Blair Castle

Location

Cuil-an-Duin Country House is ideally situated in the heart of Highland Perthshire, an area famous for its spectacular mountain scenery, pretty Highland towns and villages and outdoor activities of all kinds.  There is lots to see and do during your stay with us and we will be delighted to give you suggestions for activities and places to visit to enable you to make the most of your time here.

There are numerous options for great places to visit, but here is a tiny selection of our personal favourites;

Pitlochry

The popular town of Pitlochry is in a beautiful location on the banks of the River Tummel with the dramatic peak of Ben Vrackie towering in the background. Visit the Pitlochry  Dam and watch the salmon battling their way up the fish ladder to get to  Loch Faskally. For whisky lovers, the Edradour Distillery is well worth and visit and, for a spot of evening entertainment, the highly regarded Pitlochry Festival Theatre runs a varied repertoire all year round.

Pitlochry has good range of shops and if you are staying in our self-catering cottages, you will find all that you need here.  Our favourites include The Highland Soap Company to stock up on their wonderful lotions and potions and then a quick visit to Drinkmonger for a delicious bottle of wine! For more information on things to do around Pitlochry, visit www.pitlochry.org

Dunkeld & Birnam

Situated on opposite banks of the magnificent River Tay, the ancient towns of Dunkeld and Birnam have some fine buildings and are of great historical significance. We recommend a visit to Dunkeld Cathedral, the first ecclesiastical capital of medieval Scotland. The main high street in Dunkeld has a fine array of speciality shops and a number of excellent eateries.

Nature lovers will enjoy a visit to the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s reserve at Loch of the Lowes famous for its nesting ospreys which return every year. Across the river, the Hermitage has some fine walks and magnificent trees and waterfalls.  For more ideas to plan your day out in Dunkeld, see www.dunkeldandbirnam.org.uk

Aberfeldy & Loch Tay

Made famous by Robert Burns in ‘The Birks of Aberfeldy’, this is Scotland’s first Fairtrade town with an eclectic mix of speciality retailers from organic produce to fine art. Have a coffee and enjoy the books at Aberfeldy Watermill or a browse in the Aberfeldy Gallery which showcases works by some of Scotland’s finest contemporary artists. Pick up some freshly roasted coffee from the Glen Lyon Coffee Roastery and pop in to have a look at the excellent fully restored Birks Cinema.

If interiors are your thing, then a visit to Spirit of Wood must be on your list. With a huge selection of furniture, soft furnishings and home accessories you are sure to find something special to take home. Garden lovers will enjoy a visit to the wonderful Cluny House Garden with its rare collection of Himalayan plants and Castle Menzies nearby is a splendid example of Scottish Renaissance architecture.

Blair Atholl

Home of the majestic Blair Castle, seat of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl for centuries, Blair Atholl is a beautiful highland village on the River Garry.  The castle and gardens are a must see for any visitor and make a great day out.  While in Blair Atholl, we also recommend you pop in and visit the Blair Atholl Watermill, a traditional working watermill with an excellent café.

If you feel like some high end retail therapy, we suggest a trip to nearby House of Bruar. With a fabulous selection of country clothing, homewares and sporting accessories, you can easily spend an entire day browsing through the different departments. Treat yourself to some gourmet Scottish delicacies from the fantastic selection in the food hall and enjoy a leisurely lunch in the excellent restaurant.