Where is the best place for a Scottish Highland holiday?
Everyone has a different idea of what makes a perfect Highland holiday, so often it can be difficult to arrange a trip that has something for everyone. At River & Green we have been designing Highland holidays since Ian Walls (company Director) first opened the company back in 2008, we have placed clients all over the length and breadth of Scotland and we are proud to say that every part of this beautiful country has something unique to offer visitors.
About 50% of our clients have very specific wishes for their Highland holiday; from woodcock shooting on the islands, to trout fishing in the lime stone lochs of the north, we are experts in unique and we can cater for the most specific of country sports needs as well as the more traditional e.g. salmon fishing on the Tweed or red deer stag stalking etc. For the other 50% of clients however, the challenge is finding an area of Scotland that has something for everyone, a little taste of the whole of Scotland in one convenient location.
Often these sorts of questions are answered in vague generalities however, in this instance,there is a specific answer………………
A Highland Holiday in Perthshire
Simply put, a Highland holiday in Perthshire is the best choice for those who want to experience the best that Scotland has to offer; from the best hunting and fishing opportunities, to tourism, to whisky tasting, to shopping, to activities for the kids, Highland Perthshire has it all.
Location
As you can see from the map (right), Highland Perthshire really isn’t very far away from the main entry points to Scotland i.e. Edinburgh or Glasgow Airport. Once you collect your rental car from Edinburgh or Glasgow airport it’s only a 1 hour 25 minute drive from Edinburgh or a 1 hour 45 minute drive from Glasgow to the town of Pitlochry which is the hub of everything Highland Perthshire has to offer.
Wing shooting
Around the town of Aberfeldy sits one of the best wingshooting areas in Scotland. Using a combination of 2 – 3 different estates we can offer a full week of wing shooting for pheasant and partridge where no 2 days are ever the same.
Head south and about 20 minutes drive from Pitlochry and there is a second wing shooting area that hosts some of the most civilised shooting ground in the country. Located near the town of Dunkeld, the ground is less challenging but the shooting is of the very highest quality. We refer to it as a very civilised area as it is the favourite shooting ground of some of the most discerning guns in the UK, nowhere are you more likely to spend the day shooting next to a local Laird or international dignitary.
Fishing
The mighty River Tay runs through Highland Perthshire and is a mecca for salmon fishermen from all over the globe. The river runs through some stunning countryside and provides excellent salmon & trout fishing from 15th January to 15th October. The added bonus of fishing on the Tay is that most beats allow both fly-fishing and spinning so it is available to a wider range of fishermen than some other rivers which are strictly fly-fishing only. An honourable mention should also go the the River Earn which plays host to one of our favourite beats, Kinkel Bridge.
For those who prefer loch fishing then a Highland holiday in Perthshire gives you easy access to the mighty Loch Tay which is provides excellent pike and salmon fishing as well as a multitude of smaller lochs for those who prefer more secluded fishing locations
Deer hunting
A Highland Holiday in Perthshire is simply the best location for deer hunting. In the high heather hills you can stalk the Monarch of the Glen, the mighty red deer stag. For those who prefer to stalk lower down you can hunt fallow buck through the woods and onto the foothills and for those who like to stick exclusively to the low ground you can hunt roe buck in the forests (not to say that the roe buck might not occasionally lead you on an uphill chase!).
There are some purists who say you have to head up way north or onto the islands for serious deer hunting but they neglect 1 crucial factor…… the fickle Scottish weather! By hunting deer in Highland Perthshire you have the option of red, roe or fallow deer; so if the cloud is low you can set out after a fallow buck or if it’s a beautiful sunny day you can head up the hill for a red deer stag. If the weather is mixed, be a little flexible and start low with a roe buck in mind then push on up the hill for a fallow buck or a red stag depending on how the weather that day pans out (much better than trying to rely on the weather forecast!!!)
Golf
Gleneagles is probably one of the most famous golf courses in Scotland (after St. Andrews) and it is a must for anyone planning a Highland holiday that involves a few rounds of golf. Other notable highlights include Blairgowrie’s Rosemount course and Pitlochry Golf Club, but there re simply too many beautiful courses to mention individually so why not let us know what your preference is and we will design a bespoke golfing holiday for you!
Whisky
A Highland holiday is not complete without a good dose of whisky, that is an undeniable fact.
Due to copyright issues we can’t put in any pictures of the distilleries in question so I’ll put the links below so you can see for yourself. The important thing is all of these are between 5 and 50 minutes drive from Pitlochry:
Edradour – (Scotland’s smallest distillery) – 5 minutes – Website
Blair Atholl Distillery – 3 minutes – Website
Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery – 24 minutes – Website
Dalwhinnie Distillery – (my personal favourite whisky, smooth and not too peaty) – 40 minutes – Website
The Glenturret distillery – (Scotland’s oldest distillery) – 50 minutes – Website
Shopping
Highland Perthshire has lots of excellent shopping opportunities. There are small independent shops dotted around the area such as Dunkeld Smoked Salmon, The Perthshire Deli (best independent retailer in Scotland 2018) and James Crockart & Sons (gun & fishing tackle manufacturers) but there is one place that deserves a mention all of it’s own…….
The House of Bruar, Scottish country clothing specialist, delicatessen, restaurant, fishing equipment and sale shop. It’s hard to do justice to the amount of time one could spend here (with a decent shopping budget!) if one was so inclined, but suffice it to say its well worth a visit and there is a reason we always add it to every itinerary that goes through the area. Click here for their Website
If the thought of shopping leaves you cold but one of your group is very keen on retail therapy, then there is a stunning walk just behind the House of Bruar up to the Falls of Bruar. 30 minutes of moderate uphill from the car park produces some stunning views (see below) then it’s 20 minutes back down hill to pick up one the best pork pies in Scotland (my opinion only!) from the food hall.
Castles & miscellaneous
I began putting this together as a quick article to suggest why Perthshire might be the best location for a Highland holiday but, because of the breadth of things on offer in this beautiful area, it’s become somewhat longer than anticipated! With that in mind I will resort to a list to try and summarise some of the more general tourism opportunities the area has to offer.
Blair Castle
Glamis Castle
Scone Palace
Breamar Castle
Kayaking
Canyoning
Hill walking
Horseback riding
Falconry
Highland safaris
Photography safaris
Ceildh dancing
Boat trips
The Scottish Crannog Centre
etc. etc. etc.
In fact there are too many to even list! Why not get in touch and let us know what your ideal Scottish Highland holiday would involve and we will create a personalised proposal to suit your individual needs.
Email me (Alex) or Ian (company Director) today, we would be delighted to hear from you!
Alternatively, go to this page to fill in one of our Highland holiday enquiry forms
Blair Castle in Highland Perthshire taken on a clear and frost December night
