Guests looking for a comfortable place to ‘coorie’ in Highland Perthshire now have the option of the newly refurbished Pine Trees Hotel, in the picturesque town of Pitlochry.
The venue was re-launched last week with a big festive party bringing together press, lifestyle influencers, businesses and dignitaries, to be among the first to see the hotel following its £5 million makeover.
The new look Pine Trees is said to be ‘a haven of tranquillity, where guests are invited to disconnect from the stresses of modern, digitally saturated life’ and instead reconnect with life’s simpler pleasures.
Taking a leaf out of the Scandinavian hospitality marketing playbook – which has established the term ‘hygge’ as a marker for cosy rural retreats – Pine Trees owner Apex Hotels is presenting the revamped venue as offering the ‘tranquillity of modern Coorie living’.
“The term Coorie is a concept that epitomises the spirit of modern, vibrant Caledonia – Coorie represents the quest for contentment, harmoniously balancing work with the enjoyment of life’s simplest pleasures,” said Apex Hotels.
“This approach is rooted in connecting with nature, savouring small delights, and embracing the distinctive beauty of Scotland’s environment and way of life.”
Pine Trees has 32 rooms, including The Coach House, Heatherbank House and a Cottage, and offers a range of room types, from Snug, and Comfy Luxe, to Luxury Suites and dog friendly rooms.
Each room is designed with elegant touches like bespoke furniture, vintage style DAB radios, GHD hairdryers, fluffy slippers and a range of sustainable toiletries by Laura Thomas Co.
At the top of its offer, the historic Drina Suite, overlooking the hotel grounds, features a club class pocket sprung super king-sized bed, a free-standing feature bathtub in the bedroom with a view of the forested valley below, and a large en-suite shower room.
Pine Trees general manager David Lapsley is a professional sommelier and former owner of Etive restaurant in Oban – so the hotel’s new destination bar and restaurant, Flora and Fauna, can be expected to ‘deliver the ultimate Scottish culinary experience’ by celebrating ‘a wealth of fresh, locally sourced produce, bringing guests the best from Scotland’s fields, forests, and shores’.
The Fauna restaurant menu includes ‘delicious, wholesome dishes’ like slow braised beef shin bourguignon with carrot, ceps and roast onion beef fat mash, and roasted chicken breast, with truffled parsnip, charred leeks, smoked sausage and gherkin jus.
Its deserts include iced heather hills lavender honey parfait with yogurt, plums and gingerbread, or chocolate cremeux with crispy chocolate and salted caramel ice cream.
The hotel’s bar, Flora, is described as ‘a sanctuary for whisky aficionados and wine lovers alike’, with an extensive drinks list celebrating the rich heritage and natural beauty of the Scottish Highlands, from Edradour single malts to specially crafted cocktails.
The hotel has handpicked a selection of ‘cosy Coorie products’ reflecting the very best from the region, including artisan coffee from Glen Lyon Coffee Roasters, artisan velvet truffles from award-winning Master Chocolatier Iain Burnett, handmade jam from Isabella’s Preserves, ethically sourced Elementos Tea, and sustainable soaps and scents from Laura Thomas Co, Scotland’s champion of plant based personal care.
The Pine Trees’ team are also able to recommend the best pastimes that Highland Perthshire has to offer, from the Land Rover Driving Experience through the forests and glens of Atholl Estate, salmon fishing on the Tay or clay pigeon shooting and archery with the team at County Clays in Dunkeld.
Chief executive of Apex Hotels, Angela Vickers, said: “We are delighted to welcome guests to Pine Trees, our beautifully refurbished country house hotel, and the ultimate Coorie retreat.
“At Pine Trees we are championing a slowed-down, wholesome way of living, where the hustle of the modern world gives way to the tranquillity of nature.
“Our philosophy is all about stripping back the unnecessary, focusing on what truly matters: quality, simplicity, and peace,” said Vickers.
“This isn’t just a retreat from everyday life; it’s a return to a more grounded, mindful way of being. Slàinte Mhath!”
