The Old Manse of Blair

We stayed in the detached rooms, which were distinctive, cosy, comfortable and private. The main house also felt warm and comfortable, with an excellent restaurant. This is a very nice boutique hotel. Make reservations ahead for the restaurant, though the small plates in the bar were amazing too. The owners have made the property beautiful, and it’s clear they love sharing the experience with their guests.

Our group was really well looked after by the attentive staff, and the food was excellent. It’s family-run and makes a great base for Pitlochry and the lovely scenery nearby. A perfect stay in the Cairngorms. We’ll be back.

We came for the £85 a head à la carte dinner at the end of our trip to Scotland, so I can only comment on the meal, not the hotel. The restaurant decor was fairly ordinary, without much of a special feel, though that didn’t bother me much. I hoped the food would be the main attraction. It wasn’t. The starters and mains were both very average, and although the small portions weren’t surprising for this kind of meal, there was little depth or interest in the flavours. The bread with miso butter was quite nice; the chicken bon bon canapé was bland. A large party arrived later, and our desserts took a while. I’ve worked in restaurants, so I understood the delay and wasn’t bothered by the wait itself. The problem was that nobody really explained it. They arrived with a mumbled apology, and one sorbet was almost completely melted, like a clump of butter. The chocolate ganache with raspberry sorbet was disappointing too, more like a café traybake, though the sorbet itself tasted good. When we asked for the bill, a gentleman said he’d bring our petit fours first. They weren’t on the menu and could have been a nice surprise, but both tasted unpleasant. There was plenty of honey on top, which drowned out everything at first, but the texture and aftertaste were still odd. The bill came with an apology that wasn’t explained. I assume it was for the wait, which hadn’t bothered us. Our drinks had been removed as an apology, a kind gesture, but since we’d each only had a soft drink, it took about £9 off a £190 meal. The 12.5% service charge was still there, and when I asked for it to be removed, another staff member seemed surprised. Honestly, it was the first time I’d ever asked to do that while eating out. The evening felt like a disappointing tourist trap, not a top-quality restaurant experience.

The tasting menu alone is worth booking for, and we enjoyed every part of our stay at The Old Manse. It’s a superb venue in lovely surroundings, with welcoming staff who were happy to accommodate us. This was my third visit, and I’ll be back as soon as I can.