Cozy riverside hotel in cute village of Dunkeld, at the foot of the Scottish Highlands
The Taybank / Dunkeld / Perthshire / Scotland / UK
I always dream of finding cozy hotels in a small but vibrant village, where the hotel, while still having a strong sense of design still has a low bar, in the sense that it is an welcoming meeting place for the locals. A place where food is simple and hearty and the over arching vibe is laid back. And sometimes I do find them and this is one of those unique gems, the Taybank in Dunkeld, Scotland.
The Taybank is sitting in the banks of the River Tay, right next to an iconic arched stone bridge, dating back to 1809. Before this was turned into a hotel with a vibrant music scene, it used to be a bank. In 2019 the current owner, Fraser Potter took over the Taybank and has turned into exactly what I described above; a warm, welcoming local meeting spot and boutique design hotel.
We were a group of friends traveling together so we opted for one of the apartments. The design was all about earthy, warm hues mixed with vintage finds and reclaimed furniture. In our apartment I especially loved the kitchen and the oat colored kitchen. The bedrooms had similar look but where the wooden panelling was painted in different, but similar earthy tones.
The breakfast for us who were staying in the apartment was delivered in a basket in the morning so we could eat in our own kitchen. For all others it is served in the hotel restaurant. We tried the dinner there which was just like expected, hearty, tasty and local. Taybank has an ambition to grow more and more of what they serve in the restaurant which is something worth celebrating.
One of the main reasons to come here is the village itself. Dunkeld is a cute village with a high street lined with curiosity shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants that kept us busy during our stay. Come Summer season the old parking spot in front of the hotel is turned into a massive beer garden where there are live music events and outdoor cinema, which one can understand is a real public pleaser. We stayed here early Autumn so think I need to come back again to be able to experience that.
Crossing the River Tay on the old arched stone bridge, heading to our destination (which is almost visible in the background)…
…Welcome to the Taybank!
The reception which gives a good idea about the vibe of the hotel. The open, laid back style, the vintage design and warm atmosphere.
My friend Malin checking out what the region has to offer.
Our apartment was in a separate house in the back, behind the main building of the hotel.
The first of two bedrooms…
…and this is the second one. Both had the same kind of look but different color schemes.
I love this window sill made of raw wood where the rough edges were kept.
The country style kitchen had this soft, oat color where the backsplash was wood panels.
Breakfast is delivered to the apartment in the morning…
…and contains a lot of goodies. One of the tastiest things is what is in the wrapped Taybank paper next to the croissants; the most delicious butter.
The view from our room towards the main building and the herb garden.
The bar/restaurant of the Taybank flooded in light.
Across the road, right next to the river is where you’ll find the sauna on wheels.
A cold plunge after the sauna.
The view from the old bridge over the River Tay.
There is a little path following the river. Perfect walk to build up an appetite.
You can see the Taybank embedded in the greenery on the right side of river.
We stopped by at the Perth Arms Hotel for some proper pub grub. We were not disappointed as you might understand when seeing this photo.
The shop/restaurant/café Dunkeld’s Is a great stop if you want to pick up some local treats.
The cheese selection at Dunkeld’s is exceptional.
We took a little roadtrip in the area. This is the scenic Loch Tummel.
And we also made a stop at the great Jessie’s in nearby Pitlochry.
RG inside info
This place is perfect if you…
…are looking for a cute country inn with relaxed atmosphere, great food, located in a picturesque village at the southern entrance to the Scottish Highlands. If this matches your wish list, the Taybank is a hotel for you.
My favorite thing about this place…
…is the location. It is hard to beat the riverside location of the hotel, in the cute little village of Dunkeld surrounded by hills.
What not to miss when staying here…
…is to have a proper pub lunch. We went to the lovely little Perth Arms Hotel. Full of locals, dogs, visitors and the food is hearty and delicious. Just the way it should be in these kind of places.
If you like this hotel you might also like:
Albion / Aberteifi, Wales
Stelor / Gotland, Sweden
La Maison Plûme / Rives-en-Seine, France
