---
title: "Atholl Palace vs McKays Hotel: which hotel is better?"
description: "Atholl Palace or McKays Hotel in Pitlochry? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side."
url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/atholl-palace-pitlochry-vs-mckays-hotel-pitlochry/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-10-27
---

# Atholl Palace vs McKays Hotel

Both are in Pitlochry, 1.1 km apart. Here is where each one is stronger.

Hotel · ★★★★ · Port na Craig
## [Atholl Palace](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/atholl-palace-pitlochry/)

- **Guest rating:** 8.5 ·  Very good

- **Location score:** 4.0

- **Score by category:** 0 of 3

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1161144/agoda/?lang=en)

Hotel · ★★★ · Pitlochry
## [McKays Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/mckays-hotel-pitlochry/)

- **Guest rating:** 9.0 ·  Excellent

- **Location score:** 6.1

- **Score by category:** 3 of 3

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1830966/agoda/?lang=en)

The short answer

## Pick McKays Hotel

It leads in 3 of 3 categories. 1.1 km apart.

### Choose Atholl Palace if you want

-   a big hotel with more facilities (Rooms: 120 / 7)

### Choose McKays Hotel if you want

-   the more consistently praised stay (9.0 / 8.5)
-   more restaurants on the doorstep (25 / 3)
-   a smaller, quieter hotel (Rooms: 7 / 120)

### Why is Atholl Palace better than McKays Hotel?

1.  Higher star rating (4★ vs 3★) (+1★)
2.  More guest reviews (77 vs 19), so the rating is more reliable (×4.1)
3.  A larger hotel with more facilities (120 vs 7 rooms) (×17.1)

### Why is McKays Hotel better than Atholl Palace?

1.  Higher guest rating (9.0 vs 8.5) (+0.5)
2.  800 m closer to public transport (−800 m)
3.  22 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m (+22)
4.  More walkable surroundings (walk grade 45 vs 25) (+20)
5.  A smaller, more intimate hotel (7 vs 120 rooms) (−113)

## All compared facts

Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel.

 

|  | Atholl Palace | McKays Hotel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Score by category |
| Guest rating | 8.5 | 9.0  (+0.5) |
| Location | 4.0 | 6.1  (+2.1) |
| Facilities | 10.0 | – |
| Spa & wellness | 10.0 | – |
| Public transport | 5.5 | 9.8  (+4.3) |
| Ratings & reviews |
| StayVersus score | 8.7 | 9.1  (+0.4) |
| Guest rating | 8.5 | 9.0  (+0.5) |
| Number of reviews | 77  (+58) | 19 |
| Rank in Pitlochry | bottom 14% | bottom 36%  (+22%) |
| Location |
| Location score | 4.0 | 6.1  (+2.1) |
| Distance to the centre | 690 m | 420 m  (−270 m) |
| To public transport | 990 m | 190 m  (−800 m) |
| To the airport | 86 km | 87 km |
| Restaurants within 500 m | 3 | 25  (+22) |
| To the nearest food shop | 530 m  (−110 m) | 640 m |
| Shops within 500 m | 0 | 2 |
| Sights within 1 km | 1 | 0 |
| Rooms & building |
| Star rating | ★★★★  (+1★) | ★★★ |
| Rooms | 120 | 7 |
| Floors | 4 | – |
| Newest building or renovation | 1886 | – |
| Listed amenities | 25  (+14) | 11 |
| Policies |
| Check-in from | 15:30 | 15:00  (−1h) |
| Check-out until | 11:00 | 11:00 |
| Amenities |
| Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free parking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Shuttle | ✓ | – |
| 24-hour front desk | ✓ | – |
| Laundry | ✓ | – |
| Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Breakfast | ✓ | ✓ |
| Restaurant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bar | ✓ | ✓ |
| 24-hour room service | ✓ | – |
| Swimming pool | ✓ | – |
| Spa | ✓ | – |
| Sauna | ✓ | – |
| Steam room | ✓ | – |
| Hot tub | ✓ | – |
| Massage | ✓ | – |
| Gym | ✓ | – |
| Meeting rooms | ✓ | – |
| Pets allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Smoke-free | ✓ | ✓ |
| In-room safe | ✓ | – |
| Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | ✓ |
| Which hotel suits you |
| Couples | ✓ | – |
| Sightseeing on foot | – | ✓ |
| Spa & relaxation | ✓ | – |

## Live prices around both hotels

Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer.

## Nightly price by month

Atholl PalaceMcKays Hotel

           

-   McKays Hotel is cheaper in 8 of 8 months
-   Atholl Palace: €255 a night on average · McKays Hotel: €163 a night on average

Pick a month to check today's price for its cheapest date.

Averages of real one-night prices for two adults on Agoda, a Tuesday and a Saturday in each month, last checked 22 October 2026. In euros; the final price is shown before you book.

[Atholl Palace prices by month](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/atholl-palace-pitlochry/prices/)

## Location

1.1 km apart

Atholl Palace: city centre: 690 m, nearest station Pitlochry: 990 m, Edinburgh Airport (EDI): 86 km, 3 places to eat within 500 m, 1 sights within 1 km.

McKays Hotel: city centre: 420 m, nearest station Pitlochry: 190 m, Edinburgh Airport (EDI): 87 km, 25 places to eat within 500 m.

## Weather in Pitlochry

[Pitlochry weather: 15-day forecast](https://atlasofseasons.com/en/united-kingdom/scotland/pitlochry/weather)

## Atholl Palace or McKays Hotel: common questions

### Which is better, Atholl Palace or McKays Hotel?

McKays Hotel leads in 3 of 3 categories, including guest rating, location, public transport.

### Which is cheaper, Atholl Palace or McKays Hotel?

Over the year McKays Hotel costs about €163 a night on average against €255 at Atholl Palace, and it is cheaper in 8 of the 8 months we checked. Pick your dates above for today's prices.

### Which hotel is closer to the centre?

McKays Hotel is closer: 420 m from the centre, against 690 m for Atholl Palace.

### How far apart are Atholl Palace and McKays Hotel?

The two hotels are 1.1 km apart in a straight line.

## More match-ups

-   [Atholl Palace vs The Acarsaid - Pitlochry](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/atholl-palace-pitlochry-vs-the-acarsaid-pitlochry-pitlochry/)
-   [Atholl Palace vs The Pitlochry Hydro Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/atholl-palace-pitlochry-vs-the-pitlochry-hydro-hotel-pitlochry/)
-   [Atholl Palace vs Fisher's Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/atholl-palace-pitlochry-vs-fisher-s-hotel-pitlochry/)
-   [McKays Hotel vs Fisher's Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/fisher-s-hotel-pitlochry-vs-mckays-hotel-pitlochry/)
-   [McKays Hotel vs The Pitlochry Hydro Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/mckays-hotel-pitlochry-vs-the-pitlochry-hydro-hotel-pitlochry/)
-   [McKays Hotel vs The Acarsaid - Pitlochry](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/mckays-hotel-pitlochry-vs-the-acarsaid-pitlochry-pitlochry/)

## Compare now

Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/)

---
Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/atholl-palace-pitlochry-vs-mckays-hotel-pitlochry/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/