Things To Do Blairgowrie & Perthshire

Best Places To Visit In Scotland

Ivybank Lodge is your perfect base for discovering the wide variety of activities that Perthshire and the surrounding areas have to offer. Centrally located in Blairgowrie, Perthshire’s largest town, at the gateway to the Scottish Highlands, we are also within easy reach of Scotland’s cities.

 

Walks

Blairgowrie features walks for everyone from gentle riverside walks and woodland strolls to the more energetic Cateran Trail, a 64-mile circular route covering a variety of terrain. A detailed guide can be downloaded here.  

 

Golf

Perthshire hosts 32 golf courses featuring some of the best in Scotland including the world-class Gleneagles resort. Blairgowrie’s very own Championship courses are less than two miles from Ivybank Lodge.

 

Fishing

Perthshire and the River Tay is world famous for its salmon fishing, boasting spectacularly beautiful fishing beats. Why not come and explore some of the lesser known lochs and rivers Perthshire has to offer, all amongst stunning scenery.

 

Skiing

The ski resort at Glenshee is just a short drive away and offers the UK’s most extensive skiing and snowboarding facilities. With the largest lift system in Britain and a mere 36 runs, it is one of the most popular ski resorts in Scotland.

 

Highland Games

Summer heralds the return of a great Scottish tradition – the Highland Games. Whether a visit to the Braemar Gathering in the company of His Majesty The King, Blairgowrie & Rattray’s very own Highland Games or one of the other many venues in the area, the combination of sporting events, music, food and dance will ensure a great day out.

 

Perth Races

The nearby Perth Racecourse, nestled in the stunning parklands of Scone Palace is the most northly course in Britain. With racing fixtures scheduled from April to September, a thrilling day out in beautiful surroundings and the very best in Scottish hospitality is assured. 

History

For guests looking to connect with Scotland’s glorious past, we have a wealth of historic sites on our doorstep. Some of those include Scone Palace – the crowning place of the Kings of Scots including Macbeth and Robert The Bruce, Balmoral Castle – the Scottish home of the Royal Family since 1852, Glamis Castle – the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and the setting of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and Blair Castle – home of the Atholl family for over seven centuries. 

 

 

Museums

Located nearby are the V&A Dundee, an international centre of design presenting the brilliance of Scottish creativity and the best of design from around the world. Perth Museum & Art Gallery hosting collections including natural history, art and photography in a parthenon inspired building. The Black Watch Castle & Museum in Perth, offering a unique insight to the history of the Black Watch Regiment.

 

Whisky & Gin Distilleries

Within easy reach of Ivybank Lodge are Edradour (the smallest traditional whisky distillery in Scotland), Blair Atholl whisky distillery and Dewar’s Aberfeldy whisky distillery whilst nearby Persie distillery, a must-visit, caters for the gin lovers.

 

Highland Chocolatier

Iain Burnett, The Highland Chocolatier, is an award winning artisan with world-wide recognition as a Master Chocolatier and Truffle Specialist. Located in the village of Grandtully near Aberfeldy, a visit here is a must for all serious chocoholics. Highland Chocolatier are the suppliers of our famous branded chocolates which all of our guests can enjoy.  

 

Snow Roads

The Snow Roads Scenic Route is a 90-mile journey which begins at Blairgowrie and ends at the Highland town of Grantown-on-Spey. The route traverses the highest public road in Britain taking you through some of the most outstanding landscapes in the eastern Cairngorms. Further details available here. 

 

Loch Tay & Loch Tummel

Loch Tay is the largest loch in Perthshire and one of the deepest in Scotland. To the north, the loch is flanked by the impressive bulk of the Ben Lawers mountain range, much of which is designated as a National Nature Reserve. The main A827 road runs high above the loch, west from Kenmore. A short distance north from the A827 lies the village of Fortingall, in the churchyard here is the Fortingall Yew Tree, believed to be 5,000 years old and is quite possibly the oldest living thing on earth.

The area around Loch Tummel is one of the most beautiful parts of Perthshire’s ‘Big Tree Country’ with ever changing colours throughout the seasons and a great choice of walks, cycle routes and places to relax. Set high above Loch Tummel is the Queens View, one of the most famous viewpoints in Scotland.

 

Shopping

Browse the independent shops around Blairgowrie as well as those in the neighbouring village of Dunkeld and nearby Aberfeldy and Pitlochry. Or the high street shopping at Perth and Dundee.

A  must for the shopaholics is a visit to The House of Bruar. Superlative shopping awaits the visitor to this “Harrods of the North”. Sitting like a castle at the foot of the spectacular Bruar Falls, and widely acknowledged as Scotland’s most prestigious independent store, House of Bruar is home to a vast range of country clothing, gifts and food. 

The Scottish Antique & Arts Centre located in Abernyte, Perthshire offers an unrivalled selection of antiques and collectables which are complemented by carefully chosen contemporary gifts, furniture, home accessories and quality brands of ladies’ clothing. The result is a unique and fascinating shopping experience. A short distance from here is the Rait Antiques Centre offering a further opportunity to discover a hidden gem.

 

For the Animal Lovers

Ospreys, beavers, red deer and red squirrel are just some of the wildlife to be seen around Perthshire. All can be seen at the nearby Loch of the Lowes nature reserve. Or why not book a wildlife experience with Penny Hedge or Nature Nuts or try the Husky or Highland Cow Experiences at Bowland Trails.  

   

 

Landrover Experience

A range of off-road driving activities are offered at the nearby Land Rover Experience combining a day of adventure with breath taking scenery. This is just a taste of what’s on offer on your Perthshire holiday. We invite you to come and experience it for yourself. 

 

We look forward to seeing you soon!