The Hirsel is a traditional stone cottage on a large private country estate close by a working farm high in the hills between Dunkeld (7 miles) and Blairgowrie (11 miles) in central Perthshire just over one hour's drive north of Edinburgh.
Accessed via the fast A9, A923 and then 3 miles of private road to the door, it achieves a perfect balance of accessibility and remoteness. The cottage stands, detached, facing its own small fenced grass garden, with lovely countryside of heathery hills and Scots pines all around, offering an interesting and relaxing holiday to those who really want to be away from it all and would enjoy experiencing life on a true Scottish Highland Estate.
The Laird and The Keeper's House will be your nearest neighbours - there are curlews, peewits, ospreys, larks and very many birds to watch; roe and fallow deer, stoats and pinemartens to glimpse, and trout in two lochans - you can fish from the bank or a boat.
Dunkeld offers the nearest shops. It is a charming little town with lots of interesting shops and excellent restaurants. Even before you even reach it, you will pass the Loch of the Lowes RSPB reserve; from the hide there you can watch the ospreys' nest and, if you are lucky, watch them fish in the loch. At Dunkeld too there is the Beatrix Potter Centre, for it is said that she drew much inspiration for her charming characters from the time she spent in this area. Just outside the town are the woodland walks round the Hermitage, a stunningly situated folly above the River Braan, where, in season you can watch the salmon leaping the spectacular falls. The nearby A9 links you easily to Inverness, Loch Ness and the west - while from Blairgowrie and the A93 you have access to the Angus Glens and Royal Deeside.
Just 13 miles north of Dunkeld is Pitlochry, with its fish ladder and famous Theatre in the Hills. From there you can explore lochs Tummel and Rannoch and admire at first hand the Queen's View, which may already be familiar from a million calendars!
Climbers and serious hill walkers will find much to tempt them. Ben Vrackie is just above Pitlochry, while Schiehallion is accessed from Rannoch and Bens Lawers and Chonzie are near Loch Tay.
Heating is by oil-fired central heating ( £20 INCLUDED), open-fire and fan heaters. Bed-linen and towels are INCLUDED. All beds have electric blankets. Pets are welcome, but sorry NO CATS. A refundable damage deposit may be required.
