Crieff Hydro: Things to Do

Summary

The Crieff Hydro is a popular resort in the Perthshire countryside that offers a range of health-based activities as well as large grounds for walking and relaxation.

The hotel boasts over 200 bedrooms and over 50 self-catering properties, as well as restaurants, cafes and bars that are open to both overnight guests and day visitors.

The highlights

1: The walks around the grounds are great, especially in the forest behind the hotel.

2: The leisure centre is top-notch and the swimming pool is superb (extra points go to Crieff Hydro for having an adults-only pool).

3: The restaurant and café serve delicious food and there’s outside seating. Al Fresco munch-athon anyone?

Visiting tips

1: Rooms can be a bit pricey but if you keep an eye on deals websites like Groupon you’ll often find a reasonable discount.

2: Also, regularly check the Crieff Hydro website as they sometimes have flash sales for overnight stays.

3: You could quite easily spend an entire weekend at the Crieff Hydro without ever leaving the grounds, but if you fancy exploring the great outdoors I recommend taking a drive west into the Trossachs.

Check out the Guide to Scotland’s Best Forest Walks for some inspiration. Alternatively, head east on the A85 to visit Scone Palace.

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Overview

The Crieff Hydro is a popular resort in the Perthshire countryside that offers a range of health-based activities as well as large grounds for walking and relaxation.

The hotel boasts over 200 bedrooms and over 50 self-catering properties, as well as restaurants, cafés and bars.

There are also riding stables, a comprehensive health and fitness club, an adults-only swimming pool and a pool for families, a golf course, a football pitch and various racquet courts.

I think you can safely say if you visit the Crieff Hydro you’re not exactly going to be stuck for things to do…

But it’s not just the hotel that draws visitors from far and wide because the Crieff Hydro is situated in enormous private grounds in the Perthshire countryside that offer lots of lovely walks into the nearby hills and woodlands.

And speaking of woodlands, if you visit it you’ll find you’re not far from Perthshire’s Big Tree Country so if you really want to get out and explore nature the Crieff Hydro makes a brilliant base to venture out from.

One woodland walk I can totally recommend that’s nearby is Lady Mary’s Walk which offers a lovely riverside stroll along the River Earn just outside Crieff.

You’ll find it by heading towards the Glenturret Distillery that’s home to the Famous Grouse Experience (home of the popular blended Scotch that’s always advertised on TV at Christmas). Just don’t get too tempted by thoughts of a wee dram or three.

The Crieff Hydro really is a fantastic place to spend a couple of days to recharge your batteries, and it’s close enough to central Scotland that it’s easy to head off into Stirling and Edinburgh if you want to explore further afield.

Discover more places to visit in Scotland with my Scottish Tourist Attractions Map.

Tourist information

Booking a room at the hotel allows you to enjoy all the leisure activities on offer as well as the extensive grounds that surround it.

Trails run all the way through the hotel boundaries and there are extensive woodland paths that are perfect for a bracing walk after a day or two of pampering.

If you don’t want to book overnight accommodation you can go along for the day simply to take part in the indoor and outdoor activities, or perhaps just go there to enjoy a slap-up meal in the restaurant.

You won’t have to sit indoors on a sunny day at this hotel either because there are plenty of outside seating areas facing a large manicured lawn which is a great place to relax with a glass of bubbly while the kids are left to do their own thing.

In addition, unlike many country retreats, there are lots of free activities at the Crieff Hydro so a visit may cost less than you think.

There’s a cinema, swimming pools, a gym, loads of evening events like ceilidhs and quiz nights, and even a giant lawn chessboard.

If you don’t mind spending a little extra you can take part in woodland Segway tours, get a bullseye in an archery class, try your hand at clay pigeon shooting, go for a round of golf and even go off-road driving in a 4×4.

They always seem to be updating what’s on offer at the Crieff Hydro, so make sure you check out their website activities pages for new things to do.

Fitness is a key theme and the swimming pools, in particular, are excellent, with the adults-only pool making a refreshing change from having to put up with the usual over-excited kids running around the poolside.

If you’re a mum or dad looking for a day of ‘me time’ the Crieff Hydro should be right at the top of your list of places to escape to.

History

Just like New Lanark in Lanarkshire, the Crieff Hydro originated around an idea that was far ahead of its time.

The hotel opened in 1868 as the Crieff Hydropathic establishment by Dr Thomas Henry Meikle, a medical graduate from Edinburgh University.

Originally built for £30,000, the hotel developed through a series of upgrades to the grand category B building that we see today and its location is one of the finest in Scotland due to Dr Meikle’s belief that mountain scenery and the great outdoors are integral to a patient’s wellbeing.

The treatments in the early days were strict and ran alongside a decidedly religious regime so there was no alcohol available and smoking was decidedly frowned upon. There was even a fine levied on those patients who forgot to say grace before eating meals!

Today, the Crieff Hydro is a family resort and is very popular in Scotland as a luxury break away from the noise and stress of modern cities.

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Things to do nearby

Crieff. James Square, Crieff PH7 3EY. 3-minute drive. A market town that is popular with tourists thanks to its selection of family-run arts and crafts shops and restaurants. Highlights include the Glenturret distillery and Innerpeffray library which is the oldest library in Scotland.

Drummond Castle. Muthill, Crieff PH7 4HZ. 13-minute drive. 17th-century castle set in immaculately landscaped gardens that are regarded as one of the best examples of a formal garden in Scotland. Note that the castle is closed to the public. Snacks are available from the ticket office.

Auchingarrich Wildlife Centre. Comrie PH6 2JE. 18-minute drive. A family-run wildlife theme park that features an indoor play barn, animal handling area, mini-golf course, pony rides, outdoor play park and a café.

Ben Chonzie. Crieff PH6 2LY. 4-hour walk. An easily-walked Munro on a path that runs along gravel tracks, moorland and bog. The summit is 931 metres but the incline is gradual. The summit offers superb views across Loch Turret.

Action Glen. Knock Rd, Crieff PH7 3LQ. 6-minute drive. Described as Scotland’s premier outdoor activity centre, Action Glen features a number of fun activities including Segway trekking, treetop climbing, quad biking and more.

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Frequently asked questions