Perth Escape - 27 March 2011

Perth EscapeADVERTISING FEATURE

MARCH 27 2011

Tay tripperGreat days out and things

to do in the Big CountyPhotograph: Craig Stephen

� SCOTLANDonSUNDAY March �7, �011

The Dunalastair Hotel, The Square, Kinloch Rannoch, Perthshire, PH16 5PW T: 01882 632 323 E: [email protected] www.dunalastair.co.uk

Highland Perthshire’s Hidden Gem...MAGICAL setting in the Heart of Scotland. Nestled between majestic mountains andtwo lochs. The Dunalastair Hotel is a photographers paradise.ROMANTIC rooms of generous proportions with original features including sweepingstaircase, oak panelling and roaring log fires. Every brides dream.FABULOUS food featuring local Scottish produce, catering for all dietary requirements.Full A La Carte Menu available offering a wide range of dishes to suit all tastes.Under 2 hours from Edinburgh and Glasgow and 1 hour from Perth.

WEEKEND WEDDINGSPLATINUM - £49.00 ppGOLD - £39.00 ppSILVER - £29.00 ppMIDWEEK WEDDINGSALL Inclusive Packagefrom £2499 for 55 guests.Guest Rooms availablefrom £85.00 double occupancy

‘You couldspend a month

here and still notsee everything’

set in the heart of Scot-land, the Fair City ofPerth and the surround-ing county of Perthshire

make for a holiday and visitordestination unlike any other inthe country.

No other area encompass-es spectacular Highland scen-ery, lowland riverscapes, not justcastles but many different typesof fortress and stately home,mediaeval and Jacobite battle-fields, art galleries, theatres,award-winning restaurants,magnificent gardens, ancientcathedrals, golf courses andmyriad other sporting facilities.Accommodation stretches fromthe friendliest bed and breakfastestablishments up to one of theworld’s most famous resorts, theGleneagles Hotel.

You could spend a monthin Perthshire and still not seeevery historic site and monu-ment, which vary from Roman

camps to some of the country’soldest whisky distilleries.

Driving or walking throughPerthshire will take you throughstunning glens to some of thefinest and most varied scenery inScotland. The River Tay makes itsway eastwards across the countyfrom a trickle to a broad sweepafter Perth.

For mountaineers and hill-walkers, Perthshire is a paradise,with Schiehallion and Ben Law-ers just two of the most scenicpeaks in the land.

Across the county a host ofproviders offer outdoor pur-suits ranging from pony trek-king to canoeing and off-road

driving to quad biking. And ifhunting, shooting and fishing isyour bag, Perthshire can providethe lot, from clay pigeon shoot-ing to salmon fishing on the Tay.

Perthshire is an absolute de-light for gardeners and any-one who enjoys spectacular dis-plays of trees and flowers. SconePalace gardens beside the an-cient crowning place of the Scot-tish Kings; Branklyn Garden atPerth; and Drummond Gardenssouth of Crieff are all wonderfulexamples, while it is worth visit-

Deep in thegreen heartof scotland

Perthshire offers visitors variety like no other Scottish county, writes Martin Hannan

ing Meikleour Estate just to gazein wonder at its beech hedge,recognised by Guinness as theworld’s tallest and longest.

For those who just want a quietbreak in beautiful surroundings,Perthshire has many locations tosuit your mood, while the FairCity itself has all the attractionsof a vibrant holiday destination– sports centres, cinemas, pubs,restaurants, and a renownedconcert hall and theatre with itsown repertory company.

Many other towns and villag-

es across the county competefor your attention: Pitlochry andits famous salmon ladder; Aber-feldy with its bridges; ‘Village inBloom’ winner Comrie; Blair Cas-tle at Blair Atholl; market townand twin burghs Blairgowrie andRattray; and the village of Fort-ingall, allegedly the birthplace ofPontius Pilate, and home of theFortingall Yew, said to be the old-est living thing in Europe.

With so much to see and do,Perthshire is well worthy of yourholiday consideration in 2011.

scone mix: clockwise from main, the palace, Ben Lawers, and the world record-holding beech hedge at Meikleour

2 PERTH ESCAPE MARCH 27 2011

�SCOTLANDonSUNDAYMarch 27, 2011

THE KENMORE HOTELWell Worth Discovering!

Situated in the conservation village of Kenmore and backing ontothe River Tay, this unique hotel is Scotland’s Oldest Inn. Offering awarm welcome, friendly service and relaxing atmosphere instunning surroundings.

Our award winning Restaurant and Bars are open allday for hearty cuisine and a wide selection of malts.

We have something for everyone from romantic breaksto sporting breaks. CONTACT US FOR DETAILS OFSPECIAL OFFERS.

THE KENMORE HOTELTHE SQUARE, KENMORE, PERTHSHIRE, PH15 2NU

T: 01887 830205 • F: 01887 830262e: [email protected] • www.kenmorehotel.com

25-26 JUNE 2011

To find out more, sign up or register as a volunteer goto soldierscharity.org/yomp or call 0845 504 6616

SCOTLAND’S BIG WALK54 MILES IN 24 HOURS. PERTHSHIRE, SCOTLAND

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is a Registered Charity No: 211645 and a Scottish Registered Charity No: SC039189.PYSBT is a registered company number SC097426. Charity number SC007066

afamily-focused 24-hourwalking event launch-es this summer in Scot-land offering a new hik-

ing challenge to a wide range ofpeople. The Alliance Trust Cat-eran Yomp is aimed at teams ofpeople who can choose to walkbetween 23 and 54 miles throughstunning Perthshire countryside.There will also be a Mini Yompfor families with young children.The event, which takes place onthe summer solstice weekendof June 25 and 26, aims to raisevital funds for the ABF theSoldiers’ Charity.

Robin Bacon, chief of staffat The Soldiers’ Charity, says:“There are two aims of the Cat-eran Yomp. One is to launch abrand-new walking event intoScotland, to offer people of allwalking abilities a great newchallenge. The other is to raisevital funds for the ABF Soldiers’Charity, which offers lifetimesupport for serving soldiers andveterans and distributes grantsto Scottish causes, includingveterans’ residency projects inDundee and Glasgow.”

What makes the Alliance Trust

Cateran Challenge so appealingto walkers across a spectrum offitness levels is the range of dis-tances that can be walked. Teamsof three to six people can chooseto complete the 23-mile bronzechallenge, the 37.5-mile silver orthe full 54-mile gold.

Bacon adds: “Although train-ing is highly recommended foreach of the distances, and wehave provided training tips onour website, the Yomp is aimedat a range of abilities and shouldappeal to people looking fora manageable adventure. Thefamily Mini Yomp, live bands,firework displays and a magical,lit forest trail will add to the funof the weekend.”

Starting in Blairgowrie, theYomp will head through the roll-ing Highland Perthshire andAngus landscape, visiting Kirk-michael, Spittal of Glenshee andKirkton of Glenisla. The path ofthe Cateran Trail was once usedby the infamous “Caterans”, alawless band of cattle thieveswho inhabited the regions fromthe Middle Ages until the 17thcentury.

