A visit to Blair Castle and the wider Atholl Estates is definitely to be recommended. The Castle is the ancient seat of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl and enjoys one of Scotland’s finest settings in the heart of Highland Perthshire. You can tour over 30 rooms and extensive grounds. It’s quite a place.

Dating back to 1269, the castle has been transformed through the ages. Frrom its cold medieval beginnings, through to a strategic position during various political struggles, to become a fine Georgian mansion and finally a Victorian castle in the barionial style.

The superb tour will explain the links with Mary Queen of Scots, the Civil War, the Jacobite cause and Bonnie Prince Charlie. You will learn how Queen Victoria’s famous stay in 1844 led to the formation of Europe’s only private army, the Atholl Highlanders.

Extensive gardens include the huge walled Hercules Garden and the ‘Big Trees’ of Diana’s Grove. Landrover safari tours and a variety of other activities can also be organised on the Atholl Estate. Check out their website for more details..

Blair Castle is only 10 minutes North of Pitlochry and a visit, combined with a shopping trip to the House of Bruar, makes for an excellent day out.