At the heart of the village of Dunning sits the Kirkstyle Inn. Offering dog-friendly accommodation and delicious dining in a traditional and quirky inn with roaring fires, let’s check in for a weekend in Perthshire.
Welcome to the Kirkstyle Inn, Dunning
Between the village of Auchterarder and the city of Perth and with The Ochils to the south and forming part of the beautiful region of Strathearn is the pretty village of Dunning.
At the heart of the village is The Kirkstyle Inn, one of my favourite pubs in Scotland.
Offering up roaring fires, a quirky interior, a warm and friendly welcome, delicious meals including a Sunday roast dinner alongside real ales and a great wine list, it is also very dog friendly throughout.
Staying at the Kirkstyle Inn
Across the road from the Inn are the Kirkstyle Inn Rooms, four ensuite bedrooms – two standard rooms located on the ground floor and two deluxe rooms on the upper floor.
Our deluxe room (room 4) was very spacious with an orthopaedic super king bed with quality sheets, fluffy pillows, and a huge quilt, and a luxury bathroom with a decadent slipper bath (but with no separate shower).
Standard rooms on the ground floor are smaller and have showers, and all rooms all of the same high quality. For those who have dogs, it is worth choosing a deluxe room for the size!
Breakfast is served over in the Inn itself, a continental breakfast is included in the price, or you can order a delicious full breakfast the night before for £10 extra.
The Kirkstyle Inn rooms start at £110 B&B, and they often have deals over on Itison for their rooms. Dogs are charged at an additional £20 per dog. You can view the rooms on the TV Series Four in Bed which the Kirkstyle took part in 2021.
Food at the Kirkstyle Inn
Even if we aren’t booking in for the night, The Kirkstyle Inn is one of my favourite places to head for really good pub grub in Scotland. The menu at the Kirkstle inn is proudly locally sourced – and they should be, Dunning is located in the heart of farm country and is also home to Simon Howie Butchers.
The Kirkstyle’s menu offers up gems such as starters of crumbed ham hock terrine with a hollandaise soft egg, beetroot glaze – decadent and delicious – or on the board, specials such as Asian Duck Salad or Scottish Charcuterie with local sourdough bread.
Over on the mains, the fmous Kirkstyle Pie is stuffed full of slow cooked local beef and lots of veg, the Mac & Cheese comes with smoked haddock, and steak is served French style with a rich jus or as a rib eye with cauliflower cheese. On a Sunday there is a full roast and look out for specials such as locally sourced venison casseroles too.
If you are looking for more informal dining, there is a burger and snack menu and an ever changing pizza menu which could offer up delights such as the the Dunningstone with beef strips, jalapeño, bacon, red onion, hot BBQ sauce, or the Rhinestone Cowboy with pepperoni, buffalo, and chilli flakes. Across the Kirkstyle Inn menu, vegans, veggies and allergies are well catered for too.
Dogs are welcome throughout the Kirkstyle Inn – either in the cosy dining room to the front, the stylish dining room to the rear, or the lovely space upstairs.
Things to do in Dunning
Named after a dúnán or ‘little fort’, the village of Dunning dates back to the Iron Age and was once home to a fort on Dun Knock.
Most famously, the village was burned to the ground in 1716 during the Jacobite Rebellion – although no one really knows why. Maybe it was because instigator John Erskine, 23rd Earl of Mar had recently lost the Battle of Sherrifmuir nearby or because the Jacobites was trying to push out British Army by destroying their fodder stocks in the dead of winter as a last hurrah. In any case, just two days later the Jacobite cause was abandoned and Bonnie Prince Charlie had fled to France.
The only surviving building in the village (apart from the church) was the Straw House, which was saved by the quick actions of the owner who is said to have set fire to a pile of straw on her doorstep, confusing the soldiers. The house has been fully restored and can be seen behind the church.
The village was re-established in the late 1700s by Lord Rollo, Baron of Dunning whose family seat was Duncrub Castle, who proposed a plan for a new village. The Kirkstyle Inn was established in 1802 and by 1850 the village booming, as it is still today.
What to do at the Kirkstyle Inn, Dunning
- Visit St Serf’s Church to see the Dupplin Cross – the pretty church which sits at the centre of Dunning dates from the 1200s and survived the Jacobite fires. The church is named after St Serf, a Pictish saint who is said to have slain a dragon which was terrorising the Dunning villagers… a later king of the Picts was resident at a palace nearby Forteviot – the only remains of the place is the 9th century, ‘Dupplin Cross’ which can now be viewed in the church. Find out more about visiting St Serf’s Church.
- See the memorial to Maggie Wall – just outside the village on the road to Aucherader is a memorial to Maggie Wall of Dunning, a woman who was said to have been burnt as a witch in c. 1657 during the Scottish Witch Trials. Records show that 6-8 women were burnt as witches in Dunning during the trials, often for as little as speaking up or knowing a wee bit about herbs. There is no record of an actual Maggie Wall in Dunning, so the memorial could be said to be a memorial to all of Dunning’s poor ‘witches’. Find out more about the history of Maggie and Dunning from the Dunning Historical Society.
- Stroll along Pitcairn’s Den and Dunning Burn – discover the wooded banks of the lovely Dunning Burn with a visit to Pitcairn’s Den on a 4 mile/2 hour walk. In spring this is a lovely spot to see bluebells.
- Visit Auchterarder – the neighbouring town of Auchterarder is a lovely place for a stroll and to grab a cup of coffee from one of the many delis and cafes. Otherwise known as the “The Lang Toun” after its 1 and 1⁄2-mile-long high street.
- Golf at Gleneagles – the five star hotel Gleneagles is located just along the road from the Kirkstyle Inn and has three championship golf courses and one 9-hole course which are open to non members and non residents of the hotel. Green fees can be found online.
- Climb Moncrieff Hill – with 14km of trails managed by the Woodland Trust, Moncrieff Hill is located 20 minutes from the Kirkstyle Inn. A great place for a dog walk – there are three iron age forts to find and som great views across Perth.
- Visit the City of Perth – sitting on the banks of the beautiful River Tay, Scotland’s Fair City might be one of the smallest cities in Scotland, but this ancient place was once Scotland’s capital. Now the gateway to the Scottish Highlands and the heart of spectacular Perthshire, the city of Perth is a great place to visit in its own right. Here is what to do on your visit to Perth.
- Tullibardine Distillery – like whisky? The Tullibardine Distillery is located just along the road from the Kirkstyle Inn and offers distillery tours and tastings.
Ready to check in?
Love from Scotland x
The travel blogger and photographer behind Love from Scotland