With pints in fingers and nets and rods leaning in opposition to a wall, I spot a small shoal of anglers exterior The Grandtully Resort after I arrive.
In a tiny village of the identical identify (it means ‘tough mound’), the resort is subsequent to the River Tay, Scotland’s longest, the place salmon combine with kayakers, whereas purple squirrels scamper within the close by bushes.
The sound of water aside, it is a quiet place – an hourly bus constitutes the vast majority of site visitors going previous this Victorian-era resort.
In 2018, it was remodeled from a backpackers’ hostel by the household partnership of Andrew, Chris and Rachel Rowley once they swapped London and Edinburgh for this lovely a part of Perthshire.
Peaceable: Sarah Turner checks in to The Grandtully Resort (pictured) in Perthshire, which is subsequent to the River Tay
It’s homely in a extremely stylised approach, together with nooks with books. Upstairs, eight bedrooms are kitted out with classic furnishings, cast-iron baths and comfortable chairs, together with kettles and contemporary milk. There’s a bar, too, which dispenses negronis that Andrew makes and bottles himself, native beers in addition to the resort’s personal gin made out of components foraged from the encompassing space.
The trio have interconnecting, food-based initiatives within the space. Ballintaggart Farm is a smallholding that mixes a luxurious vacation let and occasion house with a well-liked cookery faculty, and there’s a meals store in close by Aberfeldy. However all of it comes collectively at Grandtully.
With darkish colors and unfussy decor, there’s a contact of Brooklyn breeziness about it and on a Sunday evening the resort is packed. Alongside the anglers are a bunch right here for a marriage and a few locals, all digging into the meals.
Unfussy: Sarah says the decor has a ‘contact of Brooklyn breeziness about it’
There are eight bedrooms kitted out with classic furnishings, cast-iron baths and ‘comfortable’ chairs
The resort was remodeled from a backpackers’ hostel in 2018 by the household partnership of Andrew, Chris and Rachel Rowley
Andrew is accountable for the kitchen and whereas there’s a specific amount of fermenting and foraging to be discovered on the menu, there’s self-discipline too. Previously on the luxurious Dakota Edinburgh boutique resort, he goals for a most of simply three major, seasonal components. The outcomes present in a coley Kiev with wild garlic and parsley emulsion – a scrumptious riff on the extra traditional rooster model – together with kale from the backyard.
There are tasting menus for meat-eaters, vegetarians and vegans. Here’s a vacation spot that you just wish to work up an urge for food for – and that’s not too troublesome, with white-water rafting simply exterior the door on the Tay in addition to loads of biking and strolling routes.
Surrounded by Perthshire’s astonishing farmland, The Grandtully Resort is ready to cherry-pick its produce, from venison that comes from the close by Murthly Property and fish from each Scotland’s east and west coasts to smooth fruits in summer season.
The resort’s menu is pushed by seasonal produce, Sarah reveals. ‘Andrew is accountable for the kitchen,’ she explains, ‘and whereas there’s a specific amount of fermenting and foraging to be discovered on the menu, there’s self-discipline too’
The resort’s house owners have interconnecting, food-based initiatives in Perthshire. Ballintaggart Farm (pictured) is a smallholding that mixes a luxurious vacation let and occasion house with a well-liked cookery faculty, and there’s a meals store in close by Aberfeldy
Close by Dunkeld is lined with high-end provision shops, whereas subsequent door to the resort is the Highland Chocolatier providing hand-made truffles.
The Grandtully additionally has a store promoting provisions, together with its personal chewily scrumptious sourdough bread, jams and chutneys, plus prepared meals – a measure launched within the pandemic that’s persevering with by common demand.
Home windows open for the Scottish air, I slept like a child. Within the morning, the groom’s household try to assuage wedding ceremony nerves with jokes, whereas we tuck into smoked salmon, yogurt by artisan dairywoman Katy Rodger, venison salami and low roasted in Glen Lyon – and I can’t assist shopping for a few of it to get pleasure from this little bit of Perthshire after I get residence.
