Highland Hotel History

Ballathie House Hotel, set in quiet seclusion in the gateway to the Scottish Highlands, offers one of the highest standards of luxury hotel accommodation in Scotland. Our four-star luxury hotel has been extensively upgraded and is recognised by the Automobile Association as amongst the top 200 hotels in Britain. The Ballathie estate offers a variety of outdoor sports and activities including walking and fishing. Read more about our history below.

East Perthshire has a long history and Ballathie has been a name on the Ordnance Survey map for generations. The Romans came this way in the 1st Century and had a fortification at Kinclaven, where the River Isla joins the River Tay. The Drummond family, the Earls of Perth, owned the Ballathie lands in the 17th Century. They later sold them to the forebears of General Richardson Robertson of Tullybelton, who died in 1883 - the house rones still bear his initials. His nephew, Colonel E R F Richardson, succeeded him and was instrumental in raising funds to build the Kinclaven Bridge over the River Tay. The bridge crosses by the famous Meiklour Beech Hedge, planted in 1746 and still standing.

In 1910 the house was bought by Sir Stewart Coats from Paisley and enlarged with alterations to the two wings and the addition of a new front entrance porch. Central heating and electric lighting were also installed at this time. The famous golfer, Ben Sayers, laid out a nine-hole golf course, but sadly this and the cricket ground have both been ploughed up. When the railway came with the mainline route between Glasgow and Aberdeen, Ballathie had its own train halt. The remains of the private Episcopalian Chapel can be seen by the old railway line, tucked in behind the overgrowth. It was during this period that Ballathie was a renowned sporting estate, where many notable personages and royalty were entertained.

Colonel Stephen Hardie, a founder member of the British Oxygen Company acquired the estate in 1936. The farmlands and, in 1969, the fishing were purchased by the Maxwell family from the west coast, and the estate is still farmed.

In 1972 the house was converted to a luxury Scottish hotel. The conversion was sympathetic and Ballathie still retains the grandeur of an elegant, luxurious country house.

More recently, a comprehensive refurbishment programme was carried out in a manner befitting a building of such grand style. This has further enhanced Ballathie's appeal. It now enjoys a deserved reputation as an outstanding country house hotel of exceptional character and rare distinction.