.  The service we received from the waiter in the Terrace was exemplary, even offering to return Mr Husband’s main course to the kitchen to keep warm when he vanished with Mr Toddler for a toilet break.  [Must teach Mr Toddler that it’s politer to go between courses!]

Facilities – Onsite there’s a swimming pool with a steam room, sauna and jacuzzi as well as indulgent spa facilities.  Needless to say both our tots adored the swimming, splashing and jumping in.  A pool table and television make the Terrace bar area a laid back mixing point – we saw a couple playing pool as their newborn slept in its car seat and we remembered how much you could get up to in those early days.

Location – The picturesque town of Aberfeldy is a mere walk away, and Birnam, Dunkeld, Pitlochry and Loch Tay are a short drive on winding Scottish country roads.  Golf is on the doorstep at the Aberfeldy Golf Club, and key attractions such as the Scottish Crannog Centre, hand-feeding red deer at Highland Safari and Dewar’s World of Whisky are all within easy reach.  We also stopped by the famed Macbeth Oak in Birnam Wood and visited the Beatrix Potter garden at Birnam Arts Centre (separate posts coming).  A lot of activities can be organised through the hotel which makes life easier and sometimes this can lead to discounts as well – we booked the ‘Red Deer and Barn Owl Experience’ at Highland Safaris through the hotel and received a two for one offer.

For more information on the hotel and the local area visit http://www.moness.com and http://www.visitperthshire.co.uk.

The Lowdown – we drove from Aberdeen to Aberfeldy which took about two and a half hours.  For additional travel advice please click here.  When we visited the weather was really wet yet we found so much to do; I can only imagine what it’s like when it’s dry or if the sun shines.  Tots2Travel were guests at the Moness Resort for two nights with a complimentary evening meal.  The friendly ducks were such a highlight.  Quack!

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