Guidebook
Great days out | The Coast
The sea can be reached in 45mins+ by car.
A large stretch of sand, sheltered by sand dunes, great for a walk or some wild swimming in the sea. There's parking, camping and a cafe on site.
Drive time 1hr 8mins
It can be combined with a visit to Arbroath which has a cute harbour, famous smokies (smoked fish), and an abbey - famous for the declaration of Arbroath.
23 habitants recommandent
Lunan Bay
A large stretch of sand, sheltered by sand dunes, great for a walk or some wild swimming in the sea. There's parking, camping and a cafe on site.
Drive time 1hr 8mins
It can be combined with a visit to Arbroath which has a cute harbour, famous smokies (smoked fish), and an abbey - famous for the declaration of Arbroath.
St Andrews is a historic town - famous for being the birthplace of golf, an ancient religious site with cathedral ruins, for having Scotland's oldest university.
Drive time 1hr 12mins
It has two beaches, plenty of shops and places to eat. It's can be combined with short drive to Dundee or by driving south to the east neuk of Fife.
It has two beaches, lots of cafes and shops, characterful streets and buildings.
257 habitants recommandent
St Andrews
St Andrews is a historic town - famous for being the birthplace of golf, an ancient religious site with cathedral ruins, for having Scotland's oldest university.
Drive time 1hr 12mins
It has two beaches, plenty of shops and places to eat. It's can be combined with short drive to Dundee or by driving south to the east neuk of Fife.
It has two beaches, lots of cafes and shops, characterful streets and buildings.
Tentsmuir is a nature reserve recently seen on BBC 2's Winterwatch. It has a fabulous long beach backed by dunes and Scots pines. One end of the beach meets the point where the Tay enters the North Sea, here there are often seals and a variety of sea birds.
There is parking on site but for a charge. The woods are lovely to walk in and you can easily take a mountain bike along the trails.
At the far end of the beach you can see across the mouth of the Tay estuary towards Dundee and if you're lucky you will see some seals.
Take a packed lunch as there's no where nearby to buy food or drink.
Drive time 1hr 12mins
32 habitants recommandent
Tentsmuir Forest
Tentsmuir is a nature reserve recently seen on BBC 2's Winterwatch. It has a fabulous long beach backed by dunes and Scots pines. One end of the beach meets the point where the Tay enters the North Sea, here there are often seals and a variety of sea birds.
There is parking on site but for a charge. The woods are lovely to walk in and you can easily take a mountain bike along the trails.
At the far end of the beach you can see across the mouth of the Tay estuary towards Dundee and if you're lucky you will see some seals.
Take a packed lunch as there's no where nearby to buy food or drink.
Drive time 1hr 12mins
Brought Ferry is a small town west of Dundee and has a small accessible beach. It's a great place to go for fish and chips and a walk along the sands.
Drive time 47mins
27 habitants recommandent
Broughty Ferry
Brought Ferry is a small town west of Dundee and has a small accessible beach. It's a great place to go for fish and chips and a walk along the sands.
Drive time 47mins
Great days out | Cities
A few of my favourite things to do in the nearest cities.
Drive time 1hr 23mins
UNESCO World Heritage status in 1995
Gallery of Modern Art
Scotland's national galleries are in Edinburgh, all have free, permanent, excellent exhibits - and nice cafes.
285 habitants recommandent
Edinburgh
Drive time 1hr 23mins
UNESCO World Heritage status in 1995
Gallery of Modern Art
Scotland's national galleries are in Edinburgh, all have free, permanent, excellent exhibits - and nice cafes.
Glasgow
Drive time 1hr 22mins
Dundee
Drive time 42mins
Perth
Drive time 29mins
Also a bus straight from the village
Walking
Perth and kinross council have created a 'Core Paths Network' - a network of paths, across the whole local authority area, all signposted. An interactive map is available online.
https://www.pkc.gov.uk/article/15439/Core-Paths-Plan-interactive-map
7 habitants recommandent
Perth and Kinross
Perth and kinross council have created a 'Core Paths Network' - a network of paths, across the whole local authority area, all signposted. An interactive map is available online.
https://www.pkc.gov.uk/article/15439/Core-Paths-Plan-interactive-map
There are a variety of walks from the backdoor. Printed maps of local routes will be available in the cottage.
Spittalfield
There are a variety of walks from the backdoor. Printed maps of local routes will be available in the cottage.
Perthshire Places
Dunkeld cathedral is situated in beautiful grounds with mature larch and yew trees.
The original cathedral was founded in 1260 and was a significant religious site in Scotland with relics of Saint Columba, including his bones, said to be kept here until the Reformation.
Out-with the cathedral grounds there is a nice arboretum walk along the river towards Dunkeld House Hotel where you can finish with a gin and tonic.
Inside the cathedral is a small exhibition covering the religious history of the local area.
