Ballintaggart

Tucked into the rolling hills above Grandtully in Highland Perthshire, Ballintaggart has become one of Scotland’s most admired modern hospitality brands. What began as a shared dream between founders Chris and Rachel Rowley evolved into a multi-layered destination built around exceptional food, warm hospitality, and a deep sense of place. Ballintaggart is not simply a hotel or culinary school; it is a philosophy – one centred on slowing down, paying attention, and celebrating Scotland’s natural abundance.

At the heart of Ballintaggart is The Grandtully Hotel, an elegant and contemporary bolthole known for its understated luxury and beautifully curated style. Each room blends modern Scottish design with thoughtful detailing, giving guests a sense of home rather than formality. The hotel’s atmosphere reflects Ballintaggart’s wider ethos: hospitality rooted in comfort, kindness, and intuitive service.

The hotel’s restaurant is the focal point of the experience, with a menu shaped by seasonality, locality, and sustainability. The kitchen team works closely with growers, farmers, foragers, and producers from across Perthshire and the Highlands, ensuring every plate tells a story of the region’s landscapes and harvests. Dishes showcase the best of Scottish produce – sometimes refined and inventive, sometimes comfortingly simple, but always prepared with precision and respect.

The Ballintaggart Cook School is another cornerstone of the brand. Located at The Steading, just minutes from the hotel, the cook school offers immersive, hands-on culinary courses that champion seasonal cooking, knife skills, food understanding, and the joy of making meals from scratch. Whether learning to fillet a fish, bake sourdough, or create a multi-course dinner, students leave with confidence and inspiration rooted in Ballintaggart’s food philosophy.

The Steading is also home to Ballintaggart’s beautiful events and workshops programme. From long-table dinners and tasting evenings to artisan skills classes and private gatherings, it has become a creative hub that connects people through food, drink, craft, and community. The team’s meticulous attention to detail—candles, flowers, ceramics, linen, lighting—turns every event into an atmospheric, memorable affair.

Beyond the hotel and cook school, Ballintaggart encompasses The Feasts, a much-loved dining series that brings its culinary ethos to venues across Scotland. These roaming events allow the team to translate the Ballintaggart experience into everything from weddings to corporate retreats, building a reputation for impeccable food and beautifully styled celebrations.

The Ballintaggart brand has also grown through its farm and gardens, which supply herbs, vegetables, soft fruit, and edible flowers to both the hotel and the cook school. This connection to the land – and the rhythm of the seasons – reinforces the business’s commitment to sustainable, ethical food practices. What they grow, forage, and preserve becomes the foundation for menus and workshops throughout the year.

Their drinks programme reflects the same philosophy. Scottish spirits, independent producers, and seasonal cocktail creations are celebrated across the hotel and events. The bartending team has become known for using garden-grown botanicals, homemade infusions, and innovative flavour pairings that echo the culinary style of the kitchen.

Ballintaggart launched their Scottish gin as a natural extension of their food philosophy and their desire to capture a sense of place in liquid form. Their culinary world revolves around Scotland’s seasons, wild flavours, and carefully sourced botanicals. It provided a way to serve guests a drink rooted in the same values as their food: thoughtful sourcing, flavour harmony, and celebration of local ingredients. The gin acts as both a signature serve for their bar and a bottled expression of the Ballintaggart ethos – refined, seasonal, and unmistakably Scottish.

Ballintaggart’s approach to hospitality is deliberately holistic. Guests do not simply dine or stay; they become part of a story that honours craftsmanship, landscape, and human connection. Whether someone is attending a cooking school class, enjoying a tasting menu, or staying the night at the hotel, the experience feels cohesive and deeply rooted in place.

After years of building a respected, meaningful food-led destination, Ballintaggart has established itself as one of Scotland’s thoughtful and progressive modern hospitality brands. Their combination of sincere service, exceptional cooking, and creative enterprise continues to draw visitors seeking inspiration, nourishment, and a deeper connection to Scotland’s culinary landscape.