The Cateran Yomp is set to be-

come part of a three-year part-nership between The AllianceTrust and The Soldiers’ Chari-ty, with two thirds of the event’sproceeds going to The Soldiers’Charity that gives crucial sup-port to war veterans, soldiers andtheir families. The remaining onethird will go to the Prince’s Scot-tish Youth Business Trust, whichis a youth charity that supportsself-employment and businesscreation among young people.

To register, go to www.soldierscharity.org/yomp

yomp is cateran for the massesWhere cattle thieves roamed isnow the setting for a walk forall ages, writes Fiona Russell

case study

Liz Robinson is 48 and lives inLockerbie. A police officer, shesigned up to the inaugural CateranYomp 2011, along with her col-league Karen Lypka.

She says: “i was looking for anew fitness challenge this year andi spotted a poster about the eventat work.

“Although i am already a runneri know that walking is a different

thing altogether so i want to get asmany training miles in as possible.

“Karen and i are also keen toraise as much money as possible forthe Soldiers’ Charity. This superbcharity does a great deal of goodwork, especially in Scotland.

“My son is in the marines so iam aware of how important suchcharities can be to serving soldiersand also to veterans.”

Quick march: TheCateran Yomp willraise funds forsoldiers and veterans

3PERTH ESCAPEMARCH 27 2011

� SCOTLANDonSUNDAY March 27, 2011

Good LuckTo OurFantasticTeammacmiLlan cycLisTs

Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017),Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604).

It’s not too late to join the team!

If you have your own place in the event, come and cycle withTeam Macmillan and you’ll have an unforgettable experience with thehighest levels of support. But more importantly, you’ll help us changethe lives of people affected by cancer now and far into the future.

Be part of the action.Register online at macmillan.org.uk/etapecaledoniaemail biking@macmillanor call 0207840 7875

Questions about living with cancer? Call free on 0808 808 00 00 or visit macmillan.org.uk

freewheeling along fab-ulously quiet countryroads. Heading off-roadto explore rolling hills and

tranquil glens. Riding in leisure-ly fashion along picturesque riv-erbanks, through pretty villag-es and past historic castles. It isdifficult to argue with those whoclaim that the best way to seePerthshire is by bicycle.

For this region boasts a breath-taking range of terrain and awide network of smooth tarmacroads and inspiring off-road trailsto give cyclists of all aspirationshuge value for their leg power.

As keen cyclist Scot Tares putsit: “Highland Perthshire has eve-rything to keep the full spectrumof cyclists happy.”

Tares, who owns cycle tourand training company SkinnyTyres, adds: “From families withyoung children to serious moun-tain bikers and experienced roadcyclists, there are many differentroutes in this beautiful and high-ly accessible region.”

Perthshire’s cycling landscaperanges from undulating and qui-et back roads to lochside routes,

forestry trails, glen passes andnumerous challenging hills.

The cycle-friendly SustransRoute 7 (www.sustrans.org.uk)also passes through the regionvia Pitlochry and Blair Atholl andoffering many miles of traffic-reduced and traffic-free options.

Perhaps the most importantboost to cycling in Perthshire inrecent years has come from thehugely popular Etape Caledo-nia. Now in its fourth year, the81-mile cycling sportive attractssome 5,000 riders from acrossthe world.

Kevin Grant, of Perthshire’s cy-cle and outdoors specialist out-let Escape Route, has witnesseda huge growth in road cyclingsince the first Etape.

He says: “It has been amaz-ing to see how popular the Etapehas become and, as a conse-

quence, how fast the cyclingtourism industry has expandedin Perthshire.

“While many cyclists do cometo cycle the route made famousby the Etape, they discover thatthere is a lot more on offer, too.”Glenn MacLachlan, 45, from Ed-inburgh has signed up for theEtape this year, his first suchcycling event. In recent months,he has enjoyed several days onPerthshire’s roads, building uphis fitness and also checking outthe route.

He says: “Perthshire is onlyan hour’s drive from Edinburghand offers an amazing variety ofcycling. I started on flat coun-try roads and I’ve progressed tomore undulating routes and alsosome of the region’s big hills, in-cluding Schiehallion, which willbe part of the Etape route.”

Saddle up and head off on ascenic tour of routes to suit allabilities, writes Fiona Russell

hill start: The popu-lar Caledonian Etape,main pic, takes inthe high point ofSchiehallion, insetPhotograph: CraigStephen

Spin your wheels ina cyclist’s paradise

He adds: “There’s always some-thing new to see, especially in abeautiful place like Perthshire. Ialso look forward to stopping forcoffee and cakes at cafes alongthe way!” With an increase in cy-clists to the region, the number ofestablishments offering food andaccommodation to suit the out-doors visitor has also risen.

Grant says: “There is a muchgreater awareness of the needsof cyclists, partly thanks to thenumber of riders that stay in thearea at the time of the Etape.

“B&Bs, guest houses and ho-tels are much more familiar witha cyclist’s needs, including dryingrooms and safe storage for bikes.Even offering an earlier break-fast can make a big differenceto whether people will choose tostay at an establishment.”

It’s the sheer range of optionsthat makes Perthshire such anattraction for cyclists. For fam-ilies, a short ride along the riv-er from Pitlochry towards Faska-lly Woods is recommended.Grant says: “This is an easy-going route and it heads to wood-land and Faskally Loch, where

there are further opportunitiesfor exploring on two wheels. Forfamilies with young children thisis an ideal cycling experience.”

Families with older childrenwill enjoy a route from BlairAtholl to Killicrankie either onquiet back roads or via a quarry-only road. Grant says: “At EscapeRoute we can provide details but



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Contact us at the shop for more details.

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we do find that the quarry road ismost popular because it is easy toride and safe for children.”

Ever greater number of moun-tain bikers are heading to Perth-shire thanks to a stunningnetwork of natural, wild-style off-road trails. It is a top destinationfor more experienced riders, es-pecially those who want to head

off for a day of remote riding withjust a map and backpack.

Grant recommends the trailsleading from Glen Tilt, nearBlair Atholl, and onwards intothe Atholl Estates, or else toBen Vrackie, which offers a su-perb 600-metre climb and de-scent.Another popular route isThe Queen’s Road from Dunkeld,

which offers a true wild coun-try excursion on two chunkyand grippy wheels. The 45-kil-ometre unmarked trail takes innumerous small loch and somedramatic views. He adds: “Real-ly, though, this is a region wheremountain bikers can explore totheir heart’s content.”

Another increasingly popu-lar cycling ac-tivity is guidedbike rides, in-cluding skillsand techniquessessions.

Skinny Tyresoffers a rangeof day, week-end and week-long breaks aimedat novice cyclists through toadvanced riders. The cours-es include guided cycle toursor specific training advice forparticular events, as well asaccommodation.

