The Dunira Estate, about 3 miles from Comrie and 3 miles from lovely Loch Earn in Perthshire, is a place of great beauty and tranquillity. It also has a most interesting history. The father of William Macbeth bought it in 1919 as a wedding present for his son (they did things in style in those days!) who immediately had the complex of farm workers' cottages rebuilt into 'The Square', a gracious series of turreted buildings surrounding a courtyard. It is on the corner of one of these that you will find East Turret, a most comfortable first floor apartment reached by a spiral staircase within the turret itself, and with lovely views across grass gardens to the hills beyond.
Macbeth's father had made his fortune as a ship building magnate on the Clyde during the First World War, and in the period of high unemployment during the 1920s he arranged for a train load of unemployed shipyard workers to be decanted at the local station every day to transform the Estate. The 9-hole golf course, putting green and a cricket pitch which they created have all gone now, but the Lost Gardens and the magnificent Arboretum remain, just a couple of minutes walk from East Turret.
The apartment itself is bright and spacious. The cosy living room has an open fire, and there is a small but well equipped galley kitchen off. There are two good sized double bedrooms, both with lovely views and one with an extra single bed, so the accommodation is quite versatile. A bathroom with old-fashioned roll-top bath and ultra- modern separate shower completes the accommodation.
This is a perfect area for just about everything you would wish to do on holiday. There are lovely woodland walks right from the door. If you fancy something a little more challenging, try climbing Ben Chonzie to the north of Dunira or Ben Vorlich, accessed from Loch Earnside. The loch is only a few minutes drive from East Turret and is a prime venue for all sorts of water sports, sailing, wind surfing, water-ski-ing etc. If you take the South Loch Earn road and continue past the marina, you will quickly come to some beautiful picnic spots at the water side. St Fillans, just before the loch, is a pretty little village, with hotels and a shop. It also has a most attractive golf course, and excellent lunches are provided even for non-players in the clubhouse. There is fishing on stocked trout ponds near Comrie and riding six miles further away at Crieff Hydro (15 minutes by car). This is good mountain-biking country and bikes can be hired near Comrie. Auchingarrich Wildlife Park and Drummond Castle Gardens are other popular destinations nearby.
To the East, Comrie has all facilities including a good restaurant, and the Fair City of Perth can be reached within the hour. From Lochearnhead, at the far end of the 7 mile long loch, you can turn left to Callander and the lovely Trossachs, or right over Glen Ogle to Killin, Loch Tay, or to the west coast near Oban. All are perfectly feasible for a day trip. Nearer at hand, from Comrie, head up Glen Lednock where there are more lovely picnic spots near the dam. While there, don't forget to take in the De'ils Cauldron waterfall.
Heating is by electric night store heaters and open fire. The first £15 of electricity, bed linen and towels are INCLUDED in the rental. Sorry, no pets and smoking is not permitted within the property.
