Visit & Vibes

Yet another delightful hotel invitation and I must say, I’m beginning to truly relish these opportunities.

They provide a chance to explore areas I might not have considered otherwise, much like restaurant invitations do.

Today, I had the pleasure of being invited to the Red House Hotel at Cooper Angus Blairgowrie. I had never heard of this place before, so I was particularly excited about my overnight stay.

This time, I was invited for bed and breakfast.

About The Hotel

The Red House has expanded over the decades under the Bannerman family’s management. The original structure, which served as the Railway Hotel, has grown to become the stunning hotel and grounds it is today. Our 20 bedrooms of all sizes, a sports complex and an extensive function room, equip us to cater to every possible occasion. Cradled in a valley by the foot of the Cairngorms, we are in a central location which offers fantastic views and makes us a haven for hikers and walkers. There are around thirty golf courses within a half-hour journey of our front door, and we enjoy the company of many regular shooting and fishing parties.

Booking Experience

The booking experience was absolutely seamless. Everything was coordinated between the PR company and the hotel, leaving me with the simple task of confirming the date that worked for the hotel.

Arrival and Check-In

Upon arrival and pulling into the car park, I noticed there were plenty of spaces available, so if you’re driving, parking is readily available.

I then proceeded to the main entrance where I was greeted by a friendly staff member. She introduced herself, collected all my details, and provided information about the dining times for dinner and breakfast, as well as the location of my room.

Heading to my room, I exited the building and followed my instructions to the large glass doors.

Upon entering, I made my way up to the first floor to locate my room. As I walked, I couldn’t help but notice that everything in this section of the hotel was exceptionally clean and exuded a charming Scottish vibe.

Décor	★★★★
Entrance Cleanliness	★★★★★
Staff Friendliness & Welcome	★★★★★
Staff Appearance / Uniform	★★★★★
Restaurant Cleanliness	★★★★★
Hotel facilities & layout explained	Yes
Hotel Parking	Yes

Bedroom and Amenities

Upon entering my room, I immediately noticed its spaciousness, with two beds provided. Although this stay was intended for a plus-one invite, it was just me once again.

Taking in the surroundings, I found the room to be charmingly clean and well-maintained. It boasted two windows, each offering a decent view, albeit one slightly better than the other.

The room included a guest brochure that provided information on everything from fire escapes and breakfast times to checkout times and dinner menus. Additionally, it featured tea and coffee-making facilities, a telephone, and a television. There was also a small booklet detailing all the local sites and attractions in the area and its surroundings.

My evening in the room was delightful. I sat down and began typing up some blogs, then relaxed with some Netflix. The hotel provided complimentary Wi-Fi, and the signal speed was exceptionally fast, which was a pleasant surprise.

Now, onto the topic of my sleep. How did it go?

Well, firstly, the quality of the bedding was very good.

The bed was impeccably clean and exceptionally comfortable, resulting in a very restful sleep. As is typical in any hotel, there was some noise from people returning late to their rooms, perhaps after indulging in a few drinks.

However, aside from that minor disturbance, the overall experience was nice and very relaxing.

ROOM FEATURES

• Ensuite facilities
• Free WiFi
• Complimentary refreshments
• Television
• Hairdryer

Quality of bedding	★★★★
Bedroom Cleanliness	★★★★★
View from Room	★★★★

Bathroom

Upon entering the bathroom, I immediately noticed its charming and cozy design. While I wasn’t entirely certain whether there was underfloor heating or if the warmth simply rose naturally, I couldn’t help but appreciate the cleanliness and spaciousness of the bathroom.

The shower was easy to use, and both the water pressure and temperature were excellent. I’ve stayed in a few places where the water settings were inconsistent, but this one was perfect, allowing me to fully awaken myself before my drive home in the morning.

Additionally, they provided toiletries in case you forgot your own, and towels were also provided.

Quality of Towels	★★★★★
Bedroom Cleanliness	★★★★★
Temperature of water	★★★★★
Did the hotel/venue provide toiletries?	YES

Dining / Breakfast Area

It wasn’t until check-in that the hotel kindly informed me that I could easily join them for dinner.

However, since I had indulged in a substantial lunch while exploring the area and seeing some of the sights before arriving here, I decided to skip dinner. Nevertheless, I did make sure to go down for breakfast in the morning.

The breakfast area resembled the dining area, featuring a spacious, impeccably clean space with a delightful cozy, and warm ambiance.

The staff member this morning was incredibly helpful, pleasant, and delightful to interact with. She escorted me to my table, which was situated in a charming little conservatory area—perfect for enjoying the morning atmosphere.

They handed me a breakfast menu and mentioned that there were coffee-making facilities available. Additionally, from my vantage point, I could see a wide variety of cereals in case that’s what I fancied.

Typically, I’m strictly a coffee person in the mornings, but for some reason, the sound of scrambled eggs appealed to me today, so that’s what I decided to go for.

The scrambled eggs were cooked to perfection, with a delightful flavor and a generous portion size. They provided ample sustenance for my morning drive home, leaving me feeling satisfied.

Overall, I couldn’t find fault with anything here. I enjoyed a delightful breakfast, which was very relaxing and helped me wake up and fuel up before hitting the road.

Quality of Seating	★★★★★
Bedroom Cleanliness	★★★★★
Choice of foods	★★★★★
Noise Level	★★★★★

Location and Accessibility

In terms of the hotel’s location, it was perfect for me as a confident driver.

Before arriving here, I made stops in Dunkeld for a brief stroll and also at Hermitage Park for another leisurely walk. These attractions were only a 30 to 40-minute drive away, depending on your speed and road conditions. I highly recommend visiting both places as they offer delightful surroundings for a leisurely walk. Therefore, the location of the hotel suited me perfectly, allowing me to easily hop in my car and explore the surrounding attractions.

Final Thoughts…

Overall, I want to extend a big thank you to the staff here for extending the invitation to me. I had a wonderful stay, and I’d like to express my gratitude to all members of the staff—from the check-in process to breakfast and check-out.

Everyone was delightful, incredibly helpful, and attentive, and I truly appreciate their efforts.

My stay was thoroughly enjoyable. As I mentioned earlier, I had a restful sleep, the room was immaculate, and the hotel itself was spotless.

Additionally, its convenient location allowed me easy access to the surrounding areas. If you find yourself in the vicinity, I have no hesitation in recommending this hotel. I couldn’t find any faults during my visit, and as a result, I’ll be adding it to my list of top hotel stays.

If you do decide to check it out, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Also, if you dine here, feel free to share your thoughts and comments in the section below.

Overall Value for Money	n/a
MY OVERALL RATING	★★★★

The above blog post review is 100% honest and has not been influenced in anyway. Its a true representation of my thoughts.