MacLachlan took advantageof a course that introduced himto the wonders of group riding.“I’d never realised how much fun

cycle events

‘I look forwardto stopping for

coffee and cakesalong the way’

– and how much of an advantage– it is to cycle as part of a larg-er group,” he says. “With the Skin-ny Tyres’ day out, I learned theskills of group riding, which willbe very helpful when it comes todoing the Etape.

“I also discovered lots of new cy-cling routes and met like-mindedpeople I’d really recommend it.”

Glentrek, awalking andcycling holi-day provider,also offers arange of guid-ed and self-guided cycletrips. The self-

guided Glentrek Glen Cycle Routeheads for 14 miles from the vil-lage of Alyth on country roadsand trails.

As Tares says: “The advantageof contacting outdoors specialistsin the area is that you’ll be treatedto some of the best cycling routes,and you’ll learn a great deal moreabout Perthshire and what it hasto offer. ”


Kinross CyCle sportiveWhen: 23 April, 2011What: Provides three routes.The 45-mile Blue route is a goodintroduction to sportives. Theclassic 73-mile Red route haslots of flat sections for faster rid-ing. And the 87-mile Black routeoffers a big challenge.n www.sportive-kinross.co.uk

HigHland pertHsHireCyCling FestivalWhen: 14 May, 2011What: A day of cycling eventsat Victoria Park, Aberfeldy. In-cludes brilliant bike stunt team,The Clan, a cyclo-cross race forkids, and music and stalls.n www.cyclehighlandperthshire.com

MaCMillan CanCer sup-port etape CaledoniaWhen: 15 May, 2011What: An 81-mile cycle chal-lenge on traffic-free roads inHighland Perthshire. Opento riders between the agesof 18 and 80. To ensure thatthe roads are reopened to theschedule agreed, participantsneed to maintain an averagespeed of 13-14mph but, even ifyou are unable to meet this, you

can continue to complete thefull circuit. The event is

sold out for this year sobook early for 2012.

n www.etape-caledonia.co.uk

� SCOTLANDonSUNDAY

Adult: £15, Concessions £10, Children under 18 Go FreeGates Open: Wed & Thur-12 noon, Fri-11am First Race Starts: 2.10pm Final Race: 5.30pm

For further information and to book visitwww.perth-races.co.uk or call 01738 551597

PRRperth racecourse

making every day an event

Perth FestivalWed 27th, thurs 28th & Fri 29th APril

enjoy a three day festival featuringcompetitive racing from some of the uK’s

top jockeys, live entertainment and afantastic festival atmosphere!

William&KateBank HolidayFriday 29th April 2011

don’t miss Prince William& Kate’s royal Weddingfeatured on our big screens.Gates open at 11am.

as well as being Brit-ain’s most northerlyracetrack, Perth race-course also lays fair

claim to being the UK’s mostbeautiful one.

Set by the magnificent groundsof Scone Palace, the expression“small, but perfectly formed”might well have been coined forPerth Racecourse. This parklandhurdles and steeplechase trackon almost totally flat land givesspectators a perfect sight of thedramatic action which NationalHunt racing provides, against abackdrop of magnificent viewsall round the compass.

Being so far north, you mightthink that owners and train-ers would baulk at the distancethey have to travel to bring theirhorses to Perth. Not a bit of it– they know they always get a

warm Scottish welcome at oneof the friendliest courses in theland.

Top trainers like GrandNational winners Gordon Elli-ott from Ireland and Nigel Twis-ton-Davies from Cheltenham arefrequent visitors to Perth, notleast because the racecourse of-fers substantial prize moneywhich attracts some of the finesthorses, trainers and jockeys.

The people who run Perth race-course are clever – they only hostracing from April to Septemberin order to protect the ground,

which means that crowds of upto 14,000 racegoers can oftenwatch spectacular jumps racingin their shirt sleeves or summerfrocks.

The racing is always entertain-ing in itself, but for many yearsnow, Perth Racecourse has ledthe way in mixing horse raceswith additional entertainmentsuch as live music, funfair ridesand falconry – to name but a fewattractions – which create theperfect day out for all the family.

Highlights of the 2011 seasoninclude Gold Cup Day on 5 June,

featuring one of the biggest andmost prestigious UK jump racesof the summer.

Tartan Party Night on 26 Julypresents a summer evening ofcompetitive racing followed bylive music on the outdoor stagefrom Scotland’s most energet-ic band – the brilliant Red HotChilli Pipers.

The following day is Forc-es Day when Perth offers freeadmission to serving members ofthe Armed Forces – a popular of-fer in the Highlands which pro-vides so many people to the vari-ous branches of the services.

There’s a new attraction for2011, the Perth Racecourse Char-ities Race Day on Saturday,20 August, looks set to attractrecord crowds alongside manydistinguished guests.

There’s always fine catering onthe course, with both the Gali-leo and Club restaurants havingbecome particular favourites ofracegoers, and on a warm sum-mer’s day the ice cream vendorsdo a roaring trade.

Perth Racecourse is perfectfor a corporate event, and manyfirms and businesses from allover Scotland have made a dayat the races at Perth their annu-al outing. This season, gates willopen for day meetings at 12 noonand evening meetings at 4.30pm.Prices start from just £13 for thecentre of the course and £15 forthe grandstands, with childrenunder 18 always going free.

There’s free parking at thecourse, and shuttle buses to andfrom Perth. Group discounts areavailable, and for full details of

all prices and to book in advance– highly advisable for the biggerevents – visit the website www.perth-races.co.uk

This year’s racing season startswith the Crabbie’s Alcoholic Gin-ger Beer Perth Festival. Takingplace on Wednesday, Thursdayand Friday, 27 to 29 April, thefestival is one of the most exhila-rating events on the Scottish rac-ing calendar and an integral partof Perth’s social diary.

Royal spotters will have not-ed that the festival encompassesthe Bank Holiday Friday whenPrince William will marry KateMiddleton. To celebrate, PerthRacecourse will open its gatesearly on Friday to allow racegoers to watch the Royal Wed-ding on the big screens.

The festival atmospherewill continue with additional

Perth steals a jumpin summer stakes

A new sponsorship deal with Crabbie’s boosts thealready attractive offering at one of the UK’s mostbeautiful race courses, writes Martin Hannan

‘For years,Perthhas mixed

up racing withother events’


7SCOTLANDonSUNDAYMarch 27, 2011

PRRperth racecourse

making every day an event

Get Your Heart Racing at Perth RacecourseOur racing season runs from April to September and, as Scotland’s most northerly racecourse,

we’re well known for excellent form in attracting top trainers, horses and riders.

