A Place to Stay…

Radisson Blu Hotel, Perth.

Imagine the spectacle. It’s 1888, midway through Queen Victoria’s reign, and trains are still a relatively new phenomenon. The old Scottish capital of Perth is as far north as the railway has reached, so amid the pomp and ceremony Her Majesty would alight here, cross the direct link from the platform to the Railway Hotel, and rest in her room before continuing by carriage for her summer break. It would have been a grand affair, and just the start of a long and impressive history for this establishment, as Trevor Claringbold discovers.

Even the best hotels need rejuvenating once in a while, and the old Railway Hotel has just been given a new lease of life with a complete renovation. Now renamed as the Radisson Blu Hotel Perth, the towers and pinnacles of the baronial Scottish façade still stand impressively above the grand entrance hall. Inside, the clever refurbishment manages to retain the building’s period elegance, without feeling dated.

Queen Victoria’s room is now the lobby bar. I doubt she would be amused, but of course it does lend itself to legends of her ghost appearing there at some future date! It’s one of the three bars in the property, along with the garden bar and a function bar. There are also two large ballrooms, and one of the largest meeting rooms north of Edinburgh.

The Victoria Restaurant serves British cuisine all day, with most of it locally sourced. Once you’ve had your fill of the food, you can work it off in the hotel’s own well-equipped gym and fitness room.

Since there is no longer a Royal Suite I sampled one of the 75 normal guest rooms, and was more than happy. They are spacious, very comfortable, and with all the facilities you would expect of this level of hotel. The only issue we encountered, on a cold autumn night, was that the luxurious heavy curtains blocked out a lot of the heat from the radiator situated under the window.

However, we visited just after the reopening, and I was assured that the teething problems such as this would quickly be sorted out.

Of course, the hotel is still alongside the railway station, although there was certainly no noise to be heard.

Nowadays the hotel also has a car park for guest use too. The hotel is perfectly placed within walking distance of Perth town centre, and the mighty River Tay, so there is no excuse not to explore this impressive city and beyond.

It’s not a big city, and has the air of a relaxed country gentleman, comfortable with what it is, and its place in the world. The broad streets bustle to the tune of independent shops and a café culture in the daytime, and to sound of

Picts were never defeated. Instead, once the Romans were gone, the Picts ruled from Scone until they were ousted in 843 by Kenneth MacAlpin – the King of the Scots. Some say it was he who brought the Stone of Destiny to Scone.

When you stand in front of the picturesque little chapel, surrounded by perfectly manicured lawns and casually passing peacocks, it’s hard to imagine the dramatic and sometimes horrific history that this place has borne witness to. Bloodthirsty power struggles saw both King Malcom, and his sworn enemy Macbeth rule here. Robert the Bruce killed his rival Red Comyn in the church, and was then bars and live music at night. And all roads seem to lead to the river.

There has been a settlement here for over 8000 years, principally as it was a place where the River Tay ran shallow enough to cross by foot. Today, the impressive stone bridge gives glorious views along the river, and the banks are lined with some of Perth’s most notable parks and public buildings.

On the outskirts of the city, though, stands the most notable building of all. Scone Palace.

From the moment the grey stone towers of the palace ease into view, sitting proudly atop a gentle rise, there is an unmistakeable majestic aura about this place. That’s not surprising, since this was the place where Robert the Bruce was crowned King in 1308, and a hundred years of monarchs after him. The exact spot is marked close to a small chapel, which was also once the home of the famous Stone of Destiny, which was most recently seen in Westminster Abbey for the Coronation.

Two thousand years ago the Romans camped here, marking the northernmost reach of their empire, but the warrior-like crowned with the blood still on his hands. Even the Abbey was burned to the ground by an ‘Angry Mob from Dundee’ during the Reformation.

Thankfully, today you can walk the magnificent grounds in peace, and marvel at the grandeur of the interior. Walk through the opulent French-themed drawing room, the palace state rooms, and see where Queen Victoria and Prince Albert dined.

And if that’s not enough, you can even stay here. There are impressive apartments that can be rented on the upper floors, and the castle can even host events such as weddings.

Perth has so much to offer that you don’t need to venture far on a short visit. If you are staying longer, however, it is perfectly placed to explore the surrounding region. To the east, the city of Dundee lies on the broad Tay Estuary, and is home to a busy waterfront, with tall ships and the Scottish incarnation of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

To the west, the strikingly impressive Stirling Castle, and the historic told town that it gazes over, are just a short drive away. It has been said that whoever holds Stirling Castle, holds Scotland.

And if you are yearning for the gorgeous Scottish landscapes, then half an hour north will lead you to the stunningly beautiful Loch Tay, with quaint stone bridges and white painted cottages, all set against the picturepostcard mountain backdrop. What more could you want?

Useful Links:

Radisson Blu – Perth www.radissonhotels. com

Perth Tourist Information www.visitscotland. com/info/services/perth-icentre-p234431

Scone Palace www.scone-palace. co.uk

Stirling Castle www.stirlingcastle.scot