THE LOCATION

A couple of miles outside Dunblane in Perthshire and tickling the edge of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park sits Cromlix in 34 acres of resplendent Scottish countryside, the boutique hotel bought by Andy & Kim Murray and re-opened to great reviews in March 2023. Edinburgh and Glasgow airports are both within an hour’s drive of the hotel so you’re pretty well placed for tourist jaunts, but the hotel also does a good job of making you feel like not going anywhere fast.

THE VIBE

A winning combination of Victorian tradition meets eye-popping maximalism. The sturdy brown-stone mansion, with its twin turrets, huge fireplaces is merely the scaffold for a really playful, inviting and stylishly modern reinvention, overseen by Kim Sears with interior designer Suzanne Garuda, with huge ornate Murano chandeliers (I wanted them all), plush velvet piped seats and sofas in all manner of pink, mauve, olive and even orange.

Where appropriate, the patterned wallpapers, boldly painted walls and extravagant, adventurous floral displays set the tone of a hotel determined to reinvent the traditional ‘Scottish country house’ tropes of tweed cushions and antlers everywhere. Trust me, it works. It feels luxe, a real ‘experience’ as the best hotels should (the glass of bubbly on arrival was a smart touch) but Cromlix deftly avoids any snobby vibes with the service, which was friendly, unpretentious and discreet.  

PILLOW TALK

If you want to play out your princess fantasies (like, always), head for one of the two turret suites in this 15 bedroom hotel – a vast, wide hallway and generous rooms made it feel more like a one-bedroom apartment. My bedroom was huge, with a four poster bed, vanity mirror, and turret alcoves – perfect for pretending to read whilst eyeing the back lawn.

The living room was large and comfortable, with a chunky sofa, TV and fireplace, plus shortbread made by Andy Murray’s nan, which was nice of her. There was more space in the bathroom than in my current kitchen (not even joking about that), with a standalone claw bath and two basins.

These top-of-the-range rooms are available from £750 but if that’s too punchy for your budget there’s a range of junior suites, deluxe doubles and even a stand alone cottage 1.3 miles from the hotel to choose from.

SCOFF & QUAFF

There was a fabulous private dining room that would be immense fun to take over or a special event but as private dining for one is basically a TV dinner I headed downstairs for cocktail and a gawp at the bar, hands-down my favourite room in the hotel with its pink chandelier and gentleman’s room-meets-bordello vibe. Gorgeous, don’t you think?

Then it was into The Glasshouse for dinner which was excellent. As you’d expect, Executive Head Chef Darin Campbell, previously at the two-Michelin-star restaurant in Gleneagles, keeps the local provenance strong  (there’s a polytunnel on site at Cromlix along with chickens, beehives and flower beds) without being a slave to it – not sure they’d find the octopus in my sushi roll starter from the local loch.

Mains was a prettily-presented seared north sea cod with flavourful Langoustine bisque (£35),

with dessert an interesting rather than knock-out orange and olive oil cake, with candied pistachios and citrus labneh (£11.50).

Aside from being presented with a knife and fork to eat my sushi, it all felt very sophisticated and en pointe. I had to head off early the next day so I didn’t get a chance to indulge in what sounded like a monumental breakfast choice of Porridge Brûlée, with whisky, cream and Demerara sugar.

FAMILY

Six rooms can accommodate families comfortably (2 adults, 2 children) with the kids on sofa bed or an additional bed brought in. Two of the Estate rooms have an inter connecting door and the Turret suites can also connect (plus the kid will love the turrets).  There’s a special package for under 10s that includes an indoor teepee, bathrobe, milk, cookies and story book at bedtime, cuddly Cromlix Red Squirrel and a canvas bunny bag. There’s a kids menu and also a children’s afternoon tea.

DOG-FRIENDLY?

Woof to that. Cromlix won the ‘Best for Walkies’ award at the Pets Pyjamas Travel Awards 2023 (yes, apparently that’s a thing!). Dogs can go into the public spaces such as the Drawing Room but aren’t invited to the party in the bar or restaurant. Any junior suite or above is great for a dog stay as there is the extra space in the room – Allium or Thyme will have them in super-fluffy comfort. The Gate Lodge also has a small garden area. £20 gets your pup a bowl, bed, welcome gift and turndown treat. There’s also a large lawn at the back of the property.

ACCESSIBILITY

The Laurel Gate Lodge is the only accessible room, but there’s a new accessible deluxe suite opening for 2026.  

EV CHARGING

Not yet, but it’s in the planning.

OUT & ABOUT

Cromlix will hold your attention if you lean into it, with its tennis court including coaching (no, not Andy Murray!), outdoor pursuits such as shooting, loch fishing and falconry, and the pleasures of the hotel itself with log-fired living rooms and a tiny, gorgeous chapel on site where Jamie Murray married. Dunblane is worth a morning’s amble with its hulking medieval cathedral, the Stirling monument honouring David Stirling, known as the founder of the SAS, and the gold post box courtesy of Murray’s 2012 tennis Olympic win. You’re just 20 minutes from Gleneagles for golf, and both Edinburgh and Glasgow are within each reach.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Awesome for everything from romantic breaks to family getaways. Anyone who loves the relaxed glamour of The Pig hotels will feel right at home here.

Not for: If you’re after a spa break, search for the bubbles elsewhere -there’s no spa here at the moment, though there’s a two person treatment space planned for 2025 in the woodland at the hotel.

Cromlix, Kinbuck, By Dunblane, Stirlingshire, FK15 9JT. Tel: 01786 820310; hello@cromlix.com