2011 FIXTURES DATESCrabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer Perth Festival Wed 27th, Thur 28th & Fri 29th AprilFolk Night at the Races Wed 11th MayBreakthrough Breast Cancer Ladies Day Thur 12th MayGold Cup Day Sun 5th JuneChallenge Cup Meeting Wed 29th June & Thur 30th JuneFamily Race Day Sun 10th JulyTartan Party Night (featuring the Red Hot Chilli Pipers) Tues 26th JulyForces Race Day Wed 27th JulyPerth Racecourse Charities Day Sat 20th AugustSupported by Scottish Hydro

Glorious Finale Wed 21st & Thur 22nd September

For further information and to book visitwww.perth-races.co.uk or call 01738 551597

• Attractive group discounts • Under 18s free• Additional entertainment such as concerts, funfair rides and camel racing• Buses from Perth City Centre • Range of Corporate Hospitality packages

Martin Hannan

A BIG phenomenon of Britishracing in recent years has beenthe spectacular growth in thepopularity of Ladies Days.

At the five Scottish racetracks,these annual events are virtualsell-outs, and the distaff side ofthe species certainly knows howto enjoy a day out at the races.

Taking the usual fashion, flam-boyance and fun one step fur-ther this year, Perth Racecoursewill be turning pink for its annu-al Ladies Day.

Put Thursday 12 May in yourdiary now as this will be one ofthe most popular days on theracing calendar and, undoubt-edly, one of the most glamorousrace days of the year at one ofBritain’s most beautiful courses.

It is always a colourful eventthat attracts some of Britain andIreland’s top jockeys and train-ers. But this year, it will be evenmore colourful because PerthRacecourse is set to attract race-goers dressed top to toe in pink,due to the venue’s partnershipwith pioneering charity Break-through Breast Cancer. In 2008,

the charity opened Scotland’sfirst and only dedicated breastcancer research unit and is re-quired to raise over £1 mil-lion a year to fund theirresearch, education andcampaigning work.It’s a good cause forwhich money canbe raised by race-goers havingfun.

Ladies Dayis recognisedas a competi-tive event, andnot just be-tween thehorses andj o c k e y s .For thel a d i e scompete– ons t r i c t l yfriendly terms,of course - forthe coveted “BestDressed” titles.

To mark the part-nership between Break-through Breast Can-cer and Perth Ladies

Day, every female racegoer is in-vited to dress in pink to be inwith a chance of securing the

new title of “Best Pink Outfit”.The new award will accom-

pany the customary titlesof “Best Dressed Lady”and “Best Hat”. Also new

is the “Pretty in Pink” pack-age offering, within a pink-

themed marquee, a dec-adent pink afternoon

tea and private barserving pink Cham-pagne – all of whichwill be served by

“Waiters in the Buff”,and all for the bargain

price of £45.The evening prior to Ladies

Day is the racecourse’s firstevening meeting of the sum-mer. Folk Night at the Racespromises great racing and ter-rific entertainment with localfolk band Tunna.Sam Morshead, general man-

ager at Perth Racecourse, says:“We are delighted to supportBreakthrough Breast Cancer.

It’s a fantastic cause andone we’re proud to be asso-ciated with.”

Race is on for prettiest in pink

entertainment, including a mu-sic tent which will feature a se-lection of bands on each day.

At a time when Britishhorseracing’s finances have beenhit by a steady decline – andpoor prize-money is consideredto be the death of horse racing –the sponsorship of Crabbie’s is amajor coup for Perth.

Sam Morshead, general man-ager of Perth Racecourse, says:“I am absolutely delighted thatCrabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beerhas agreed a two-year deal totake the Title Rights of the Perth

Festival. Prize money is the life-blood of the racing industry andthe livelihoods of tens of thou-sands of people depend on it.

“Coming at a time when levelsof prize money are high on theagenda, this new sponsorshipfor Perth is not only great newsfor owners, trainers, jockeys andstable staff but also for all thoseracing fans who come to enjoyour festival.”

It should all make for anexcellent fun start to the seasonat Perth’s wonderful course.

The almost totallyflat Perth coursegives spectators,below, a perfectview of the topclass racing action


8 SCOTLANDonSUNDAY March 27, 2011


IN THE heartland of Scot-land and at the heart of thisnation’s theatrical life is aunique theatre where the

drama on the stage is comple-mented by its dramatically beau-tiful surroundings in Perthshire.

Known as the “Theatre in theHills”, Pitlochry Festival Thea-tre celebrates its 60th SpecialSummer Season this year, and,as ever, the top-class drama onshow at the theatre is not theonly thing worth seeing in thisstunning part of the country.

Surrounded by rugged high-land hills including Ben-y-Vrackie (2,760 feet), togeth-er with lochs and woodlandpacked with wildlife, the presenttheatre building at Port-Na-Craigwill celebrate its 30th anniversa-ry later this year.

The theatre has been expand-ed and improved in the pastthree decades, and the presentbuilding is a far cry from theglorified tent in which the firstseason took place back in 1951,

when theatre producer JohnStewart arrived from Glasgowwith his vision of a theatre in theHighlands.

Visitors to Pitlochry often com-bine their theatre-going with arelaxing break in the town’s wel-coming hotels and guest houses.Whatever the weather, there’s al-ways something to do, from vis-iting distilleries and castles, toplaying golf, fishing, walking, oreven a spot of retail therapy.

The famous salmon ladderruns through Pitlochry alongsidethe River Tummel allowing thefish to by-pass the hydro-electricdam which created Loch Faska-lly. The sight of a salmon leapingis always spectacular, but loversof the stage will tell you that thegreatest attraction in Pitlochry isthe Festival Theatre.

The 60th anniversary seasonopens on Friday, 13 May with MyFair Lady which promises to bethe most dazzling, sophisticat-ed and funny musical yet seenat the theatre – advance sales al-

ready suggest it may become thetheatre’s most successful produc-tion ever.

Alan Ayckbourn has long beenthe most popular living play-wright at the Festival Theatre,and, after a four-year absence,his work returns with the Scot-tish première of his inventive,wildly comic Henceforward.

Next to open will be See HowThey Run by Philip King, one ofthe greatest farces of all time. Sir

Arthur WingPinero’s epic romantic comedyTrelawny Of The ‘Wells’ followsthat, and in turn is followed bythe Scottish première of the 2001version of Peter Nichols’ PrivatesOn Parade, the bawdy musicalmemoir of concert party life dur-ing the Malayan Emergency of1948.

To mark the double 60th an-niversary of the first season andthe death of Scottish playwrightJames Bridie, the most often per-formed playwright at Pitlochry,the final show to join the 2011repertoire will be Bridie’s Dr An-gelus, which opens on Wednes-day, 17 August.

Pitlochry Festival Theatre’sunique repertory programme

sees each ofthe six productions being addedgradually so that the season sooninvolves a different show at eve-ry performance.

Giles Conisbee, head of salesand marketing for the theatre, ex-plained: “The theatre operates aunique system which means visi-tors can enjoy a different play ormusical every night of the week,or two on matinee days.

“This means you can stay sixdays and see six plays. Or, youcan stay three nights and see fourplays. Or stay two nights and seethree plays. Whatever you de-cide to choose, you can be sureof a warm welcome to our 60thAnniversary celebrations.”

