Just booked a chalet at Crieff Hydro....

[Lilliput]

great deal only £50 a night for a chalet. Anyone else been, what's to recommended in the area and avoided?

[Lilliput]

Mumsnet local is pretty sparse in that area, so anyone??

[pointydog]

I stayed in one once for a weekend, family gathering, over ten years ago now. Chalet was lovely, lots to do at the hydro - swimming, tennis, kids clubs (although if you wan to make use of club book straight away).

What a bargain price!

[Lilliput]

will defo book the kids club

[Lilliput]

does anyone know if we can eat in the hotels restaurants when staying in self catering, obviously we would have to pay for the meals.

[Lilliput]

.

[pointydog]

yes, you can. Those staying in chalets are not the poor relations! There's no division.

[margo1974]

We stayed up the road in Loch Monzievaird. You have the whiskey distillery and there was a nice pub in Auchter(something or other) - near gleneagles

Are you bringing the car or hiring one?

Also did you know that Ewan McGregor (sp) lived there?

[Lilliput]

We are driving up, we live in the south of scotland so it's not too far to get there. It was a real spur of the moment decision to take time off from the restaurant. Dh wanted to get away for a few days before he is too busy to get away. £150 is such a good deal for three days self-catering, use of the pool and sessions of childcare that I am looking for the catch.

[RosaLuxembourg]

When are you going Lilliput?

[Lilliput]

16th April

[Rumpel]

We're just back - went last weekend - FANTASTIC!! Great for Lo's, although mine is too small to really benefit. There is a big pool, steam, sauna, chute, jacuzzi for families, and seperate Victorian spa for adults only. Good gym, plenty of walking, golf, garden chess, air gun shooting, archery, live music, dance classes, dancing, hairdrssing salon, beauty salon - bit pricey so I didn't go.

The room we were in was a bit tired but you'll be alright in the chalet. Crieff village is a nice little village too. There is garden centre on the A822 to Stirling, surrounding countryside is beautiful.

Food in hotel is delicious and very well presented. I am sure you will have a great time

[KatieMorag]

I agree with pointydog - you need to book the childcare now as the sessions get full pretty quickly

Lilliput - do you own a restaurant? Sorry to disgaree with rumpel but we werent too impressed with the food. Obviously we are too fussy! The main restaurant is huge and the food is all pre plated and reheated and tastes like it, in my opinion. You know, dried out fish and potatoes and veg are cold in the middle. Tea isnt made fresh but diluted from a big pot. Stuff like that . Its better in the brasserie.

But we still go back because of the childcare and all the activities. Hope you have a great time

[Lilliput]

I know my dh will be annoyed we are so close to Gleneagles but have LOs in tow. Yes we own a restaurant and my dh can be a fussy bugger but he is going to have to enjoy the fact that he is not cooking for other people.

[Rumpel]

I didn't like the ambience of the restaurant - it is too big but I thought the food was good - only had 1 meal there though. Mediterranean tart. Brasserie for the rest and it was nice - the chips are for kids though - skinny fries but made with real potatoes.

[KatieMorag]

if he's fussy then he probably won't be happy with the food! But you can always cook yourselves ( I know, a busmans holiday) and the whole place is very child friendly. They have childrens meals at luch and teatime, although the food is a bit school dinner standard plus left overs from last nights meal ect. But there is lots of variety and as long as your kids aren't as fussy as your Dh they wont starve!

As long as your kids are happy in the childrens club you will get a break and that's the main thing

[RosaLuxembourg]

We are off on Tuesday, that's why I asked! Staying till Sunday so we don't overlap. We could have had a mini MN meet-up! We are self-catering too but plan to eat in the hotel in the evenings. Can anyone tell me how long it takes to walk to Crieff village - we won't have a car - and what are the facilities like in the village?

[EasterChickenBunny]

Crieff Hydro is 10/15 mins walk from Town (I think)
Try here for things in Crieff.
Famous Grouse Distillery nearby

[Lilliput]

What a shame Rosa, I would have loved to hear more from your sexual past , probably not a good topic infront of LOs and Dh's.

[KatieMorag]

10 mins walk at the most. The Hydro really is in the town. Not a lot to do, usual range of small shops, gift shops, tea rooms, charity shops, ladies clothes shops that your granny would not be seen dead in with yellow plastic on the windows

[RosaLuxembourg]

Thanks guys. Is there somewhere to buy milk and bread and all that sort of thing?
Lilliput - this is a family holiday with the all my ILs - my sexual past is definitely off the conversational agenda! Unless they really start winding me up of course!

[KatieMorag]

yes there is a sommerfields ( supermarket) and usual range of local shops

[RosaLuxembourg]

Thanks KatieMorag. We are going by train lugging baggage for five so won't be able to bring much in the way of supplies.

[Lilliput]

sorry Rosa

[RosaLuxembourg]

Nothing to be sorry for Lilliput. Didn't mean to imply otherwise - just a bit at the idea of enlightening MIL about my unconventional past! Would be looking forward to this holiday much more if it WAS just DH and the littlies as I think we are all going to really enjoy it - but the enforced jollity with the ILs may be a little hard to take.

[Lilliput]

nothing worse than enforced jollity, usually involves parlour games with my ILs, makes me want to retreat to bed with a headache. Good luck!