Dunalastair Hotel Suites: A Quiet Escape by Loch Rannoch

dunalastair hotel suites loch rannoch hotel and spa

Tucked away in Kinloch Rannoch by the beautiful Loch Rannoch with Schiehallion in the distance sits the newly reopened Dunalastair Hotel Suites. Only 2 hours away from Edinburgh you can escape to the quiet and calm of being loch side. With stunning views over the Schiehallion peak in the distance. Dunalastair’s sister hotel Loch Rannoch is a short walk away and offers a variety of activities like electrical bikes and also a spa where massage treatments are available. Let me tell you more about my time at the hotel and share my review of Dunalastair Hotel Suites. As well as what ended up being my favourite things to see and do in the area.

Dunalastair Hotel Suites Review

This was my first ever trip to Loch Rannoch. Right away from arriving down the winding countryside road, I felt such excitement to see the surroundings. As soon as you start seeing the Schiehallion peak in the distance, it almost feels like you’ve entered a little hidden Scottish valley. The landscape is just gorgeous and the hotel is a luxury oasis right in the middle of it all.

Dunalastair Hotel Suites reopened in March 2026 after being acquired by the Loch Rannoch Estate Limited. Who was already operating the Loch Rannoch Hotel and Spa which is located only a short walk away. This historic stone building now houses 32 luxury suites and the Macnab restaurant. The nearby sister hotel Loch Rannoch which also has a spa, which is only a 15 minute walk away also offer their own restaurant. As well as electrical bike hire, massage treatments and a swimming pool so there is plenty to discover indoor as well, should the weather be questionable.

You’re also in such a great area for exploring as the popular Pitlochry with its dam, shopping and Blair Athol distillery is only 40 minutes away from the hotel and you have both hills like Schiehallion and of course Loch Rannoch right on your doorstep.

However my personal recommendation is always to bring good clothes so you can still explore the surroundings even if it’s raining. Just be careful with any potential hikes, as safety should always be your first priority. Me and my husband got so lucky with our timing as we managed to almost completely avoid the rain. With the exception of some short period of drizzle.

What I loved about the hotel

Walking distance to the loch
Lovely small plate style dishes for lunch – I recommend the bao buns!
A grey make up towel which I much prefer over a white one
Electrical charges for the car
How peaceful and relaxing the location felt
A welcome tray of homebaked goodies and a non alcoholic drink
Fantastic food in the restaurant

How to get here

The hotel is located around a 2 hour drive away from both Edinburgh and Glasgow. Off the A9 past Blair Athol if you’re going north. You can also get the train to Rannoch Station which is around a 35 minute drive away and book a collection service through the hotel.

Bedrooms

Dunalastair Hotel Suites has 32 rooms ranging from the wee room up to the Schiehallion Suite. All the suites include features like complimentary mineral water, Egyptian bed linen and fresh milk, tea, coffee and shortbread replenished daily. We had the pleasure of staying in one of the Highland Suites which had a bedroom as well as a separate living room area. The interiors are inviting and elegant. The beds are very comfortable and we were not disturbed by any noise from outside, although our windows faces the main road.

The hotel also has a self-catering villa called Tigh na Sithe which sleeps 6, also located in Kinloch Rannoch.

Surrounding area & the top things to do near Dunalastair Hotel Suites

Perthshire is one of my favourite areas of Scotland as there is so much to see and do. There is also such a fantastic landscape here. You can explore everything from waterfalls and lochs to high peaks and standing stones. Here below are some of my recommendations in the nearby area to the hotel.