Sixty yearsof age andstill on stage

Pitlochry’s ‘Theatre in the Hills’ is gearing up for a big summer, writes Martin Hannan

comedyromanticepicPinero’s ofeachsees

‘Visitors can seea different play

or musical everynight of the week’

Play hub: PitlochryFestival Theatre asit is now, and theofficial opening ofthe Theatre in 1951,when it was in aglorified tent



as that old saying goes, ifyou can remember theSixties you weren’t real-ly there, but for all those

who danced and sang their waythrough the Eighties, the mem-ories are golden and undimmed,and the bands and their fans arevery much still alive.

This summer, Perthshire willhost the 80s Rewind Festival thatwill bring back those memoriesof a time when tuneful dance mu-sic, passionate soul, acerbic so-cial commentary, thumping rockand picturesque pop fused intothe marvellous Eighties sound.

Last year’s second festival, atHenley-on-Thames, was at fullcapacity and attended by almost40,000 people, so that founderand promoter David Heartfieldreceived literally thousands ofrequests from Scotland and theNorth of England asking him tohold a similar event up here.

“I was glad to oblige because Ibelieve in giving people what theywant,” said Heartfield, which iswhy the grounds of Scone Palacewill reverberate to the sounds ofthe Eighties on Saturday, 30 July,and Sunday, 31 July.

Some 20,000 people are ex-pected to attend each day, and

Heartfield is confident they willhave an unforgettable experi-ence. He says: “Perthshire is rightin the centre of Scotland and weexpect people to come from allover the country and from Eng-land and further afield, with per-haps half of them camping forthe weekend.”

Many big names from the late1970s and 1980s will be there,with The Human League, BillyOcean and Bananarama amongthem. Heartfield said: “There’s

such a great atmosphere back-stage. When they were firststarting out, these bands werefiercely competitive, but nowthey are all more mature andthere are no egos on display.There’s such a great atmosphere,and these musicians are evenbetter than they were before.”

Scottish bands will be to thefore, with local Perth band Fic-tion Factory reforming just forthe festival. Founding membersKen Patterson, Eddie Jordan and

Chic Medley will come togetherto play their old hits such as (FeelsLike) Heaven.

Heartfield explained: “Wefound that Ken Patterson is nowworking in the IT Departmentat the University of Dundee. Wecalled him and I am delighted tosay that Fiction Factory will beplaying on the Sunday.”

The Kane brothers, Pat andGreg, will be bringing the distinc-tive sounds of Hue and Cry to thestage on the Saturday, when The

The 80s RewindFestival is set tohit fast forwardin Perthshire,writes Bob Gill

Young at heart again

REWIND LINE-UPWhat was that tune again? Themain culprits and their signaturesong to jog your memory...Tony Hadley Gold; Rick AstleyNever Gonna Give You Up;Human League Don’t You WantMe; Billy Ocean When the GoingGets Tough; Kim Wilde Kids inAmerica; Howard Jones NewSong; Nik Kershaw The Riddle;ABC The Look of Love; Go WestWe Close Our Eyes; ModernRomance Best Years of Our Lives;Heaven 17 Temptation; The RealThing You To Me Are Everything;Imagination Body Talk; Hueand Cry Looking for Linda; TheBluebells Young at Heart; TheBeat Mirror in the Bathroom ;T’Pau China In Your Hand;Dr and the Medics Spirit in theSky; Kid Creole and the CoconutsStool Pigeon; BananaramaVenus ; Cutting Crew Died inYour Arms; Toyah It’s a Mystery;Hazel O’Connor Will You; FictionFactory (Feels Like) Heaven;China Crisis Wishful Thinking

Bluebells will also feature, andfew will be standing still whenthey play their most famous hitYoung at Heart.

That might well be the themetune for those who attend the80s Rewind Festival. Hair maybe greying, knees a bit arthritic,and there will definitely be morepoundage round most waistlines,but for the weekend at Scone,hearts will be young again.l For details of tickets, etc,visit www.rewindfestival.com.

Pop art: HumanLeague will performat the RewindFestival

SCONE PALACEPERTH, SCOTLAND

29,30 & 31 JULY 2011

SCONE PALACEPERTH, SCOTLAND

29,30 & 31 JULY 2011Plus Funfairs, Fireworks, Silent Disco,

Live Karaoke, Street Entertainersand much more...

For full details on the festivaland ticket prices go to

WWW.REWINDFESTIVAL.COM


if you ever needed an over-view of the food and drinkproduced in Scotland thenyou could do a lot worse

than to take a stroll around thePerth Farmers’ Market.

The first of its kind in Scot-land, in modern times at least,it was started in 1999 by sheepfarmer Jim Fairlie. Keen to find anew way for farmers to get theirproducts to the consumer, Fair-lie, the brother of the two Miche-lin-starred chef Andrew Fairlie,set up a stall on Perth’s King Ed-ward Street with 11 other pro-ducers. Twelve years later andsome 30 or so stalls are pullingin the punters on the first Satur-day of every month.

The range of products onoffer acts as a showcase for thediversity of Scotland’s and, morespecifically, Perthshire’s larder.From fruit wines to meat, vege-tables to fish, bread to eggs andchocolates flavoured with local-ly- foraged herbs, there is an in-credible variety on offer.

Adeline Watson has been themarket’s manager for four years,and she is still astounded by thesheer range of food produced inPerthshire.

“I think people used to have aperception that the farmers’ mar-ket was all meat producers,” shesays. “There is a core group whofarm lamb, beef and vegetables

but there are also people mak-ing things like honey, bread andchutneys or producing eggs. Oneof the stallholders, Mark Bush,makes cold-pressed rapeseed oil.There are a few people doing itnow but his Summer Harvestbrand oil was one of the first.”

Andrew Johnston farms wildboar in Craigend. One of theoriginal stallholders at the incep-tion of the Perth Farmers’ Mar-ket, he sells the meat under hisHilton Wild Boar label.

“We are in one of the richest

parts of Scotland in terms of thelandscape,” he says. “Perthshirestretches from the mountainsin the southern Highlands rightdown into the valleys, so you haveall aspects of agriculture. It’s alsodown to the climate. There isan old farmers’ saying that, forevery mile you travel from Perthto Crieff, annual rainfall increas-

es by an inch. It’s difficult togrow things like wheat and bar-ley in the west because it is sowet but Perthshire is ideal.”

Agriculture has been a main-stay of the Perthshire economyfor centuries but some of today’sartisans come up with innova-tions that might have had our an-cestors scratching their heads.

Charlotte Flower is an Aber-feldy producer whose surnameis perfectly suited to her job asa chocolatier who uses local, sea-sonal and often foraged ingredi-ents to flavour her chocolates.

“I was inspired by a choco-latier called Pierre Marcolini,”explains Flower. “He is basedin Brussels and one of the cen-tral concepts of what he does isthe exoticism of his flavourings.

He is always talking about trav-elling to far-flung places to findweird and wonderful flavours.I don’t think you have to travelthat far – why not just use whatis around you?”

