Towns, cities & shopping

Blairgowrie

Blairgowrie is an excellent base from which to make the most of your holiday. The town itself has a good range of shops and other facilities including butchers, bakers, a fishmonger, a cheese shop, a farm shop specialising in local produce, a fabulous toy shop, and two shops selling all that is needed for country sports. Oh and a Tesco which seems to sell most things!

There are some good cafes, bars, and a number of great restaurants in the area, so that your "chef" gets to have some time off too.

Blairgowrie's location also makes it easy to get out and about to visit some of the interesting villages, towns and cities in central Scotland and to indulge in a little retail therapy.

Dunkeld

Dunkeld is a picturesque village on the banks of the River Tay. The cathederal enjoys a beautiful riverside setting and is the historic centre of the village. The peaceful closes and excellent range of shops make it a great place to while away a few hours. The woodland around Dunkeld is also well worth a visit with the Braan Falls and the Hermitage close by, and you can always enjoy a well-earned cup of tea and piece of cake at one of the cafes in Dunkeld

Pitlochry

Pitlochry is a well-established stop on the Scottish Tour. It has a wealth of shops and cafes which make it a an ideal place to visit for a day. There is also the Moulin Inn - famed for its micro-brewery and wholesome food which makes a convenient watering hole for those walking Ben Vrakie.

Pitlochry also has a very well established theatre which offers a wide selection of plays and other entertainments throughout the year.

Aberfeldy

Set at the eastern end of Loch Tay, Aberfeldy is a pretty little town. There are a number of places to visit either in the town or its immediate area: the Crannog centre on the south shore of Loch Tay is well worth a visit to learn about the ancient houses built on stilts in the Loch. The Dewar's whisky centre and Castle Menzies are also worth a visit.

St. Andrew's

Famed for its golf course, St Andrew's has lots to offer the non-golfer too. There are some great shops inlcuding the Johnston's of Elgin knitwear shop, fabulous sandy beaches, and the Abbey ruins.

Dundee

Dundee is an interesting mix of old and new Scotland. Its industrial heritage is very much to the fore and attractions such as the Verdant works and the Discovery centre bring this to life. At the same time the university and Ninewells areas are home to some hi-tech medical, bio-science and media businesses. The city boasts stunning views across the River Tay, to the north coast of Fife. It has some excellent shopping and vibrant nightlife, and has the Contemporary Arts Centre for art and world cinema.

Perth

Compared to Dundee, Perth has an altogether statelier and more sedate feel to it. It is compact in size and layout and offers visitors varied shopping with a mix of high-street names and independent retailers such as McEwan's of Perth. In the town centre St John's Kirk and the new Perth Concert Hall are worth a visit. There are also the Branklyn Gardens which are an inspiration to anyone with a small hillside plot, Scone Palace, and the Cherrybank gardens famed for their heather collection.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is only one and a half hours from Blairgowrie either by road or rail. There is so much to see and do in Edinburgh from a visit to the Castle, sitting high on its rocky promontary and dominating the city skyline, the wealth of galleries and museums, through to the Palace of Holyrood. And not forgetting the Festival and all that it has to offer during August.

Glasgow

Glasgow is easily reached in an hour and a half from Blairgowrie either by road or rail. It boasts a wealth of shopping and sight-seeing opportunities and is packed with art galleries and museums ranging from the newly refurbished Kelvingrove Art Gallery and the Burrell Collection, to the Scotland Street School museum.