Those looking for a week of gracious living, Highland Laird style, need look no further than The Garron, an imposing modern house in Scottish Baronial style on the edge of the little village of Murthly (shop/PO), amidst lovely countryside some 12 miles north of Perth.
The owners had in mind to use the house as a shooting lodge and it has been designed and furnished accordingly. This means that tenants really can live like a laird for a week, with the best of both worlds - all the house's luxurious modern amenities (no eccentric plumbing, draughty corridors and faded grandeur here!) - its spaciousness, the magnificent and sumptuous furnishings, the fine antique furniture coexist happily with traditional features such as stained glass windows, the turreted main entrance and large traditional fireplace with flame effect fire in the drawing room.
Downstairs, there is an elegant entrance hall, large drawing room, a gracious dining room, and comfortable TV room, together with a farmhouse-style dining kitchen and utility room. Upstairs, there is a landing big enough to dance a 'Strip the Willow' in comfort, (though the owners would prefer not!) and four excellent bedrooms, three en suite, and a further family bathroom.
Outside, the sweeping drive around a circular bed (planted with heather, -what else? - and centred by a standing stone) is in perfect keeping with the house and provides parking for any number of cars. The house is surrounded by grass extensive lawns on every side, with a patio to the rear (furniture) where there are sweeping views to the Birnam hills.
For the house is as conveniently situated as it is comfortable. Just a mile or two from the A9 main Perth-Inverness road, tenants can range afar in all directions. Murthly has a shop/PO, while there is an inn just 1.7 miles away at Bankfoot , where there are also two visitor centres, one attached to a whisky liqueur distillery. Birnam/Dunkeld (7m) are charming villages, offering a range of excellent small shops and eating places, as well as Dunkeld cathedral, the Hermitage (wonderful woodland walks along the Braan river) and the Beatrix Potter Centre. Miss Potter used to spend her holidays here and the abundant wildlife she saw in the area inspired many of her drawings.
Perth, an attractive, vibrant city on the Tay, is just 15 minutes drive away, and offers a theatre, concert hall, leisure centre and every amenity. In the other direction Pitlochry is a popular tourist venue, with its Theatre in the Hills and fish ladder and then Aviemore, The Cairngorms and even Inverness are a maximum of two hours away.
With regard to activities, if you do want to complete the country living picture by indulging in some shooting and fishing, then both are available locally. Hill walking (try Ben Vrackie behind Pitlochry), riding, canoeing (the stretch of the Tay at nearby Stanley is particularly favoured), loads of golf (the famous Rosemount course is 6 miles distant at Blairgowrie), water sports on Lochs Tummel, Rannoch or Tay - the list goes on and on. At the Garron there really is lots for all the family to do.
Oil CH, electricity, bed linen and towels are all INCLUDED. Sorry, no pets or smoking in the house. A refundable householder's deposit will be required.