Like Marcolini, Flower pro-duces seasonal collections ofchocolate using ingredients for-aged from her local area. Inearly May, she starts to makechocolates flavoured with wildmint. In November, she useswalnuts collected from near herhusband’s office in Dunkeld.The Carse of Gowrie is famousfor its soft fruit, and raspberriesand blueberries both crop up inFlower’s creations.

Flower also has more leftfieldideas. Chocolates made withScots Pine shoots may not spring

to mind as the first thing youwould choose but, according toFlower, it is delicious. Howeverunusual her ideas may seem in-itially, Flower’s customers havelearned to be open-minded andto trust her experiments.

“My customers like the ideathat I use Scottish ingredients.My preference is wild, Scot-tish, local, seasonal. That’s myhierarchy.”

Local and seasonal is the man-tra at both the Aberfeldy Weemand Dunalastair, two Perthshirehotels which are revamping

The pick of the cropPut yourself in the market for the food and drink ofPerthshire’s fertile landscape, says Jonathan Trew

‘My preferenceis wild, Scottish,local, seasonal,as my hierarchy’



Highland Perthshire’s Rising Star...FAMOUS FOR FOOD... a foodies delight. An innovative menu serving traditional dishes with a modern twist and a new rangeof Signature Dishes to whet anyone’s appetite.NEWLY REFURBISHED... now offering a choice of 2 dining rooms. Choose from the traditional wood panelled Wade Bar andBistro or the more intimate Garden Restaurant depending upon your moodCOMFORTABLE ACCOMMODATION... a selection of rooms to suit everyone including Feature Rooms offering King Sized bedsand stunning Highland views, Family Rooms comprising 2 adjoining rooms or Superior and Standard rooms that can be eithertwin or double as required.

The Aberfeldy Weem Hotel

Aberfeldy Weem Hotel, Weem, Perthshire, PH15 2LD | Tel: 01887 820381 | Fax: 01887 829199 | www.weemhotel.com

their food since being taken overin December 2009 by new own-ers, Julia and Steve Warrack.

“We want to serve dishes thatgive a sense of the area that theycome from,” says Julia Warrack.“The menus are devised using lo-cal produce with lots of salmonand game. We like to keep it sea-sonal as well so it changes as dif-ferent ingredients come in andout of season. We’re not into buy-ing frozen stuff, and we want tosupport local producers.”

The challenge for the Warrackshas been to create a food offer

that satisfies everyone from localcustomers to tourists, who mightwant something hearty andhome-cooked after a hill walk, ora fine dining experience as partof a romantic get-away. Their so-lution is two-fold. First up aremenus that range from pub clas-sics, such as burgers topped withStrathdon cheese and Ayrshirebacon, to more gourmet optionslike the roast rump of Scottishlamb with rosemary jus. Second-ly, they employ an “eat what youwant, where you want” policy.

The Dunalastair’s kitchen has

an AA Rosette for fine dining butyou can eat its veal marsala inThe Stables Bar, the hotel’s tradi-tional highland pub. Equally, youcan tuck into bangers and mashon the white linen-topped tablesof its Schiehallion dining room.

“We are not going to dictatewhat food you eat in what en-vironment,” says Julia Warrack.“What we want is for people tocome to Perthshire and enjoy thescenery, enjoy the outdoors andenjoy the food. This is a beautifulplace and we want people to en-joy food that reflects that.”

Country fare: AndrewJohnston feeds up hiswild boar, main; Lamb,inset, is just one typeof food you can enjoyMain photograph: PhilWilkinson

TRADing as the HighlandChocolatier, iain Burnett likes tomarry the exotic and thelocal in his award-winninggourmet truffles and spicedpralines.Thus chocolate from theisland of São Tomé inthe South Atlanticmeets, in hisg r a n d t u l l ykitchen, withcream fromCrieff.

“We dida taste test-ing from dif-ferent dair-ies across

Scotland and included a fewdairies from down south,” recallsBurnett, below. “The very bestcream we could find came froma dairy over the hill in Crieff. itwas really quite wonderful.”

The Dairy in question is Dand D Dairies which uses milkand cream from two farms on ei-ther side of the Perthshire town.“The consolidated dairies tendto produce milk which is mono-flavoured,” says Burnett. “Thedairy we use produces beautifulmilk and you know the cow thatthe cream is coming from.”

it took Burnett three yearsand 120 adjustments before

he was satisfied with hissignature Velvet Truf-fles – which are alsoappreciated by theMichel in-s tarred

chefs Albert Roux, An-drew Fairlie and Mar-

tin Wishart.lSee www.

highlandchocolatier.com formore details

Exoticallylocal tasteof heavenJonathon Trew


Sweet dream: The Highland Chocolatier’s boxed selection of luxury chocolates


Aberfeldy Distillery, Aberfeldy, Perthshire, PH15 2EB01887 822010 www.dewars.com

Please enjoy Dewar’s responsibly

The Perfect Whisky ExperienceThe Perfect Whisky ExperienceThe Perfect Whisky ExperienceThe Perfect Whisky Experience

Discover the spirit of Dewar’s

Abseiling Action: Experiencethe thrills – and the fun – of

descending a crag with the aidof ropes. An expert guide willassist you as you lower yourselfdown a vertical cliff beforegently reaching the ground. SeeActivity Scotlandat www.activityscotland.com andAdventure Scotlandat www. adventurescotland.net

bridgeswinging:

Harnessed,strappedand expertlysupervised,participants launchthemselves off thechosen bridge andswing between itsunderside and the riverbelow. Minimum age is16, and under 18s must beaccompanied by a parent.See VisitScotland Perthshire atwww.perthshire.co.uk

cAnyoning: This is definitelynot gorge walking as it

involves ropes, harnesses andjumps. Perthshire has the only

Scotland is one of Europe’s topoutdoors destinations, but whereto start? At our A-to-Z of the bestsummer activities in Perthshire,of course, says Fiona Russell

site in the UK to indulge innight-time jaunts, with a choiceof adrenaline-pumpingexperiences. See Nae Limits atwww.naelim its.co.uk

duckies: A cross betweenwhite water rafting and

kayaking. The duckie is paddledby two people on a white waterriver, while an experienced

white water kayakerprovides guidance.

