Murrayshall Country Estate Review

Murrayshall Country Estate in the heart of Perthshire invites you to escape, unwind and explore its 365-acre countryside retreat. Originally built in 1664 by Sir Andrew Murray, the estate served as the family home for over 260 years before its transformation into a hotel in 1973. The property offers 40 rooms and suites along with award-winning dining, spa treatments and two golf courses. 2025 sees the property expanding its accommodation offering with the launch of 22 pod-style cabins and The Luxury Editor was kindly asked to the recent launch night in November for an exclusive first peek at these new cabins and we weren’t disappointed! Read on to discover more about what’s new at Murrayshall.

It’s always a pleasure to revisit a property, we were first introduced to Murrayshall a few years ago enjoying its golfing pursuits and then Lynedoch Brasserie. Coming back this November we can see so much has changed since our first visit, the hotel has been elevated and expanded with a refined new product offering thanks to a rolling £30 million investment and General Manager Gary Silcock’s extensive background in the luxury hospitality market which saw Gary as Director, General Management of Gleneagles for four years before taking up post at Murrayshall. It’s this investment and know-how that’s repositioning Murrayshall from being known just for golfing into a destination resort.

Since our previous visit, the property now includes AA Rosette destination restaurant Eolas along with spa treatments at the Gate Lodge in addition to a remodelling and renovation of their 14 junior and deluxe suites.

In the Heart of Scotland

Murrayshall is within easy reach from all major Scottish cities with Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen all being around 1.5 hours drive away and Inverness 2.5 hours. Perth is three miles away and the town of Scone and Scone Palace is right next door making it an ideal staycation getaway.

Pod Bedrooms

The latest announcement to the investment project is the rollout of glamping style ‘Pod Bedrooms’ which will arrive in May 2025. Designed and engineered by Scottish firm, Armadilla, the 22 new pods will be located on the grounds of Murrayshall and will offer a unique and luxurious way to enjoy the estate. Tapping into the growing market for guests who want to experience glamping and connecting with nature, whilst benefiting from all the amenities a luxury hotel provides.

Glamping can conjure up thoughts of canvas tents, fire pits and tree-hugging, but these custom-built units offer a hotel-level experience under the stars, inside think citizenM with underfloor heating, mood lighting, automatic window blinds and music all controlled from a tablet along with large super king beds, a terrace and rain shower. These new pods will cater to a full range of guest configurations – offering one-bedroom units, perfect for romantic getaways, as well as larger two-bedroom units, ideal for young families and friends so this is a really exciting addition to the hotel offering.

Rooms & Suites

At present there are 40 rooms and suites across the hotel and Balvaird House positioned 50 yards from the hotel. Starting with Cosy Rooms then Estate Rooms, then moving up to Superior Rooms and finally Deluxe Rooms which have original period features high ceilings and beautiful views of the Perthshire countryside.

Suites offer spacious guest quarters with enhanced open living spaces and features. Suite options include the Fairway Suites, located in both the main house and Balvaird House, featuring lounge areas and child-friendly amenities; the Lynedoch Suites in Balvaird House, offering separate lounge and dining areas with stunning bathrooms; and the Miller Suite in the main house, boasting a luxurious four-poster bed, panoramic mullioned windows, a large lounge area, and a reading nook within a turret.

All rooms and suites are equipped with high-quality, 100% cotton bed linen while bathrooms feature Ishga hand soap and body wash, as well as Gordon Castle shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, and soap bars.

Our Suite

The last time I stayed in the main house in the Miller Suite (which has all the period wow factor you could imagine) this time I stayed in one of the newly renovated Lynedoch Suites located in Balvaird House (room 45).

I was genuinely wowed here too. You head up a flight of stairs to the upper floor and enter into the expansive main lounge which is modern and contemporary. This large dual dining/living space has two sofas a coffee table, a TV, and a dining table for six people. A sideboard houses a Nespresso machine, tea and kettle and two windows offering dual-aspect countryside views.

The bedroom is generous in size with a kingsized bed and padded feature headboard along with a built-in wardrobe and dresser drawers which provide plenty of storage space.

The star of the suite has to be the bathroom, as part of the remodelling it was formerly two rooms that have been combined into one grand bathroom. Featuring Jack and Jill doors you can enter and exit from both the lounge and bedroom, a roll-top bath sits next to the windows and across a large doorless glass walk-in shower space with rain shower, while blue metro tiles run halfway up the walls giving the space a cool contemporary finish.

