Loch Tay - Things to do.

Loch Tay - Things to do.

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ZOLLAR

Original Poster:

19,908 posts

172 months

Friday 18th September 2015
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Hello,

My OH and I are driving up from South Wales in November to stay in a Boathouse on the Loch Tay for a week.

We have a few ideas of things we want to do and visit but I was wondering if you had any suggestions about things to do up there say within a 40-50 mile radius?
I'll be taking the Discovery so any suggestions for a bit of off road sight seeing will also be welcome biggrin.

Thanks

ALBA MELV

383 posts

155 months

Friday 18th September 2015
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Scotlands Secret bunker perhaps. If wartime stuff is of interest, that is.

Kiltie

7,504 posts

245 months

Friday 18th September 2015
quotequote all
Not sure where your boathouse is but, off the top of my head ...

  • The Crannog Centre is good for a couple of hours.
  • On the opposite side, there's a walk with a cracking view of the loch - I'll ask my wife where exactly this evening.
  • The Kenmore Hotel is good for informal nosh or a drink.
  • Drive over the A826 / A822 to Dunkeld.
  • Queen's View.
  • Pitlochry.
  • Edradour Distillery.
There is a huge amount to do around there. I'll add more here as it pops in to my head.

I hope you have a really good time and the weather is kind to you. smile

ianrb

1,529 posts

139 months

Friday 18th September 2015
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ALBA MELV said:
Scotlands Secret bunker perhaps. If wartime stuff is of interest, that is.
Err, that's about 80 miles each way.

And that's Cold War not WW2.


Terzo123

4,309 posts

207 months

Friday 18th September 2015
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Birks of Aberfeldy is a nice short walk

http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/perthshire/birks-of...

ZOLLAR

Original Poster:

19,908 posts

172 months

Friday 18th September 2015
quotequote all
Kiltie said:
Not sure where your boathouse is but, off the top of my head ...

  • The Crannog Centre is good for a couple of hours.
  • On the opposite side, there's a walk with a cracking view of the loch - I'll ask my wife where exactly this evening.
  • The Kenmore Hotel is good for informal nosh or a drink.
  • Drive over the A826 / A822 to Dunkeld.
  • Queen's View.
  • Pitlochry.
  • Edradour Distillery.
There is a huge amount to do around there. I'll add more here as it pops in to my head.

I hope you have a really good time and the weather is kind to you. smile
We've hired a boathouse called "The Dipper" if you google it comes up, looking forward to it.
First of all thanks for all the responses!
A Whisky distillery tour was a must but there are quite a few within the 40-50 miles radius according the internet, which would you suggest is the best?
I wouldn't mind finding a proper "family" one or one with a long history (I'd imagine most do though)

We love our walks so looking forward to the views!
Any decent castles around or history of Scotland/ local history places?


Edit, just checked the Crannog Centre is a history type centre.

Edited by ZOLLAR on Friday 18th September 20:12

Kiltie

7,504 posts

245 months

Saturday 19th September 2015
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ZOLLAR said:
We've hired a boathouse called "The Dipper" if you google it comes up, looking forward to it.
That looks like a great place. "No dogs" though so not suitable for us.

I'm afraid, when you said "boathouse"; in my mind, I was picturing a "house boat".

ZOLLAR said:
We love our walks so looking forward to the views!
The walk I was thinking about in my previous reply was Drummond Hill. I think you'd be able to pick out your house from the top (check google images and you'll see what I mean). As I recall, the waymarkers had a Pictish image of a boar on them. I wanted to buy something with that picture as I'd seen it in a few places around but couldn't see anything.

ZOLLAR said:
A Whisky distillery tour was a must but there are quite a few within the 40-50 miles radius according the internet, which would you suggest is the best?
I wouldn't mind finding a proper "family" one or one with a long history (I'd imagine most do though)
I'm not an expert I'm afraid. I suggested Edradour because it's very small and quirky but I see from the website that it may be closed to visitors in November - sorry.

ZOLLAR said:
Any decent castles around or history of Scotland/ local history places?
I'm not up on castles I'm afraid. Tomorrow, I'll have a look through my guide books. If I can see something for that area, I'll easy stick it in the post to you.

More later.

Kiltie

7,504 posts

245 months

Saturday 19th September 2015
quotequote all
ZOLLAR said:
Any decent castles around or history of Scotland/ local history places?
This leaflet about Burns looks good.

My missus reminded me just now that there is an inscription above a fireplace in the Kenmore Hotel which is supposed to have been scribbled by Rabbie himself.