See Nae Limits at www.naelimits.co.uk

eco cAmping : This wildcamping, near Crieff,

also offers environmentalinitiatives and hotshowers. Choose a field,woodland or high meadowpitch at Comrie Crofts.See www.comriecroft.com

Forest sAFAri: This isa great opportunity

to introduce the children tothe wonders of the naturalenvironment during a LandRover safari trek amidPerthshire countryside. SeeHighland Safaris at www.highlandsafaris.net

golF: Thanks to a richgolfing heritage, including

(purportedly) the world’s first-ever golf course at South Inch,Perthshire has 40 coursesoffering a range of accessibleand reasonably priced golf onoffer. See www.perthshire.co.uk

Hover crAFting: Until youhave tried hovercrafting

you will never know what it’slike to skim the ground ona cushion of air. See www.perthshire.co.uk

indoor swimming: PerthLeisure Pool has flumes, a

wild water channel, bubblebeds and outdoor lagoon. Seewww.liveac tive.co.uk

jumping : Or cliff jumping,to be precise. Dressed in

a wetsuit, buoyancy aid andhelmet, cliff jumpers enjoy minileaps or heart-pumping highjumps into deep water. Theminimum age for this activityis 16. See Nae Limits at www.naelim its.co.uk

kAyAking: With a wealthof different water ways,

including lochs and rivers,there is no end of kayaking

routes. See Activity Scotland atwww.activ ityscotland.com

lAnd rover experience:Climb muddy banks, tackle

rough surfaces and get to gripswith a wide variety of off-road conditions during a LandRover session at HighlandOff-Road, Dunkeld. See www.highlandoffroad.com

mAmbos: Choose from ameandering river tour or

a thrilling white water descentatop this sit-on kayak knownas a mambo. Your guide willhelp you negotiate all the river

splashing out



Unwind at the fabulous Moness Resort in Aberfeldy (Under two hours drivefrom Aberdeen, Inverness, Glasgow or Edinburgh) and enjoy a memorablestay in one of our 4-star cottages.Set in 35 acres of spectacular countryside, it’s a great setting for the whole family!Enjoy the natural beauty of Perthshire; local attractions include the iconic Birks ofAberfeldy and picturesque Loch Tay.Or add some excitement to your holiday by trying some of the popular activitiessuch as highland safaris, white water rafting, quad bikes and much more! All cottageguests have full use of the Resort’s facilities including 2 restaurants and a leisure andspa centre with swimming pool.

To claim your Scotland on Sunday reader discountbook now on 0845 330 2838quoting SOS2703 or visit www.moness.com

Self catering in styleand 25% off any family break* 15%Off

all beautytreatments

*Minimum 3 day breaks. Includes weekends. Offer closes 30/04/11.

throws at you. See Nae Limitsat www.naelimits.co.uk

Nordic WalkiNg: Get fit whileenjoying the countryside.

This activity claims tohelp with weight loss andendurance. For tuition visitwww.breathingspaceoutdoors.com

orieNteeriNg: All you needfor this pursuit is a map,

a compass, a bit of energyand the determination totick off all the checkpoints.See the website at www.taysideorienteers.org.uk

PaiNtballiNg: The activitythat takes the playground

game of tag to the next level,but within rolling countryside.See Perthshire Paintball www.perthshirepaintball.com

Quad bikiNg: A cross betweenan off-road car and a

scrambler bike, quad bikingcould have been developed withPerthshire’s rugged landscapein mind. See Scottish Quads atwww.scottishquads.co.uk

river buggiNg: Climb aboardyour inflatable “bug” – a

one-man inflatable armchairboat – and navigate whitewater cascades, eddies andrapids. See Splash White WaterRafting at www.rafting.co.uk

SkydiviNg: For the ultimateadrenaline buzz. Try

static line, tandem jumpingor freefall. See www.paragonskydiving.co.uk

tree climbiNg: Enjoy treeclimbing as part of a multi-

activity day or choose archery,shooting or rock climbing/abseiling. See www.cairnwellmountain sports.co.uk

ultimate: Aberfeldy-basedUltimate Limits offers

white water rafting, canyoning,wake boarding, kayaking orclimbing. See www.ultimate-limits.co.uk

vorlich: Here is your chanceto bag one of the easiest

of Scotland’s 283 Munros. It’sdifficult to beat for a first

family Munro experience. Seewww.walkhighlands.co.uk/munros/ben-vorlich-loch-earn

WakeboardiNg: A little likewater skiing but on a

mono-board, and a little likesurfing, only you’re pulledalong by a high-speedboat. Giveit a go at Lochearnhead. Seewww.activescotland.com

xtreme: Old car and tractortyres are used to make

special “tubers” for a dodgemride down River Tummel. SeeExtreme Element at www.exelement.co.uk

yomPiNg: Join the CateranYomp and raise funds for

charity. See Page 3 or www.soldierscharity.org/yomp

ZorbiNg: Grab anunsuspecting pal and

climb inside a huge inflatablesphere before tumbling down ahillside. Has to be experiencedto be believed. See www.spheremania.com

Resort to a life of luxuryafter day of wild pursuits

AFTER a day of fun in Scotland’sgreat outdoors most families andcouples are looking for somecomfort and relaxation. Top ofthe most-wanted list is high-quality accommodation, a tastymeal and a bit of pampering.

At Moness Resort, set amida 35-acre woodland estate andnear the popular tourist town ofAberfeldy, this is exactly what isonoffer. Itprovidesfirst-class, self-cateringaccommodationaswellashotel rooms, and aims to providecomfortable surroundings and arelaxed atmosphere for people to“come home to”.

Jean Kilpatrick of MonessResort says: “There are still somepeople for whom camping andbunkhouses are their accommo-dation of choice after a day ofoutdoor adventure. However, wefind that most people don’t wantthis so much anymore.

“In our experience, more andmore families and couples arelooking to enjoy their days walk-ing, cycling or on a range of ad-venture activities but with thepromise of luxury afterwards.”

Moness Resort is only a 90-minute drive from both Edin-burgh and Glasgow and boasts arange of self-catering apartmentssuitable for sleeping four, six oreight people. There are 26 hotelrooms that have recently under-

gone extensive refurbishment,and guests can also make use ofthe refurbished leisure complex,including swimming pool andseveral spa treatment rooms. Arecent addition is a drying room,where wet clothes and muddyboots can be left overnight to dryout ready for the next day.

The picturesque estate in-cludes a putting green and aduck pond, both popular withyounger families. Meanwhile, forcouples, families with older chil-dren or groups of friends, Monesscan book activities such as quadbiking, Land Rover and walkingsafaris and whitewater rafting.

Kilpatrick adds: “Thereare also numerous walks andcycle routes close to Monessand guests only need to ask foradvice about longer distancehikes or bike rides in Perthshire.

“More walking groups andcycling clubs are basing them-selves here because it is so con-venient for accessing a wealthof trails and routes across theregion.”

Fiona russell

home comforts: Moness Resort

Water world:Perthshire hasmore kayakingthan you canshake a paddle at



Mains of Murthly AberfeldyPerthshire PH15 2EA

01887 829899Open 10am to 5pm.

Closed Mondays in March.

Perthshire’s FinestFurniture Store

Step Inside Now - Virtual Tour: www.spirit-of-wood.comA spectacular array of the most fantastic home accessories and gift ware

GRAND STYLESFINE DESIGNS


ADVERTISING FEATURE

Giving you the inside edgePerthshire now plays host to some of the most exciting and innovativehome-design companies outside of London. And they have chosen thearea to base their business in order to benefit from its central locationwithin Scotland. We showcase some of the best the area has to offer,with unusual products, high-end brand names and excellent service.

