A restored Victorian Schoolhouse on the Straloch Estate offers comfortable rooms, artisan touches and activities across the grounds
The idea of returning to school rarely excites adults, but the transformed Schoolhouse at the Straloch Estate is an exception. Set within a rural Perthshire property, this former classroom has been converted into a five-bedroom holiday retreat with rates starting from £2000 for three nights.
The project was led by owner Lucy Holt and sits within the wider estate, offering visitors a chance to combine comfortable accommodation with open-air Highland pursuits. From architecture to amenities, the house aims to honour its origins while serving contemporary holidaymakers who seek both character and creature comforts.
The building’s backstory is central to its appeal. Originally known as a listed 1849 building, the structure once operated as Straloch School providing primary education to local children in Strathardle Glen. The school was mothballed in 2011 and later offered at public auction by Perth and Kinross Council in 2026.
Lucy’s personal memories of the place are affectionate: she recalls the tiny class size — just eight pupils — and the calm guidance of headmistress Miss Barbara Stevens. Those warm associations helped shape the restoration brief and the decision to retain historic touches.
A storied transformation
When work began the property had been unoccupied for twelve years and was in a state of serious disrepair. The renovation therefore involved extensive structural and technical interventions: a complete re-slate of the roof, replacement of guttering and drainage, and stripping back perimeter walls to install modern insulation. To meet contemporary building performance goals the team worked to achieve the thermal efficiency of a new build standard, adding insulated roof spaces and sensitively replacing windows with traditionally manufactured sash units. Upgrades also included a sustainable air-source heat pump, full re-wiring and a reconfigured internal layout to adapt classroom volumes into a welcoming holiday home. The scale of the works made this project significantly more complex than a typical renovation.
Design choices and retained heritage
For the interior design Lucy turned to Tyrella Nash of Dunville Interiors, a collaborator with whom she has worked on other properties. The brief favoured colour, warmth and unexpected details rather than predictable Highland clichés such as tartan and tweed. The former classroom now functions as a large cosy sitting room with a mix of vintage and contemporary furniture, while each of the five bedrooms features bespoke bedheads, custom curtains and thoughtfully chosen wallpapers. The aesthetic balances period charm and modern comfort, producing spaces that feel both lived-in and stylish.
Salvaged features that tell a story
Care was taken to preserve and celebrate fragments of the building’s past. A family connected to a former headmistress, Mrs Dutch, donated an original child-sized wooden desk and matching chairs, items that may have witnessed generations of schoolchildren. Playtime echoes were restored too: the original playground see-saw has been refurbished for new family use. Elsewhere, reclaimed elements act as design highlights — most notably the collection of reclaimed cast iron radiators acquired via Castrads. Painted in a palette of vivid tones, these radiators include corridor columns salvaged from the old Scotland Yard and distinctive kitchen pieces with an origin story that traces via New York and Liverpool back to early twentieth-century manufacture.
Guest experience and modern comforts
The house blends historical character with practical, high-spec facilities. The kitchen is fitted out for enthusiastic cooks with dual Bosch ovens, two dishwashers and an American style fridge freezer, while a six-seater hydrotherapy hot tub provides a restorative soak after hillwalking. Beyond the house, guests may enjoy estate amenities and activities: tennis, loch fishing, wild swimming, campfires and den building are all available, alongside guided options such as a gourmet Wild Picnic served up at the estate bothy. The offering is summed up by the property’s strapline, Highland escapism, which many visitors cite as an accurate description of their stay.
Community response and next steps
Initial feedback has been particularly gratifying from those with prior connections to the school — former pupils, staff and local families have expressed pleasure at seeing a neglected building restored with respect. The renovation was a large and evolving undertaking, but Lucy and her team are proud of the outcome and eager to welcome guests from near and far. Practical information and bookings are available via the property website at www.straloch.com, and early visitors have already praised the combination of history, thoughtful design and countryside freedom that defines the restored Schoolhouse.
