Traditional as Burns Night and bannocks, the McMenemie family's Victorian country-house hotel stands in lawned gardens sweeping down to the shores of Loch Faskally. Guests forget the hurry and scurry of modern life when they come for an 'activity' break – be it painting, cryptic crosswords, bridge, Scottish music – or to celebrate an 80th birthday (the hotel is popular with an older clientele). 'From the moment of our arrival, the staff were attentive, friendly and most helpful.' Most of the bedrooms have a loch view, with some in the sympathetically designed Tower Wing and Garden Wing extension. Single rooms are available. Your dog (or, indeed, your cat) is welcome to stay in your room but should not set paw in public rooms. From about 11 am, a sideboard is laid with biscuits, tea and coffee, while home-made cakes arrive in the early afternoon. Binoculars are on hand for wildlife spotters, and there are books and nooks for a quiet read or jigsaw. Long-serving chef Richard Murray's menus include 'extremely well cooked and presented' dishes such as Perthshire venison Wellington, or 'delicious and succulent salmon'. 'We very much enjoyed our stay.' (Edith Yorke, DT, and others)