Where and when: Scotland, April 2025
We visited Scotland for an extended weekend break over Easter, and we came across a number of hidden gems during our time there. So, instead of the usual day-by-day accounts, I’ve split my highlights into two posts. This is the second and final installment. (Check out Part 1 if you haven’t already).
Gleneagles Hotel
Gleneagles Hotel, dating back to early 1900s is most well known for its 3 tournament-standard golf courses in the grounds. But there’s a lot more to the hotel that golf courses. There are many outdoor activities including riding, hiking, learning about birds of prey and extensive sports facilities.
The hotel is also a favourite of the rich, famous and powerful, having hosted many national and international events, including the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 1977 and the 31st G8 summit in July 2005.
We went to Gleneagles for afternoon tea, which is served in the beautiful tea rooms overlooking the garden.
At £65 per head, the afternoon tea is pricey, but for this you get a lot of sandwiches, scones, cakes, pastries and a selection of tea or coffee. And if you can’t finish it all (which we couldn’t), they will put it into a very nice takeaway box.
Blair Castle and Gardens
Blair Castle is located near the village of Blair Atholl in Perthshire in Scotland. It is the ancestral home of the Clan Murray.
The grounds of Blair Castle originally belonged to the Earl of Atholl. He returned home from the crusades in 1269 to find that his neighbour, John Comyn, had built a tower on his land. The Earl complained about the interloper to King Alexander III and won back his land, and built a castle around the tower. The castle and ground were extended by successive Earls and Dukes.
The castle was one of the earliest to be opened as a visitor attraction in Scotland; as a result has retained many of the original furniture and fittings.
The castle gardens are extensive, with a 9 acre walled garden, red deer park, and “Diana’s Grove” (named after the Roman Goddes of Hunting), which is home to some of the tallest trees in the UK.
In 2009, a Grand Fir tree in Diana’s Grove was measured at 62.7 metres (206 ft), and declared to be the second-tallest tree in Britain (The tallest tree is a conifer tree in Inverness).
Hercules Garden is a nine-acre walled garden that has been restored to its original Georgian design. Named after the life-sized statue of Hercules which overlooks the garden, it incorporates landscaped ponds, a folly, a Chinese bridge and an authentic orchard of more than 100 fruit trees.
House of Bruar
The House of Bruar is a short drive north of Pitlochry. It is an independent department store that specialises in Scottish products – clothing, food and drink, art and furniture. I found the items for sales to be good quality, if a bit pricey.
I was also able to buy a nice Harris Tweed jacket, fixing a big regret of mine from a few years ago at not having bought a Harris Tweed jacket on our trip to the Isle of Harris.
Centre of Scotland
A little further to the North of Pitlochry is the “Centre of Scotland”.
There is a stone marking the location, but there is some debate as to whether this is the actual centre of Scotland. Locals have always claimed that this is the centre of Scotland, located equi-distant from the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, but other sources claim that this was never confirmed by the Ordnance Survey (the UK government department responsible for maps).
Nevertheless, it is a great location, with stunning views.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is one of Scotland’s most prominent art galleries and museums.
The collections at Kelvingrove are extensive, ranging from natural history, arms and armour, many art movements and periods of history.
The most famous painting on display at Kelvingrove is the Salvador Dali masterpiece ‘Christ of St John of the Cross’.
The refurbished building is an attraction in its own right and Kelvingrove welcomes families, its displays having been designed with children in mind. Besides all the exhibits, Kelvingrove has a restaurant, a café and a gift shop.
I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into some of the gems of Scotland. If Scotland’s on your travel radar, I hope you find this information helpful in planning your trip.
Big thanks to our good friend M who did the research and found most of the places in this post.
Diary of a Tourist 