Drive time 10mins
24 habitants recommandent
Dunkeld Cathedral
10 Cathedral StDunkeld cathedral is situated in beautiful grounds with mature larch and yew trees.
The original cathedral was founded in 1260 and was a significant religious site in Scotland with relics of Saint Columba, including his bones, said to be kept here until the Reformation.
Out-with the cathedral grounds there is a nice arboretum walk along the river towards Dunkeld House Hotel where you can finish with a gin and tonic.
Inside the cathedral is a small exhibition covering the religious history of the local area.
Drive time 10mins
The Hermitage is a folly built by the Duke of Atholl. It over looks the dramatic falls of Braan with picturesque gorges and pools.
There is parking at The Hermitage, although you can walk quite easily from Dunkeld.
Drive time 10mins
69 habitants recommandent
Hermitage
Old Military RoadThe Hermitage is a folly built by the Duke of Atholl. It over looks the dramatic falls of Braan with picturesque gorges and pools.
There is parking at The Hermitage, although you can walk quite easily from Dunkeld.
Drive time 10mins
Blair Castle is the home of the Atholls. The Atholl family owned and still does much of the land in the Perthshire area.
They are the only estate to still have their own private army!
There is pony trekking, shooting and fishing available on the estate as well as walks of different grades.
The castle also hosts the international horse trials.
blairhorsetrials.co.uk
The estate is also famous for causing the laws around land access to change in Scotland. When a teacher took his students up through Glen Tilt he met and chased off the land by the duke and his gillies. The teacher promptly went back to Edinburgh and raised the issue in the courts. He won and that's why today we are free to roam as we wish in Scotland. No landowner can force you to leave his land. But you are expected to respect his privacy around his house.
Drive time 35mins
76 habitants recommandent
Château de Blair
Blair Castle is the home of the Atholls. The Atholl family owned and still does much of the land in the Perthshire area.
They are the only estate to still have their own private army!
There is pony trekking, shooting and fishing available on the estate as well as walks of different grades.
The castle also hosts the international horse trials.
blairhorsetrials.co.uk
The estate is also famous for causing the laws around land access to change in Scotland. When a teacher took his students up through Glen Tilt he met and chased off the land by the duke and his gillies. The teacher promptly went back to Edinburgh and raised the issue in the courts. He won and that's why today we are free to roam as we wish in Scotland. No landowner can force you to leave his land. But you are expected to respect his privacy around his house.
Drive time 35mins
Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre exhibits the history of hydro electricity in Scotland. After the second world war great hydro schemes were built which brought jobs and electricity to the highlands. Pitlochry dam is famous for its fish ladder which allows salmon to bypass the dam and continue to their spawning grounds.
Drive time 20mins
38 habitants recommandent
Centre d'accueil du barrage de Pitlochry
Armoury RoadPitlochry Dam Visitor Centre exhibits the history of hydro electricity in Scotland. After the second world war great hydro schemes were built which brought jobs and electricity to the highlands. Pitlochry dam is famous for its fish ladder which allows salmon to bypass the dam and continue to their spawning grounds.
Drive time 20mins
The Birks of Aberfeldy is a short walk up and down the side of a gorge. It's steep in places but it worth the view of the falls at the top.
Combine with a visit to the Water Mill for lunch or coffee.
It has one of the best collections of books.
aberfeldywatermill.com
23 habitants recommandent
The Birks of Aberfeldy
The Birks of Aberfeldy is a short walk up and down the side of a gorge. It's steep in places but it worth the view of the falls at the top.
Combine with a visit to the Water Mill for lunch or coffee.
It has one of the best collections of books.
aberfeldywatermill.com
Dunkeld is the nearest main town. Nestled on the banks of the Tay opposite Birnam, it has good looks, history, cafes and a great pub... so very popular with tourists.
It's famous for its historic cathedral, folk music and festivals, an elegant Thomas Telford bridge, the Jacobite battle of Dunkeld, some great mountain biking (Dunkeld Enduro), The Hermitage, walking and salmon fishing.
It started as an early religious settlement dating as far back as the 1300s - supposedly a stop off point by St Columbus on his way from Iona to St Andrews. Its restored town square is owned and protected by The National Trust for Scotland.
It's also got some great cafes, a Deli and the famous Aran bakery.
A small town, but Dunkeld is far from parochial with a diverse community and a strong sense of identity.
57 habitants recommandent
Dunkeld
Dunkeld is the nearest main town. Nestled on the banks of the Tay opposite Birnam, it has good looks, history, cafes and a great pub... so very popular with tourists.
It's famous for its historic cathedral, folk music and festivals, an elegant Thomas Telford bridge, the Jacobite battle of Dunkeld, some great mountain biking (Dunkeld Enduro), The Hermitage, walking and salmon fishing.
