FALLEN LEAVES made of gold and crimson, a warm wood fireplace that crackles and cosy blankets made of wool. It’s not just an idyllic autumn fantasy, but far away in the Scottish highlands it could also be your perfect autumn getaway.

Murrayshall Country Estate, located just an hour drive from Edinburgh into the Perthshire hills, welcomes you to 340-acres of vast open lands and yet an enchanted quaint hideaway.

Dating back up to 400 years, the former home of Lord Lyndoech, is now a four-star luxury stay with up to 40 rooms and suites, 27-hole golf course and spa retreat for guests.

Room with a View

My own stay at the estate began in the Lynedoch Suite which was just 50 yards from the main house. The suite welcomes you to a spacious living area, kitchen and bedroom with double bed, in addition to a bathroom with options for both showers and lazy bathtub sessions.

 The suite is surrounded by tons of natural light in the early crisp morning, and the cosiest of evenings adorned with traditional Scottish interior from pine furniture to exquisite tartan. There are an impressive 40 bedrooms to choose from at Murrayshall, including the larger Miller Suite which boasts of a four-poster bed, reading area and “panoramic” views of the Perth countryside.

Beginning your mornings and ending your evenings in this selection of suites promises to be cosy and gives you home away from home comfortability while in the hills. 

Spa Getaway

Just down the country path, Murrayshall Country Estate offers a tranquil and luxurious getaway in what is known as the gatehouse for guests to be pampered with an array of spa treatments. Using only the best, high-end organic Scottish seaweed products from Ishga, there are options for an Express Facial for 30 minutes to a relaxing neck, back or should massage for up to 80 minutes. 

During my time at the gatehouse, the atmosphere created by welcoming masseuses really does allow you to take in the treatment and leaves you feeling lighter and more zen. They are also adaptable to your needs in any problem areas in particular. 

Adventure to Scone Palace

Just a short drive from Murrayshall is Scone Palace, where I was able to be immersed into Scottish heritage and tradition. The palace, known as the crowning place of Scottish Kings, offers guided tours of its grounds and inside the mediaeval walls, where historical specialists take you through each story of the sprawling state rooms for a firsthand look into history. 

Considered one of the great families of Scotland, the Murrays began as Freskin de Moravia, a 12th century Flemish nobleman who was granted land in the area east, known today to many Scots as Inverness. Scone Palace boasts a rich history from the 1st Viscount Stormont, the Jacobites era and up till today with the current and 9th Earl of Mansfield.

Amid the many historic paintings at Scone Palace, there’s one in particular which tells the story of a forgotten Black history. Dido Elizbeth Belle is cemented in time in one of the most famous paintings during the slave trade, captured alongside her cousin, Elizabeth, daughter of the future 2nd Earl. 

Dido’s mother was a Cuban slave and her father a British naval officer, John Lindsay who captured the Spanish ship in about 1760. They fell in love and he brought her to London to begin a new life. The painting, by David Martin, is thought to be the first that depicts a Black and white woman as social equals during the slave trading era.

The drawing room of the palace even has displayed a portrait of Queen Charlotte, who is considered to have been the first Black queen of England. It’s a reminder that history is really on all our doorsteps and connects us more than we know, despite its dark legacies. 

Tea for two

Hidden away through the array of shortbread biscuits and other Scottish trinkets in Scone Palace’s guest shop was a spread of Afternoon Tea in what is known as the “Old Kitchen”.

There, I was able to try some arrangements of both meat and vegetarian sandwiches, and sweet treats including strawberry tarts and of course scones with traditional jam, cottage cream and a side of butter. 

Adorned with Victorian style crockery and copper cookware, the experience feels just like high tea in the era of regency Scotland. The Old Kitchen is also available for lunch and in my case a private dining feast for up to 12 persons or more. For those of you taken by the grandeur of Regency era, it promises to be a Bridgerton–esque experience!

The Scone Gardens

The enchanted garden of Scone Palace changes every year through the seasons, and when I visited it was glittered with the signs of early autumn. Whilst there are no formal gardens surrounding the palace, there are pathways that lead to woodlands and towering trees, and shrubbery that border its crevices. 

Beginning 900 years ago, the acres of land around the abbey of Scone Palace. Of course now, the abbey is gone and the grounds rejuvenated by 3rd Earl’s landscape designer, John Loudon from the early 19th century. Scone Palace offers Garden Tours of the immaculate grounds, including that of their famous Douglas Fir tree named after David Douglas, a Scottish landscaper born in Scone.  

Outdoor Escapades

While staying at Murrayshall Country Estate, I was able to partake in just some of the activities on offer with Willowgate Activity Centre who specialise in outdoor activities on both water and land. 

I took part in a spot of axe throwing where we were tasked  with throwing axes at a wooden board, with the sole aim of getting as many into the bullseye as possible. With no real technique for winning, for some it’s a therapeutic release, and for others it’s a good test of coordination and aim. 

Laser clay shooting is another activity on offer, which slightly deviates from the traditional clay shooting some of us have grown to hear about. This much-loved outdoor activity has evolved to the ever-changing digital landscape with an electric gun and scoreboard. The task? Quite simply to aim and shoot the flying disks until you’re lucky enough to strike one mid-air.Even in the autumn cold, it still lends itself to be an exhilarating activity and team sport it is.

Fine Dining

At Murrayshall’s Country Estate,  the notable Eòlas restaurant is where we were treated  to a three-course fine dinings experience. Serving both breakfast and lunch, the evenings dinners transform into a dimly lit, culinary whirlwind with new flavours and textures to expand your palette. 

Eòlas, pronounced “Olass”, is Gaelic for quite simply out  “experience” because of its offer of the freshest vegetables and the most locally sourced meats in Perthshire. I was treated to duck liver, encased in a deep fried donut, drizzled with seeds and topped with fresh plum, followed by a venison main doused in a rich wine red sauce, farot and turnip and ending with a pear soufflé filled to the brim with fresh custard and sprinkled with biscuit similar to your favourite apple crumble.

With every course, you’ll have the option to order from their vast wine collection with recommendations for even their array of dessert wines. The restaurant is the 2022 winner of the Best Boutique Hotelier Awards changing their menu every six-weeks to showcase the best of Scottish cooking. The Eòlas restaurant promises to offer a modern introduction to classics of Scottish flavours and methods of cooking.

All you need to know for your next Scottish getaway

Loganair

Loganair is the UK’s biggest regional airline. They offer flights from London Heathrow direct to Dundee which is a 20 minute drive from Murrayshall. Alternatively, Loganair also flies directly into Edinburgh which is an hour drive to the estate. Fares are inclusive of 15kg hold luggage, 6kg hand luggage and inflight refreshments. 

Murrayshall Rooms

Rooms at Murrayshall Country Estate start from £199 per night including bed and breakfast.

Gatehouse Spa

Spa treatment for a shoulder, back and neck massage for 30 minutes starts from £40 and 30 minute Express Facial from £40. Spa treatments are also available for non-residents at Murrayshall. 

Scone Palace

Admission tickets for the Palace and the Garden start from £17.50 for adults and Garden only bookings start from £11.00 for adults. Private guided tours of both sites start from £110 in addition to ticket entry. Bookings available now for 31st March 2024 summer season.