Inside stunning picturesque town named UK's top spot for cosy winter staycations
If you're looking for a mini-break in winter then there's a town that came second on a list of the top trending staycation destinations that should prove ideal.
According to Airbnb, the Perth and Kinross town of Pitlochry was one of this year’s trending winter destinations and no wonder, as the picturesque settlement is just a short drive from the Cairngorms National Park and has a host of attractions to offer tourists.
In Gaelic, Pitlochry translates as ‘Cattle Settlement’. But the town is best known for its dam and fish ladder where 5,000 salmon pass through its 34 pools annually. And although the dam and salmon ladder visitor centre isn’t open every day during the winter, there are a few special openings so keep an eye out.
There are stunning walks around Loch Dunmore in Faskally ForestThe town dates mainly from Victorian times and was developed into a tourist resort after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited the area in 1842 and bought a highland estate at Balmoral, while the arrival of the railway in 1863 cemented its position as a tourist destination. It is particularly known for its Pitlochry Festival Theatre and is surrounded by mountains such as Ben Vrackie and Schiehallion.
And the Queen and her spouse weren't the only famous faces to frequent the area, as Robert Louis Stevenson stayed at Fishers Hotel in June 1881 with his wife Fanny and mother. The party then moved to Kinnaird Cottage in nearby Moulin. Here Stevenson worked on Thrawn Janet (1881), The Merry Men (1882) and The Body Snatcher (1884).
New £250million jail given 'five-star TripAdvisor rating' by notorious inmate
The area around Pitlochry is a fantastic place for winter walks which suit all abilities with stunning scenery around every corner, while the Falls of Bruar are one of the most picturesque spots in the area. Near the falls is House of Bruar, an upmarket shopping and restaurant complex that is sure to impress.
On Tripadvisor, ‘1Michellej925’ wrote: “This was a beautiful hike. The falls and scenery were gorgeous,” and ‘Dawn M’ said: “Whenever I’m in the area, I love a walk up Bruar Falls. It’s an amazing walk, and you can get great shots of the falls, especially from the bridges.”
Then there's Faskally Woods, which really come alive with lights during the autumn Enchanted Forest festival, but the woods are a beautiful spot for a walk in any season and ‘Laura M’ wrote on the holiday advice site: “Beautiful location. Great for walks or cycling or dog walking or even taking photographs. Lovely scenery.”
The village of Moulin is close to the town, just on the northern outskirts, and tourists will find the start of walks up Ben-y-Vrackie mountain there. The village also has a colourful history and there’s even a crusader’s grave in the churchyard. However, if the weather is bad (rain always likely) tourists can check out some of the town’s individual shops with cashmere and local jewellery top of the shopping list.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
