Is this four-star historic Scottish hotel really worth the money?

Is it a base hotel for largely European and American tourists wanting a central location while exploring our stunning country? Or is it a romantic destination for couples seeking R&R in the fresh air of Perth and Kinross?

I’m not really sure after staying there this autumn – but maybe in 2025, Crieff Hydro doesn’t need to be one thing.

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It’s a long time since the hotel was founded by Dr Thomas Meikle on the principles of hydrotherapy – with the property promoted as more of a medical establishment than anything else. Guests came for the water treatments, exercise in the hilly country surroundings and simple food.

Alcohol wasn’t even allowed at the hotel until the 1990s, and for much of the 19th and 20th centuries, the Church had a real heavy hand on goings-on, with residents forced to pay a fine if they missed saying grace before dinner.

If anything, it’s a testament to the team at Crieff Hydro that in a relatively short time, it has gone from such a restrictive, regimented venue to a well-designed hotel that can accommodate a true variety of guests – all the while keeping ownership in the hands of the original founding family.

I didn’t really fit into any of the aforementioned categories of guest when I rocked up in October with my best friend – excited to try the Hydro’s impressive range of food and drink options and get dressed up for dinner … but also spend time on the resort’s aerial treetop adventure course.

Over the course of the weekend, I got to imagine myself in the shoes of a true pick-and-mix of visitors as I sampled the spa, restaurants and luxurious bars on offer, then did mini-golf, petted a Highland cow and got – glamorously, of course – trapped on a zip wire.

Food and drink

After its £5 million renovations, Crieff Hydro has a range of food and drink options, all presented as being different restaurants. It’s a clever bit of design that they feature hidden entrances stemming from the central Winter Garden/Ballroom Bar area – everything is really sharing the same floor space and in some cases front of house staff.

This can be efficient, but sadly can also result in lengthy waiting times for drinks and food.

This was particularly obvious during afternoon tea, where a sole waitress was needed in multiple places – and service ground to a total halt. Had we paid full price for the experience – which is in a beautiful setting with gorgeous scenic views of Perthshire – we would have been very disappointed.

But the opposite is true across the floor in the lovely, modern Asian restaurant EAST. The waiting staff can’t tell you enough about the menu. Dishes like black pepper beef fillet and Japanese sticky chicken, made with local Perthshire ingredients, truly sing, while the sharing plates concept works for the different kinds of groups eating here. We couldn’t stop eating and kept going back to order more.

The Winter Garden lunch options are another positive, with a wide variety of options available to suit all tastes. I opted for a flatbread with chicken and chorizo, and I gasped as it arrived – it was positively ginormous. My best friend went for a buttermilk fried chicken sandwich, and I could tell from the sound of the crunch alone that it was a good choice. Be warned, though: The size of the plates are quite exceptional. It definitely passes the value-for-money test.

Elsewhere, Crieff Hydro has some stunning spots to enjoy a drink in. The glasshouse feel of the Ballroom Bar is like something from the Great Gatsby, with a swanky cocktail menu to match. I shan’t say too much about the hotel’s secret drinking spot, The Hermitage, for fear of spoiling the surprise. But just know that trying to find its entrance could be itself a good laugh.

Whether you’re into speakeasy venues or find them a little cringeworthy, it’s nice to spend time somewhere specifically designated for adults, and the delightful staff on hand couldn’t be more helpful.

Food and drink 4/5

Leisure and activities

THE hotel has an extensive variety of leisure facilities and external activities available – the most renowned of these probably being the Victorian Baths. The baths are very attractively decorated in a faux-Renaissance style (think painted murals on the ceiling, stone and marble fixtures) and you can access your typical thermal circuit bits and pieces – sauna, steam room, etc.

The atmosphere is a little strange though, with 80s and 90s pop hits playing during our time there. In a hotel of this standard, I’d probably have expected more of a “relaxation soundscape”. The result is quite a chatty, social environment, which looks a bit different from how it feels. Given all that, I also think charging an extra £20 for guests to access this space is a little much.

Nearby, the spa itself features a team of cheerful staff who will happily discuss your needs in a tailored consultation session, before getting started on exceptional treatments. I found the spa far more impressive than the often-photographed and TikTok’d Victorian Baths, and was dismayed to find myself being woken up during the massage and finding it was nearly over.

One of the real perks for families visiting Crieff Hydro is Action Glen Adventure Park – just a short walk from the main building or minutes away on the “Hydro Express” shuttle. Here, you can access archery, axe-throwing, clay shooting, mini-golf, mini off-roaders, woodland combat, the treetop adventure course that left me stuck mid-air, and much more.

It’s another additional fee, but could keep kids entertained for the whole day – it certainly worked on me, despite being 27 years old – and has a little something for the whole family.

For the more touristy visitors, the new Highland cow experience allows you to get up close and personal with the beautiful creatures. You can brush their fur, give them snacks and learn facts about the oft-admired animals, and given how many Highland cow images fill up gift shops across Scotland, I suspect there is a solid market here for this opportunity.

Elsewhere across the hotel, there’s a swimming pool, extensive gym, plus golf simulators, a games room, a cinema and daily entertainment.

Leisure and activities: 4/5

Rooms, general look and feel

Our room, a signature double in a separate building, was light and airy with a muted, neutral design scheme that felt timeless. The huge bay windows offered views out onto the surrounding rolling hills and the historic hotel building itself. It felt worth the higher price point.

The £5m renovations around the food and drink spaces are clearly felt when you’re in them, and they bring a real freshness into a business that could easily fall into the “old-fashioned Highlands” trap. Neutral colours draw attention to the impressive architectural elements, and there’s greenery visible almost everywhere through lovely big windows. However, the lower levels towards the pool, games room and toilets can feel a bit left behind and dingy. I suspect this area will be next on the investment list.

Rooms, general look and feel: 4/5

Overall

Crieff Hydro genuinely does have a bit for everyone, and its food and drink improvements – especially East – are worth the visit alone. Its extensive leisure and activity agenda is superior to its competitors, but the additional charges can definitely stack up.

4/5