Bag a Munro: any peak in Scotland which is 3000 feet or taller is known as a Munro. Those hiking up these peaks are called Munro Baggers. Schiehallion is one of the most popular and well known Munro’s (there are 382 of them) and it usually takes around 4-6 hours for a 10km roundtrip to the top.
Watersports on Loch Rannoch: rent paddlesboards, kayaks or sailing dinghies from the Loch Rannoch Hotel
Rent an e-bike and cycle around the loch: We had a great time cycling around the loch and stopping in various scenic spots. The whole loop is around 36.7km. So you can also turn around when you wish rather than cycle around the whole loch, which is what we did.
Visit a scotch whisky distillery: I can recommend on of my personal favourites Aberfeldy Distillery which I’ve written a full article about here. The distillery is a 38 minute drive away from the hotel.
Shopping at House of Bruar: Explore luxury brands and also don’t miss the short walk up the Bruar Falls. House of Bruar also offers a great lunch and ice cream for hot days.

Food & Drink

We certainly were treated to quite the culinary experiences during our stay. Each of the days we were booked into different restaurants and I really enjoyed having the opportunity to try them all out. If you are visiting the area I would like to particularly recommend the Macnab restaurant which was our favourite. Especially if you enjoy meat dishes like venison.

Macnab restaurant

The Macnab restaurant is the in-house restaurant at the Dunalastair Hotel Suites. This is where we enjoyed dinner on our first night and also breakfast the next two mornings. The name Macnab comes from the ‘Macnab challenge’ which is where you must bag a stag, salmon and grouse all in one day. Not an easy challenge by any means! So you might be able to guess that the restaurant also focuses in locally sourced Scottish food and game.

Dinner

The dinner started with goats cheese canapés on oat cakes that were so creamy and delicious. My husband doesn’t like cheese so I even had the pleasure of eating both our canapés which I certainly did not mind! For my starter I chose tortelloni in a seafood bisque which was really good. I have a soft spot for seafood bisque so when I saw it on the menu I immediately knew I wanted to order it. And it also lived up to my expectations.

For mains I chose the venison. Since the restaurant focuses on game in particular I thought it would be an appropriate pick. I can be a bit picky with meat, especially since both my dad and granddad has worked as hunters and butchers, but that also means I really appreciate a dish when it’s done well. I absolutely loved this dish and even more so since it was served with asparagus which was right in season. The meat was cooked to perfection and all the elements of the dish worked beautifully together. I’m still thinking about this dish to this day. To end the meal I chose the grilled pineapple with homemade ice cream. It was a lovely way to round off the experience. The dessert wasn’t too heavy but was a refreshing combination of flavours which worked really well.

Breakfast

The breakfast at Dunalastair Hotel Suites which was served in the Macnab was a la carte style. I chose a fruit bowl and avocado toast the first morning whilst my husband tried the porridge and pancakes. It was a nice and hearty breakfast which prepared us nicely for a day of cycling and exploring the area. My husband’s pancakes looked so good I also had them on our second morning, and they’re definitely a recommendation from us both! I also loved the blue tea cups from Folio by Steelite. Besides hot drinks and fruit juices you also have the option of adding a breakfast cocktail like bellini or mimosa if you want.

Lunch at The Tipsy Stag

For lunch after our cycle adventures we returned to The Tipsy Stag at the hotel. The menu consists of small dishes so we decided to share everything. The pulled pork bao buns are our top recommendation as they are wonderfully soft and full of flavour. The Scottish lobster roll was also incredibly tasty. I would also recommend the halloumi fries with heather honey and cracked pepper.

Dinner at the Estate Rooms at Loch Rannoch Hotel

On our last night we were booked in for dinner at the Loch Rannoch Hotel restaurant, named the Estate Rooms. It’s a lovely space with a bistro meets Scottish country house feel. The menu made it difficult to choose but I ended up going for a goats cheese starter and venison for mains. Since we had such a fantastic meal the previous night I was curious to see how this food would compare. But just like our previous evening, the food was really good and even above expectations. I can be quite picky with food but thought the dishes we tried were all well executed, presented and incredibly delicious. For dessert we shared a lemon tart which had a nice tangy flavour coming through which felt refreshing after the meal. Even though it was raining outside, I had holiday feelings so even enjoyed a pina colada after our meal.

