ABERFELDY and SURROUNDING PERTHSHIRE

Experience the unspoilt character, charm and warm hospitality of this small market town. Surrounded by the mountains and glorious landscapes of Highland Perthshire, Aberfeldy nestles in a bend of the River Tay some 30 miles north of Perth.

The town and surrounding rural communities have a thriving yet gentle pace far removed from the noise and stress of the outside world. As well as supermarkets the town offers a pleasing variety of independent shops each with an individual character where traditional service still prevails. They provide specialist foodstuffs, clothes shoes, books and gifts and in addition there are numerous restaurants, hotels, cafes, bars and bistros. Folk nights and Scottish ceilidhs ("kay-lees") are regular features in local bars. For the gourmet, there are numerous good quality country house hotels and restaurants, all within a 15-20 minute drive from Aberfeldy.
  

10% discount for Aberfeldy Cottages' guests

highlandadventuresafaris.co.uk

10% discount for Aberfeldy Cottages' guests

rafting.co.uk

Enjoy a dram and ponder the equally delicious stone-ground oatmeal produced at Aberfeldy Water Mill. Situated in beautifully restored buildings, Aberfeldy Water Mill offers an audiovisual presentation and the opportunity to witness the workings of a traditional water mill.

Angling around Aberfeldy is renowned as is its golf. Golfers can chose from challenging 18 holes around the magnificent Taymouth Castle, the new 18 hole layout at Aberfeldy with its unique all plastic bridge crossing the Tay or the attractive 9 holes at Kenmore and Strathtay. Within a half-hour drive there are a further 5 splendid 18-hole golf courses; at Pitlochry, Crieff, Killin, Dunkeld and Blairgowrie (Rosemount). St. Andrews is one hour away via Dundee. Other local amenities in Aberfeldy include tennis courts, putting and a bowling green, children's play area, and indoor recreation centre with a 25m pool, snooker, squash, fitness suite, sauna and spa pool. Fishermen can obtain permits for fishing on the River Tay and for stocked moorland lochs.

High adrenaline activities are not far away however and two centres on Loch Tay offer a wide selection of water sports including canoeing, white water rafting, windsurfing and water skiing.

Just outside Aberfeldy close to Weem lies historic Menzies Castle. Two gardens are open to the public, one nearby at Bolfracks, noted for its flowering bulbs and stream garden, and another at Cluny House which is one of Scotland's best woodland gardens.

The district around Aberfeldy is rich in natural heritage and folklore, typified by the picturesque thatched cottages of Fortingall where it is rumoured that Pontius Pilate was born and here in the churchyard a 3000-year-old yew tree is believed to be Europe's oldest living thing. Close by is Glen Lyon the longest enclosed glen in Scotland stretching some 34 miles in length, where guided nature walks are available.

Aberfeldy has an abundance of big trees and green heritage. Wonderful walks are plentiful, ranging from the woodland glade and cascading waterfalls of the Birks of Aberfeldy, through forest walks at Weem and Drummond Hill, to serious high level walking, within many munroes around Glen Lyon and the hills of Breadalbane. Nearby the mighty Ben Lawers, Perthshire's highest and most fascinating mountain stands 3984ft. tall. The National Trust now protects the mountain that is home to possibly the finest selection of Alpine flowers. Views from the summit are incredible as it overlooks Loch Tay, which is some 14 miles long. Today it is hard to believe that ancient settlers once lived on Loch Tay on their very own man made islands or crannogs.

Your imagination is brought to life at the Scottish Crannog Centre; a wonderfully reconstructed crannog which paints a fascinating picture of early Iron Age life. Two pony trekking centres are nearby and mountain bike hire is available locally. The three main Scottish ski resorts are each within one hours drive. Pitlochry (only 15 miles) boasts the famous Festival Theatre producing a wide range of plays during the summer season. Dunkeld (17 miles) offers good shopping, restaurants and an historic cathedral; nearby the Loch of the Lowes provides habitats for a great variety of wildlife including ospreys.