Edited by Kiltie on Saturday 19th September 01:09

ZOLLAR

Original Poster:

19,908 posts

172 months

Saturday 19th September 2015
quotequote all
Kiltie,

Thank you for your responses they've been perfect thumbupsmile

Kiltie

7,504 posts

245 months

Sunday 20th September 2015
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OP, I found a couple of free visitors’ guide type booklets.

If you want them, PM me an address and I’ll pop them in the post.


Kiltie

7,504 posts

245 months

Sunday 20th September 2015
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Also, there's a shop and café type place at Mains of Taymouth.

The shop had food and drink a bit more interesting than the wee shop in Kenmore.

The eating place is good for a beer and a burger but it was dear.

There's also a restaurant there but I didn't think it was much cop - better at Kenmore hotel.

ianrb

1,529 posts

139 months

Sunday 20th September 2015
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If you have a sweet tooth have a trip to The Highland Choclatier in Grandtully.


ZOLLAR

Original Poster:

19,908 posts

172 months

Sunday 20th September 2015
quotequote all
Kiltie said:
OP, I found a couple of free visitors’ guide type booklets.

If you want them, PM me an address and I’ll pop them in the post.

PM sent thumbup

ZOLLAR

Original Poster:

19,908 posts

172 months

Sunday 20th September 2015
quotequote all
ianrb said:
If you have a sweet tooth have a trip to The Highland Choclatier in Grandtully.
OH is very happy with this hehe

rossybee

931 posts

256 months

Monday 21st September 2015
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ZOLLAR said:
ianrb said:
If you have a sweet tooth have a trip to The Highland Choclatier in Grandtully.
OH is very happy with this hehe
Worth a visit - smells great smile

Have a drive from Kenmore to the South side of the Loch to Ardeonaig, stopping occasionally to take in the views, then continue to Killin where you've gotta have a wander on the Falls of Dochart which are stunning!

Ben Lawers Dam is an interesting short run off the north side of the Loch, and not my thing, but there's a rare alpine flower up Ben Lawers also.

And all Eric Kiltie says is true - especially Queen's View at Loch Tummel....truly stunning.

Enjoy!

st3ven1

231 posts

206 months

Monday 21st September 2015
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For a distillery, you could go for Scotland's oldest one, the Glenturret Distillery at Crieff: http://experience.thefamousgrouse.com/

Lovely drive over the A826/A822 down to Crieff, where you could stop at the Crieff Hydro, Delivinos or Yann's for lunch/Dinner.

For a walk you could drive up to the Loch Turret Reservoir then walk right round the lock. Alternatively you could walk up the Knock at Crieff.

Could complete the loop by taking the A85/A827 out past Lochearnhead and back up to your accommodation.

towser

919 posts

210 months

Monday 21st September 2015
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Blair Castle and Gardens are worth a visit. If you want to spot red squirrels with a fair degree of certainty Cluny Gardens are good too - http://www.clunyhousegardens.com/

Kiltie

7,504 posts

245 months

Monday 21st September 2015
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towser said:
Blair Castle and Gardens are worth a visit.
Yeah, good shout. I was just about to suggest the same.

http://www.blairatholl.org.uk/things-to-see-do/his...

Ticks the castle box and plenty of other things to see in Blair Atholl.

If the OP's other half likes shopping, House of Bruar is nearby.

A bit of history at Killiecrankie.

st3ven1 said:
Lovely drive over the A826/A822 down to Crieff ...
I was thinking today if it cools down enough in the next few weeks, the hare could be starting to show winter coat. There's a heap of them up there.

Electronicpants

2,623 posts

187 months

Tuesday 22nd September 2015
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http://www.highlandsafaris.net/

In Dull (paired with Boring, USA, no joke) biggrin

I'd recommend popping into Aberfeldy tourist info place in the square, there is usually a really helpful person on hand to run through a mind blowing amount of stunning walks.

For food the newish Marina at Kenmore has opened http://taymouthmarinarestaurant.co.uk/, I ate there a couple of months ago for lunch, not bad at all, right on your doorstep.

The obvious castle is Taymouth, which is on a never ending build into a Luxury hotel, but you can park up and wander to the castle, there are some nice stories relating to Queen Victoria's visits there, when I wandered down last there was the back of a picture against one of the windows, it had an inscription from her diaries describing how on her second visit 25 years later she had lost her husband and the chap that had invited her had died also, she didn't go in, just looked on from one of the hills, she reminisced about all the lost people over those years, quite deep for a wander with the dogsmile








ZOLLAR

Original Poster:

19,908 posts

172 months

Tuesday 22nd September 2015
quotequote all
Safe to say I'm looking forward to this now biggrin
Will have to plan everything carefully I think!