3 days of Adventures from Blairgowrie

Are you looking for an active holiday where you can enjoy both outdoor adventure and cultural activities? Are you looking to get off the beaten track and try new experiences? Then read our blogs on the adventures to be had when you holiday at Blairgowrie Holiday Park.

Quick Links

• So Many Reasons to Visit Dunkeld & Birnam
• The Stone of Destiny Returns to Perth
• From a Castle to a Bothy Experience

So Many Reasons to Visit Dunkeld & Birnam 

The nearby villages of Dunkeld and Birnam are a lovely day trip from Blairgowrie. The drive there itself is very picturesque, taking you past Drumelie and Clunie lochs and through the pretty village of Butterstone.  

The villages sit on the River Tay, connected by the Thomas Telford Bridge. Back in history, it cost a halfpenny to cross the bridge, but you can come and go freely these days! Look out for the prison built into one of the arches to keep troublemakers at bay.

Dunkeld Cathedral is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area. Today, part ruin and part parish church, the cathedral features the tomb of the notorious 'Wolf of Badenoch'!   

From the cathedral, you can walk along the riverside and also take in the circular Dunkeld House Tree Trail.  Dunkeld House was once the home of the ‘Planting Dukes' of Atholl, who changed the Perthshire landscape forever in the 18th century with their tree planting.   

Beside the old market cross you will find around 20 pretty pastel-coloured ‘little houses’ dating back to the 17th century, that have been restored by the National Trust for Scotland.  

A trip to Dunkeld would not be complete without browsing the many independent shops. Be sure to pick up some cakes or bread from the artisan Aran Bakery. There are also many options for coffee stops, lunch or a drink in a beer garden overlooking the river.

The neighbouring town of Birnam has been home to many famous residents over the years, including the playwright J.M. Barrie, who wrote Peter Pan while living in the town. Beatrix Potter, with her family, often visited Birnam and she drafted her first book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit whilst staying here. Find out more at the Beatrix Potter Exhibition and Garden. 

Another lovely walk is at The Hermitage, a National Trust property just outside Dunkeld. The site includes different trails, each of which offers something different. When the River Braan is in full spate, the waterfalls at the Hermitage are almost deafening. Whatever the weather, there is a magical air to this place, helped by the 18th-century folly of Ossian’s Hall overlooking the falls. The folly is only a short walk from the car park if you have little ones. Look out for the totem pole hidden in the woods – and red squirrels. 

The Stone of Destiny Returns to Perth 

The Stone of Destiny has returned to Perthshire for the first time in 700 years. Its new home is the centrepiece of the new Perth Museum, where you can see the stone as part of a free immersive experience, taking you through its complex and mysterious history. 

Perth Museum is not the only location in Perthshire with a connection to the Stone of Destiny. Nearby Scone Palace was the crowning place of Scottish kings between the 9th and 13th centuries until the stone was stolen by Edward I of England and taken to Westminster Abbey. When you visit Scone today there is a replica of the stone on Moot Hill beside the Palace.

The Stone of Destiny has always been surrounded by intrigue. It has always been pondered whether the stone that you can visit today is the original stone. It is believed that the monks at Scone Abbey duped Edward, Hammer of the Scots, by handing over a fake all those centuries ago.  If Edward believed he had the real one, why then did he return to ransack Scone Abbey again two years later, in 1298? It is thought that they hid the real stone at nearby Dunsinane Hill. See if you can unravel the mystery yourself with trips to Perth Museum and Scone Palace and find out more.

From a Castle to a Bothy Experience 

The family home of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne, Glamis Castle is the legendary setting for Shakespeare's Macbeth, the childhood home of HM Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother and the birthplace of Princess Margaret.

You enter the grounds through a set of impressive gates and then take the long drive up to the castle. We recommend taking a guided tour of the castle. It will really bring the history and stories of the castle to life. There is an annual exhibition for you to enjoy too.

In the Castle Kitchen Restaurant, you can enjoy a light snack or a three course lunch. Or why not book an afternoon tea and treat yourself. If you are just looking to pick up a quick bite to eat or a cup of coffee before exploring the grounds and gardens The Old Larder is perfect.

After visiting the castle, make your next stop a bothy! The Gin Bothy Experience is nestled at the end of a row of pretty houses in the village of Glamis. This is where Scottish bothy traditions and culture meet gin tasting. There are two visitor rooms with video presentations; Bothy Beginnings, which takes you through the Gin Bothy journey, while the Bothy Tales rooms tell the story of Scottish Bothies. Be sure to try their gins. You will be in good company as they were the tipple added to the exclusive Oscar swag bags in 2024.