Pat RensonInteriorsPAt prides herself on keepingabreast of trends withoutbeing trend driven. As adesigner she is passionate,committed and very handson. Competitively priced, andaware of the constraints ofthe current economic climate,her retail stores in Auchterarderand Arbroath stock a range ofunusual accessories, furnishings,and lighting. Stockists ofRomo, Baker Lifestyle, JamesBrindley, Mulberry, Zinc Fabrics,Osbourne and Little, DesignersGuild, Ralph Lauren, andMoon’s plaids, her shops arefull of quirky homewares. Hereyou will find everything fromClockhouse’s antler chandeliersstraight from the design showsof Paris, to locally woven Isle

Mill fabrics. Pat has a wealthof experience in both thecommercial and residentialfields. Her signature style isrelaxed, classic and timeless– with a mix of old and newbeing what she does best. thereis an initial consultation fee forhome visits, which is refundable

from purchases. the online storeat www.patrensoninteriors.co.ukallows you to shop for the bestand most up-to-date accessoriesand furnishings without leavingyour home.

nPatRenson Interiors is at 183HighStreet,Auchterarder, andUnit6,OldFishmarketQuay,Arbroath, Telephone01764-660 700.

One of Perthshire’s finestfurniture suppliers, Spirit ofWood sells a host of unique andunusual home accessories andgift ware for all occasions. theshowrooms display everythingfrom candlesticks to furniturein a welcoming and homelyenvironment – with a logburner, exposed beams and asweeping glass roof adding tothe ambience of the store andthe overall shopping experience.the company has many loyalcustomers throughout the UK,who visit this destination storetime and time again to soak upthe atmosphere, relax, shopand enjoy a coffee in the snugcoffee room. there are plenty

of leather sofas, the height ofurban chic,and reclining chairsnestled between reclaimedwooden products from Indonesiaand the Far east. Choose fromtable lamps, floor lamps, metalwall art, leather storage trunksand quirky wooden root plantersto complete your look. Whetheryour home is contemporary orrustic, Spirit of Wood will havesomething which fits the billand adds that special touch. Aswith most wood products, theaccessories you will find here arecompletely unique as each willhave its own natural lines, colourand finish, so you can be sureyou will be buying somethingvery special.

Spirit of Wood

n Spirit of Wood is at Mains ofMurthly, Aberfeldy, Perthshire,Telephone 01887-829 899.



Exclusive Brands • Contemporary Design • Skilled Craftmanship

A Scottish based award winning studio with exclusivepartnerships to Mark Wilkinson, Edwin Loxley,Valcucine & Bauformat

Nothing butthe best

Ruthvenfield RoadInveralmondPerthPH1 3EE

01738 [email protected]

Opening HoursMonday - Friday 9am - 5.00pmSaturday 10am - 4.30pm

www.callumwalker.com

Picture caption togo in here pleasethis is a stikkkk

n Callum Walker is at RuthvenfieldRoad, Inveralmond, Perth,Telephone 01738-638 822.

If you are looking for a bathroomwhich is just a little bit differentthen head to the showroom ofThe Bathroom Company in Perth,which is the exclusive supplierof Keuco, Imperial Bathrooms,Villeroy & Boch, Dornbrachtand Stonearth. Its 4,500-sq-ft showroom is the largest inPerthshire, and the shoppingexperience is full of inspirationalideas, with 50 displays offeringchoices to suit all tastes. Staffare knowledgeable, friendlyand professional, and they arecommitted to finding the bestproducts to suit the customers’requirements. The room displaysare lifestyle-led and providea realistic representation ofhow products will look whenthey are installed. At The

Bathroom Company, the focusis on good customer service.The installation service thatthe company offers is second-to-none and is clearly whattoday’s customer wants – ithas been shortlisted twice, asthe only Scottish finalist ina UK bathroom showroomcompetition and in the MasterRetailer competition. Itspopularity is also apparent in thenumber of repeat customers, notonly in the domestic market, butalso in the commercial sector.There is a dedicated design areawith refreshments, DVDs andtoys to keep the children happywhile parents are busy.

The Bathroom Company

n The Bathroom Company’sshowroom is at 32 Leonard Street,Perth, Telephone 01738-440 333.

CAllUM Walker Interiors mergesinnovative design and the bestcontemporary furniture. Toensure that standards are metand finishes are to the higheststandard, the company has itsown handpicked and highlyexperienced installation fitters. Ittherefore manages each projectfrom consultation to completion.The company also stocks anexciting range from top kitchendesigners and their showroomis regularly updated to housethe latest in furniture, finishingsand appliances. Choose fromMark Wilkinson, who is at theforefront of classic design in the

UK, loxely – which handcraftsall furniture in Nottinghamto exacting standards– Valcucine with its Italiandesign and an environmentaledge, and Bauformat withGerman quality and an eye

for detail. Callum Walker canundertake individual interiorsprojectsfor every area of thehome. Quality is of the higheststandard with no compromiseto design or practicality. A visitto their showroom – set out ininspirational roomsets and witha welcoming environment – willhave you wanting to refit yourwhole home. Even with a designteam on hand to help, you willstill find it hard to choose fromthe range of stunning productson offer.

Callum Walker Interiors

STRAThEARN Stone andTimber continues to go fromstrength to strength with someof the most innovative andexquisite products in the marketat its showroom at forteviot– and they must really be seento be appreciated. The newshowroom houses some of thebest timber and natural stoneproducts you will find anywherein the UK, laid out in a relaxedenvironment with expert adviceon hand to help choose the rightproduct for your project. Therange is updated constantly,with new products beingintroduced regularly. As with allnatural products, the selectionof antique oak flooring in varying

colours as well as limestone,travertine, marble, slate, andquartz, is beautiful but practicaland durable and never dates nomatter where it is laid, whetherthe look be contemporaryor traditional. The company alsooffer a range of beams, exteriorflagstones and solid exteriorand interior doors handcraftedto meet customer requirements.for some inspirational ideas onhow to transform your home, avisit to the showroom is anabsolute must. The company alsooffers an installation service orcan supply only.

StrathearnStone andTimber

n Strathearn Stone and Timberis at Forteviot, Perthshire,Telephone 01764-684 836.


5 MENS & LADIES COUNTRY CLOTHING HALLS • SHOE & HANDBAG DEPARTMENTSCOTLAND’S LARGEST CASHMERE HALL • FOODHALL & DELICATESSEN • 600 SEAT RESTAURANTCOUNTRY LIVING DEPARTMENT • 10,000 SQ FT SALE SHOP • CONTEMPORARY RURALART GALLERYThe House of Bruar By Blair Atholl Perthshire PH18 5TWTelephone 01796 483236 Facsimile 01796 483390Email [email protected] www.houseofbruar.com

THE HOME OF COUNTRY CLOTHING

Perth Escape - 27 March 2011

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Transcript of Perth Escape - 27 March 2011