Barossa

Start the night off in Barossa and you will be forgiven for gravitating towards the Chesterfield sofa in front of the wood-burning fire (which glows with warmth from morning til midnight). Do try one of their cocktails, they are fantastic and ever so moreish (I can happily confirm) and if you are visiting daytime you can also enjoy their Afternoon Tea offering.

Eolas at Murrayshall

Meaning “knowledge” in Gaelic Eolas (pronounced Olass) has lifted the food offering at Murrayshall from a simple brasserie to a two AA Rosette destination restaurant. Head Chef Craig Jackson (Craig was recently awarded the prestigious title of a Master Chef of Great Britain) takes you on a journey of the best of modern Scottish cooking using seasonal ingredients from local producers and the outcome is a triumph.

Eolas is long and narrow with window seating looking out to the fairway and banquette seating dividing the room into two. On the side we were sitting a central fireplace was adorned with festive garlands and stockings while above the fireplace, a contemporary stag portrait reminds us we are in the heart of Scotland. Flanking the fireplace are symmetrical, arched wine cabinets tease with a glimpse of a curated wine collection. Parque flooring and upholstered chairs combined with soft uplighting create a space perfect for an intimate dinner.

A special set menu was curated for us on the evening I visited – showcasing dishes from the à la carte and Christmas menus. We started with a Crab & Gruyere Doughnut, followed by Cured Trout, then Roast Beed Fillet and finished with Sticky Toffee Souffle. Like everything at Murrayshall I had seen so far I was impressed. The offering here is slick and well-executed, and testament to Gary’s pedigree in high-class hospitality which filters throughout the entire team.

You could take Eolas to the restaurant capitals of the world and it would fit in perfectly. The restaurant is open Tuesdays to Sundays and if you like a tasting menu experience they are running three in 2025 with the first one happening on Friday 24th January 2025 with Wine Importers – Wojciech Pankiewicz, you can see full details here.

Cairns

For casual dining or a post-golf drink head to Cairns, where you can enjoy classics like Burgers and Fish & Chips, Curry Nights are also held once a month and in the summer the outdoor courtyard offers al fresco dining looking out over the golf course.

Golf

Golf is still at the heart of the property and if you like this sport, you have come to the right place as Murrayshall has not one but two courses to experience, a fully stocked pro shop (equipment from leading brands, including Titleist, Cobra and Srixon), a driving range and putting greens as well as expert PGA tuition on hand which means you can turn a stay here into a complete golf break. Electric buggies and golf bag trollies can also be booked for an additional fee.

Murrayshall Course

The Murrayshall Course is an 18-hole championship parkland course which meanders its way around the countryside estate, passing by wetlands, and pine trees, and offers golfers the perfect combination of an enthralling layout, impeccable course conditions, and stunning panoramic views. 

Lyndoch Course

The Lynedoch Course is a beautiful 10-hole parkland layout that is ideal for golfers seeking a quick game of golf or for juniors and those new to the game. Shorter, but equally as challenging as the Murrayshall Course, the layout features slightly narrower fairways and challenging hills, framed by tall Scots pine trees.  

Driving Range

At 350 yards long and cut to replicate three fairways, with bunker targets at 100, 150, and 200 yards, plus several other cut green flags their floodlit driving range offers a fantastic space to hone your game or hit a few balls before heading out to play a round. 

Outdoor Pursuits

It’s not just golf on offer, the property provides a wealth of outdoor activities to build into your stay. Options range from biking and archery, outdoor picnics, axe throwing, canyoning and gorge walking to name a few options there is something to suit everyone. View the full offering here.

New to Murrayshall is quad biking, we tried their instructor-led quad bike trail, which takes you around a fun and at times challenging course that ascends into the mountains finishing with a spectacular vista to enjoy before heading back down to the hotel. All safety equipment is provided including helmets, gloves, and boiler suits and the full experience takes around an hour and a half.

Spa

Another new addition since my last visit is the Gate Lodge which now offers a range of spa treatments using Ishga. Treatments include facials, massage, deep tissue and hot stones massage, plus many more.

Final Thoughts

Since my last visit to Murrayshall, so much has changed and it’s exciting to see the hotel develop, it’s firmly placed itself on the luxury destination map. If you are looking for a break away in the Scottish countryside and also excited by the thought of glamping too – then put Murrayshall on your list of boutique hotels to visit in 2025.