The Tourist Town – Craobh (meaning among trees)

The pretty tourist town of Crieff is only a 5 minute drive from Dolleriemuir.  There you will find everything you need for your stay.  You can easily spend an afternoon browsing through the interesting shops, or why not stop for a coffee in Delivino or Stenhouse Gallery, both of which were recently mentioned in the Scotsman newspaper. For something a little special why not try the Bank Restaurant, winners of 2 Rosettes. There is a wonderful fresh fish shop and right across the road there is Gourlays Butcher who supplies locally produced meat and game.  For fruit and veg there is the Handy Shop offering local and organic produce.  Both Gourlays and The Handy Shop deliver and your order can be placed before you arrive. You could also drop into McNees, a wonderful delicatessen offering everything from fresh croissants to hand-made chocolates.  For a more Scottish flavour try Gills where you can find quality Scotch Whiskies, Wines, Scottish Ales, Cheese and a variety of other products.  There are many other shops to browse in such as the award winning Campbells Bakery, Gordon & Durward for handmade chocolates and traditional sweets, Frank Thompson for outdoor pursuits, Artery for contemporary Scottish Art and Strathearn Gallery for a wide range of artworks from across Scotland. Wonderful shopping and a relaxing lunch – a holiday must!

Attractions

From the doorstep of the Cottage why not take a pleasant 25 minute walk through country lanes to the nearby Innerpeffray Library and Chapel, the oldest lending library in Britain.  Crieff is also home to the award winning Famous Grouse Experience based at Glenturret Distillery.  There you can take a tour, sample the goods or enjoy lunch at the restaurant.  There is also the beautiful Drummond Castle Gardens, described as one of the finest formal gardens in Europe.  For buying gifts to take home, Crieff Visitors Centre has a gift shop, garden centre, pottery, restaurant and Drovers Tryst Exhibition. 

Outdoors

There are many varied outdoor pursuits in the area such as Golf, Fishing, Walking, Cycling, Off-road 4x4, Quad biking, Horse Riding, Highland Adventure Safaris and many more.  Cycling and walking are available from the doorstep with easy circular routes for beginners to challenging on/off road routes for those wishing to burn off some energy.  For a pleasant day out take a leisurely cycle to Gloagburn Farm Shop (10 miles) have a coffee or some lunch and cycle back by an alternative route.  This has been greatly enjoyed by us on many occasion.

Stunning Scenery

This part of Perthshire has some of the most beautiful and diverse scenery in Scotland.  From undulating farmland to magnificent mountains; lush, fertile glens to hilltops packed with wildlife.  You could try Lady Mary’s Walk in Crieff which meanders alongside the River Earn and also takes in Laggan Hill with its lovely views of Crieff.  Alternatively drive up to Turret Dam and climb up Ben Chonzie (bagging a Munro) where you can spot red deer, mountain hares and birds of prey. There are also many lochs such as Loch Earn, Loch Tay, Loch Rannoch and Loch Turret. 

History & Heritage

Whether you are interested in tracing your ancestry, visiting castles or soaking up what it means to be Scottish.  There is a treasure trove of attractions around Perthshire.  Locally, there is Drummond Castle Gardens, Innerpeffray Library, Monzie Castle and Glenturret Distillery. In nearby Perth there is Scone Palace, Huntingtower Castle, Elcho Castle as well as Perth Museum. 

Culture