The Meikleour Arms

A picturesque cottage-style Georgian coaching inn within a verdant designed landscape on the Lansdowne’s estate is today a dog-friendly hotel, pub and anglers' dream. The hotel is owned by Sam Mercer Nairne, scion of the Marquesses of Lansdowne, and his Bordeaux-born wife, Claire, and the ethos reflects the family’s deep Franco-Scottish roots. 'Wonderful’ accommodation includes great-value house rooms and charming, characterful serviced cottages. Your bedroom might have French antiques, a toile-draped canopy bed as well as a decanter of sherry and Arran Aromatics toiletries. A four-poster room was ‘comfortable and warm’ on a winter’s stay. A Stables Cottage was ‘lovely, very spacious… Each has its own garden and easy access to the river for walks around the grounds.’ Estate-to-plate menus might include Meikleour black pudding scotch egg, celeriac remoulade; duo of estate venison, dauphinoise potatoes; bread and butter pudding, crème fraȋche. ‘Hearty food for yummy breakfasts’ makes the perfect start to a day’s salmon fishing on the Tay. Vive l'Ecosse! (Elspeth and John Gibbon, Mrs HE Nichol, and others)