Anyone have any experience with either Ballathie House Hotel or Murrayshall House Hotel in Perthshire, Scotland? Going there with husband and two kids in June.

Yes. What would you like to know?

Sorry, I just saw you had replied. I would like to know whether those properties are child (9 year old) appropriate, what activities are there, how is the food and accomodations?

They're both a bit upscale, Ballathie probably more so than Murrayshall.

Murrayshall will have a wider range of things to do. According to their web site:-4x4 driving, clay pigeon shooting, falconry, archery, quad trails, fishing, horse riding golf, jacuzzi or steam room. It certainly has an atmosphere of activity, whereas Ballathie is of repose.

Both have good food, ballathie probably better than Murrayshall. I've never stayed in either (I'm too local) so I can't speak to the rooms. FWIW, if I were on my own, I'd stay at Ballathie, with children at Murrayshall

Thank you for the advice. We'll go with Murrayshall. As you're so local, perhaps you can tell me how much time you think is best to spend driving from Perth to Edinburgh, via Stirling--we want to stop at the Wallace Monument, Stirling Castle, and Bannockburn, with some shopping along the way.

You could easily take a whole day.

Edinburgh to Stirling, 40 minutes; at least 2 hours and probably 3-4 for the three things you want to see there. Then you're an hour from Murrayshall without any other stops.

Auchterarder is probably the only place to shop en route except Stirling itself.