Sometimes I find restaurants at hotels up in the highlands can have questionable interior design. But that was not at all the case here and I loved the atmosphere and vibe of the restaurant. It was also really cosy to be able to walk home along the loch back to our hotel after dinner, since it was only 15 minutes away from Dunalastair Hotel Suites. That meant my husband also could enjoy a glass of wine instead of having to drive us.

The Spa at Loch Rannoch Hotel and Estate

I had the pleasure of being booked in for a massage during my stay, which I’m writing more about further down. But I also had the opportunity to spend some time after my treatment in the Loch Rannoch Spa which is located right by the hotel. The spa has a swimming pool, sauna and steam room as well as an area for sun chairs where you can relax and admire the view across to the loch. I was at the spa on a Monday afternoon in May and almost had the entire spa to myself with only a couple of other people coming and going during the hour I was here. I particularly enjoyed the sauna, which was a fairly comfortable temperature so it was possible to sit inside for longer, which suits me well.

The changing rooms felt a little dated, which took away from the experience a little. It is also worth keeping in mind that the spa is open to families as well so children could be playing around the pool area. However there are designated adult-only periods so if you prefer a more relaxing atmosphere and lower noise volumes then make sure to visit during these times. Some of the showers also seemed to be broken and were continuously dripping which was a little distracting as I could hear them quite well since the pool area was so quiet.

Guests of the Loch Rannoch Hotel get complimentary access to the spa facilities, whilst guests at Dunalastair Hotel Suites can pay a daily membership fee of £30 for access. Later this year (2026) the Woodland Outdoor Spa will open featuring a hydro-therapy pool, whirlpool spa, outdoor sauna and (my personal favourite) an ice bath.

Treatments

I had a booking for a 60 minute Swedish Massage which really enhanced my feeling of relaxation and calm during the stay. The treatments all take place at the Loch Rannoch Hotel and Spa. My therapist greeted me once I arrived and had me fill out a health form before showing me to a treatment room. I really enjoyed the massage and found the treatment rooms to be very inviting and calming. Personally, I think 60 minutes is such a good amount of time for a massage to fully relax. I always find that 30 minute feels to short and any longer feels just a little too long unless it’s a particular treatment. However 60 minutes is just right for me.

On the move to Dunalastair Hotel Suites

I would definitely consider returning to the hotel, especially for a quiet escape focused on spending time outdoors. It would also be at the top of my list for whenever I return to attempt to climb Schiehallion someday! Even though we had two nights at the hotel I did not feel like we explored the area properly as I still had so many spots on my list that we simply did not have enough time for.

Additional information

Address: 1, The Square, Kinloch Rannoch, Pitlochry PH16 5PW
Website: https://dunalastairhotelsuites.com
Price Range: Room prices from £179 per night
Check-In/Check-Out: From 15.00 and before 11.00
Amenities: Breakfast, bar, restaurant, WiFi, 24/7 reception, electrical charging parking points, guest parking
Dog-Friendly: Dunalastair Hotel Suites unfortunately does not allow dogs, but its sister hotel Loch Rannoch Hotel and Spa does.

FAQ – Dunalastair Hotel Suites

Is Dunalastair Hotel Suites dog friendly?

Unfortunately the hotel cannot accommodate dogs, but their sister hotel Loch Rannoch Hotel can.

Who owns the Dunalastair Hotel Suites?

The hotel was acquired by the Loch Rannoch Estate Limited and reopened in March 2026.

How far is Dunalastair Hotel Suites from Schiehallion?

The hotel is a 17 minute drive from the Braes of Foss car park by the foot of Schiehallion.

How far is it between Dunalastair Hotel Suites and Loch Rannoch Hotel?

The distance is around 500 metres and takes around 15 minutes to walk.

Dunalastair Hotel Suites: a quiet luxury escape by Loch Rannoch