Scottish Countryside Retreat
We always stop at Gretna Green on our way into Scotland. Love this thistle.
As regular blog visitors and social media followers will know; I love Scotland and go there regularly. If someone asked me where they should visit; I’d probably tell them to go to the Cairngorms if they love mountains, the north-west coast if they love beautiful beaches, drive the NC500 route if they love adventure and seeing lots of different places, Glencoe or the Isle of Skye for sheer beauty. If it’s famous lochs, perhaps Loch Lomond or Loch Ness. Or perhaps Edinburgh, Glasgow or Stirling for a city break.
I wouldn’t (previously) have suggested the county of Perth & Kinross, because until now, it’s always been somewhere I passed through, without really stopping to look around.
And yet, it’s beautiful. And bonus: it was <6 hours from home, vs double that to get to many of the ‘other’ places. So if you’re looking for a Scottish retreat, not too too far from the border - this might be it.
The reason for choosing to stay in this area, is simply: work. A requirement to be in Stirling led to booking an extended stay, with some added leisure time, at a beautiful cottage (photos and review below).
What we got up to
There are walks from the doorstop, along roads that are very quiet with few vehicles passing. Views in every direction and abundant wildlife.
We spent an afternoon just going for a drive; passing fields, rolling hills, mountains, lochs, rivers, forests… beautiful. We also enjoyed the gardens at Drummond Castle.
Of course, we were also working but we’d definitely return as there’s more to do and see, plenty of walks to enjoy… Loch Earn is nearby (we’ve stayed there before, lovely area for walking, and we saw an otter in the loch).
It was also lovely to just sit in the garden, or in the living room with the view, reading a book (or working!)
Review of Bendhu Cottage
We stayed at Bendhu, close to the village of Comrie, near Crieff, not far from the edge of the Trossachs National Park.
And, what a lovely place to stay. This cottage is a semi-detached, with very little else around but farmland and lovely views. The village of Comrie and small town of Crieff are both a short drive away, with plenty of shops, takeaways and everything you could need. We also had a Tesco delivery (and saw a Waitrose van) if you don’t want to go out.
There’s parking, and an EV charger. Lovely garden, with a summer house, a hot tub on a raised deck, some grass and a seating area. It was secure enough for our dog to explore. A field with sheep and lambs was right behind; but higher up so our dog couldn’t really see/bark at them.
Inside, it’s large and decorated beautifully. The dining area has several windows, really light and airy. Well set up kitchen. The living room has some character, comfy furniture, wood burning stove and a large window with stunning views; perfect if you like wildlife spotting (we deer, hares, red squirrels, rabbits and numerous birds). Two bedrooms, again really comfortable, and a nice bathroom.
You can read more and book Bendhu, here >
The owner was also available via text, and really helpful and friendly. Click on the images to see a bigger view:
