Lodges offer ideal Blair Atholl base
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BLAIR Castle is a spectacular – almost iconic – sight for travellers on the A9 as prominent white ancestral home of the Dukes of Atholl stands out in its Perthshire glen. And nestling close by in the surrounding estate grounds at Blair Atholl is a gem of a holiday park.
Run by Atholl Estates, the Blair Castle Caravan Park now boasts a small grouping of two and three-bedroom Woodland Lodges in a wooded area on the edge of the large site. They offer an alternative for those holidaymakers who like to self-cater with a bit more space and comfort than static and touring caravans.
The five modern Scandanavian-style wooden chalet-style lodges on site are airy and bright thanks to thanks to the large windows and patio doors leading out on to substantial verandahs, yet the full central heating and gas fire make them a cosy and quiet retreat in the evening as dusk falls.
Our weekend break two-bedroom lodge was nicely finished in wood panelling to give a rustic feel and contained a substantial open plan kitchen, dining and lounge area with sets of patio doors opening out on to a large wooden verandah with outside seating which caught the sun for a large part of the morning and afternoon.
The carpeted lounge area was furnished with two comfortable settees, a coffee table and a large flatscreen TV and DVD player with viewing via Freesat.
A gas fire was an alternative or addition to the central heating, depending on the widely varying weather on the spring weekend of our visit.
The kitchen and dining area was excellently equipped with a substantial kitchen table and fridge/freezer, grill microwave, oven and hob and that fantastic labour-saving device, a dishwasher. There were plenty of cooking utensils and cutlery, crockery and glasses for eight.
At the rear of the lodge were a double bedroom with ensuite bathroom with shower and a twin bedroom along with a large modern main bathroom with shower
bath. Both bedrooms were a reasonable size with wardrobe and storage.
The relaxed setting made for an extremely comfortable stay in the quietest area of a well run and looked after holiday park.
As with all self-catering units, there will be a few minor niggles such as the wallpaper peeling off the main bathroom after showers, possibly due to poor ventilation; not all lights were working, particularly on the fancy ensuite vanity mirror; and a key instruction page for the microwave was missing, making it an initial challenge to operate. Simple instruction sheets for the TV and fire would also be useful for the non-technically minded.
But these were minor drawbacks which could be easily resolved with a bit of TLC and certainly do not detract from very desirable holiday accommodation which is available all-year round.
Often a good way to judge how premises are viewed is through the visitor book which contained glowing comments from visitors from home and abroad over the past couple of years, including a family who hired all the lodges in conjunction with a wedding in the castle.
At around £100-a-night the lodges area ideal for a family or couple who want a tranquil rural setting and the freedom, convenience and extra space self-catering offers at a comparable price to a decent hotel.
Castle and trails ensure there's plenty to do
A WEEKEND break at Blair Atholl is all about the great outdoors – and also a slice of the great indoors at the castle which displays the history and wealth of what was one of the most influential families in the British nobility over several centuries.
Atholl Estates offers a range of organised activities from the holiday park including
pony trekking, Land Rover safaris, vintage tractor and trailer rides, estate ranger events, cycling and fishing.
Many guests come for the network of walks in the area with 40 miles of easy trails of varying lengths in the immediate vicinity.
In the glorious sunshine of a spring Saturday morning we chose to take a 10-mile hike on the circular Glen Tilt Trail right from out lodge doorstep. The weather and scenery made for a wonderful day out on well-marked trails which passed a number of the more secluded historic stone-built estate lodges which are also available for hire in the heart of the glen.
A Highland break wouldn’t be the same without a complete change in the weather the following day but thankfully within a few hundred yards of the lodge was the most wonderful indoor facility to escape from the snowstorms – Blair Castle, which has unlimited free entry for lodge guests.
The 30 well-preserved and furnished rooms and displays on the self-guided tour give a fascinating insight into one on the most powerful and wealthy families in the UK for many centuries, as the extended families of the Dukes of Atholl became influential in royal courts around Europe. It also charts political intrigue and the split in the family in the Jacobite rebellion when Lord George Murray led Bonnie Prince Charlie’s army and besieged the castle where his father the Duke had remained loyal to the government cause.
The extensive gardens are also open to visitors.
FACTFILE
Woodland Lodges, Blair Atholl
• Location – Blair Castle Caravan Park, Blair Atholl.
• How to get there – 90-minute drive from Inverness on A9 south, turn off at Bruar.
• Prices – Two-bedroom lodge from £440-£750 for 7 nights depending on season. A 3-night spring break is £330 (4-night breaks also available).
• For details, visit www.blaircastlecaravanpark.co.uk or call 01796 481263.