It started as an early religious settlement dating as far back as the 1300s - supposedly a stop off point by St Columbus on his way from Iona to St Andrews. Its restored town square is owned and protected by The National Trust for Scotland.
It's also got some great cafes, a Deli and the famous Aran bakery.
A small town, but Dunkeld is far from parochial with a diverse community and a strong sense of identity.
Wild Swimming
Fantastic swimming spot with deep gorge, falls and pools.
Please take care to not swim when the river is in spate.
Linn of Tummel
Fantastic swimming spot with deep gorge, falls and pools.
Please take care to not swim when the river is in spate.
The nearest swim spot is a short bike ride of 15min walk from the cottage. There's a large Eddie with a pebble beach and bench.
There will be a map on the cottage showing you the location.
13 habitants recommandent
River Tay
The nearest swim spot is a short bike ride of 15min walk from the cottage. There's a large Eddie with a pebble beach and bench.
There will be a map on the cottage showing you the location.
Clunie is very popular for simmers, kayakers and paddle boarders. It is site of an ancient castle, has an crannog / island in the middle on which is situated a ruined tower, said to of sheltered the bishops of Dunkeld during the reformation.
Things too note: It can get really busy and has limited parking.
6 habitants recommandent
Loch Of Clunie
Clunie is very popular for simmers, kayakers and paddle boarders. It is site of an ancient castle, has an crannog / island in the middle on which is situated a ruined tower, said to of sheltered the bishops of Dunkeld during the reformation.
Things too note: It can get really busy and has limited parking.
Rumbling Bridge pools sit upstream from Rumbling Bridge. It's a deep gorge with cliffs and rock jumps for the brave. It's has multiple waterfalls and feels like a very invigorating swim.
I wouldn't say it was suitable for small children or anyone who isn't a reasonably confident swimmer.
In winter months the current and falls are too strong / dangerous. You also need to bear in mind that the water level and current can also pick up quickly after heavy rainfall upstream.
River Braan
Rumbling Bridge pools sit upstream from Rumbling Bridge. It's a deep gorge with cliffs and rock jumps for the brave. It's has multiple waterfalls and feels like a very invigorating swim.
I wouldn't say it was suitable for small children or anyone who isn't a reasonably confident swimmer.
In winter months the current and falls are too strong / dangerous. You also need to bear in mind that the water level and current can also pick up quickly after heavy rainfall upstream.
Kayaking and paddle boarding
Loch Tay is 15 miles long and spans between Kenmore and Killin.
There is a beach and a marina at Kenmore with an onsite spa called The HotBox.
You can hire kayaks to paddle in the bay.
This means you can combine a days padding with a sauna and a wood fired pizza :)
There is also the crannog centre where you can learn about crannogs.
24 habitants recommandent
Loch Tay
Loch Tay is 15 miles long and spans between Kenmore and Killin.
There is a beach and a marina at Kenmore with an onsite spa called The HotBox.
You can hire kayaks to paddle in the bay.
This means you can combine a days padding with a sauna and a wood fired pizza :)
There is also the crannog centre where you can learn about crannogs.
The furthest away loch for paddling and swimming. As a result it's usually less busy.
* It's recommended you consult a guidebook and weather conditions or alternatively book yourself in for a lesson or tour with outdoorexplore.co.uk
15 habitants recommandent
Loch Rannoch
The furthest away loch for paddling and swimming. As a result it's usually less busy.
* It's recommended you consult a guidebook and weather conditions or alternatively book yourself in for a lesson or tour with outdoorexplore.co.uk
A nice loch with islands to explore at the south end.
* It's recommended you consult a guidebook and weather conditions or alternatively book yourself in for a lesson or tour with outdoorexplore.co.uk
6 habitants recommandent
Loch Tummel
A nice loch with islands to explore at the south end.
* It's recommended you consult a guidebook and weather conditions or alternatively book yourself in for a lesson or tour with outdoorexplore.co.uk
You can paddle all the way to Perth where the Tay becomes an estuary. There are a few white water section that you will need to carry your boat around.
* It's recommended you consult a guidebook and weather conditions or alternatively book yourself in for a lesson or tour with outdoorexplore.co.uk
13 habitants recommandent
River Tay
You can paddle all the way to Perth where the Tay becomes an estuary. There are a few white water section that you will need to carry your boat around.
* It's recommended you consult a guidebook and weather conditions or alternatively book yourself in for a lesson or tour with outdoorexplore.co.uk
Mountain Biking
Laggan Wolftrax Centre
Great section of trails of various grades.
Local Mountain biking trails.
trailforks.com/region/dunkeld/trails/
Dunkeld Enduro
https://www.facebook.com/DunkeldEnduro/
Craigvinean Forest
Local Mountain biking trails.
trailforks.com/region/dunkeld/trails/
Dunkeld Enduro
https://www.facebook.com/DunkeldEnduro/