Having visited Dalmunzie several times under the previous ownership, expectations of a luxurious weekend were high. The greeting and welcome on arrival was of the highest level but things went downhill rapidly soon after.

The bedroom itself was beautifully furnished, although small touches like an unpolished coffee table and a TV that had no reception didn't add anything to the decor. The bathroom had a lurid lime green suite - a throwback to the seventies and in no way complemented the style of the room. With the room rates so high we were very surprised that such basics were ignored. Tepid water wasn't very welcome after a muddy walk on the hills.

The restaurant appears to have moved from years ago - previously a Grand ballroom with a chandelier, now a poky scullery with diners packed in together closely. The food was unexceptional - breakfast served with a teabag in the cup.

Although the Australian staff are friendly, the subtleties of experience are lacking - if staff can be over-attentive, these guys certainly are. The accents make for a surreal experience in deepest Perthshire.

The setting, the golf course (extra charge) and the building are first rate but it's a shame that the Scottish Country House experience I remember so vividly seems to have disappeared. There are very nice cottages on the Estate and I could highly recommend them to readers as a worthwile and better value alternative.

I stayed here for a weekend in mid-July, based mainly on the hotel's website pictures and the attraction of the golf course. Golf course was great - very challenging and lost a lot of balls, but something for everyone. The hotel was a different story. It is certainly not cheap, but this would be OK if the rooms were up to scratch (note that green fees are not included in the price of the room). I paid extra for a fourposter room (I was told the only double remaining was above the bar, and so would be very noisy at night). The room was shabby, and the bathroom was archaic. There was no hot water (the best I achieved was lukewarm with no pressure at all). The bed was very comfortable though. We chose to take the half-board package, and the dinner was very good both nights. Breakfast was more hit and miss. The first morning was delicious. The second substandard. We were told that this was because there was a different chef on that morning.
As the owners are Australian they recruit from Australian hospitality training colleges. Staff were in general polite and helpful, but this does not create an authentic Scottish holiday, if that is what you are after. The location is very remote, and did not really suit as a base to tour Perthshire - the nearest town or point of interest was at least 18 miles of winding road away. It would be ideal as a place to drive to and stay put at if you had a good book to read, or felt like walking the hills. I would stay around Dunkeld next time, and just drive to Dalmunzie to play the golf course.

A friend and I stayed at this hotel for one night March 2005. The trouble started with poor directions on the hotel's own web site--when you're driving in the dark on a single-track road, there's a big difference between 5 and 15 miles. Staff was friendly, but most seem to be imported from Australia and have little knowledge of nearby sites, directions, and hours of operation. (For example, one woman told me that the Queen resides at Braemar Castle, when in fact she resides at Balmoral.) Bathroom was cold and shower inadequate. For the price, not worth it.

This hotel is in a beautiful setting: the scenery is stunning and if you like walking it is the perfect base. The staff at the hotel have always been welcoming, charming and extremely helpful. The bedrooms are very comfortable and the food is excellent. It is one of the most relaxing places I have ever been to and we make a point of returning as often as we can. I recommend this hotel highly.