Invermay

Home Comforts

Built in the 1880s, Invermay retains the look and feel of a traditional Victorian villa, whilst providing 21st century home comforts. A combination of elegant cornicing and an excellent wi-fi connection!

Rooms are bright and spacious, freshly decorated and comfortably furnished, and the house is surrounded by mature gardens with ample parking space for two or three cars.

Invermay sleeps up to six adults and two children.

Sitting Room

This large bay-windowed room is comfortably furnished with comfy armchairs and sofas, log burning stove and 43" TV (with Sky Sports/Movies).

Kitchen

The spacious, modern breakfasting kitchen is equipped with both an Aga and a conventional oven. There is a full range of modern appliances, and a Nespresso coffee machine and wall-mounted TV for the chef’s more reflective moments.

A separate utility room provides washing machine and drying facilities.

Dining Room

The dining room is situated next to the kitchen and has direct access to the garden and patio/BBQ area. The dining table can be extended to seat 10 and a high chair is available.

Bedrooms

Invermay has three large bedrooms, one on the ground floor and two on the first.

The ground floor bedroom has a king-size double bed and its bay windows look out over the garden. There are two twin bedroom on the first floor, one of which also offers a fold-down sofa which can provide an extra kids' bed, if required. Both the first floor bedrooms have built-in wardrobes with lots of hanging and other storage space.

A travel cot is available on request.

Study

The study is furnished with a desk, chair and well-stocked bookshelves, and a comfy couch that folds down into an equally comfy bed, if required.

Bathrooms

There are three modern bathrooms, one on the ground floor and two on the first. The ground floor bathroom is equipped with a bath and separate shower. On the first floor, there is a shower room and a bathroom with shower over the bath.

Fluffy cotton towels and complimentary Highland Soap toiletries are provided.

Garden

The garden combines well-tended lawn with herbaceous borders and a profusion of established trees and shrubs. The south-facing patio, with barbecue area, is ideal for outdoor dining, linking directly to the kitchen and there is a petanque court and an outdoor table tennis table on the other side of the house.

The summerhouse provides a quiet spot to catch up with holiday reading or a quiet afternoon nap!

Garage

The table football venue is the garage, where you'll also find a static exercise bike and a road bike.

Blairgowrie

Blairgowrie, “Blair” as it’s called locally, is a relaxed and friendly town.

It boomed on the back of the 19th century textile industry when there were fourteen mills lining the river Ericht on the edge of town. More recently, Blair has become the warm heart of Europe’s soft fruit industry and you can sample the local produce at its farm shops, pubs, cafes, country inns and award-winning restaurants.

As the largest town in the mainly rural county of Perthshire, Blairgowrie is big enough to offer a choice of national supermarket chains, but small enough for quality independent local shops (well-established, local butchers, bakers and, even, kilt-makers) to survive and prosper – so shopping is a holiday pleasure.

There’s plenty to keep you busy in and around Blair - interesting walking and cycling in and around the town – by the Ericht and in the Bluebell Woods; two of the best inland golf courses in the country; and some of the best trout and salmon fishing in Europe. Glenshee, the UK’s largest ski resort, is just 18 miles away.

And there’s a busy programme of events, too, which includes regular street markets as well annual highland games, walking and literary festivals

Blairgowrie is also an excellent central base for touring: it’s less than half an hour’s drive from Perth & Dundee, whilst St Andrews, Pitlochry & Braemar are all within an hour.

Activities

Walking

Whether you’re a casual stroller or a seasoned rambler, Blairgowrie will put spring in your step!

• The River Ericht Path (8 miles/13 km): past historic riverside mills, over Kitty Swanson’s bridge and back alongside open fields of, wheat, barley and, of course, strawberries.
• The Knockie Path (3 miles/5 km): from the Wellmeadow to Cargill’s Leap then on to Knockie Hill and its views of the Sidlaws.
• The Ardblair Trail (3 miles/5 km): a gentle, level route past Newton and Ardblair Castles.
• Bluebell Wood (3 miles/3 km): through Darroch Wood, past the White Loch (where fishermen and ospreys compete for trout) and on to Druidsmere Wood.
• Drimmie Wood (4 miles/7 km): an ancient drove road through spruce, ash and oak with views to the Angus hills and the Sidlaws.

Or, for something more challenging, there are at least a dozen Munros accessible from Glenshee, and The Cateran Trail (64 miles/103 km), the first long distance trail, through farmland, forest and moorland, using ancient tracks and drove roads.

Cycling

The countryside around Blairgowrie provides both peaceful cycle tracks and thrilling mountain bike trails winding their way through forests, mountain trails, along river pathways. Here are just a few contrasting examples:

• Turn left onto the A93 towards Perth as you leave Invermay and then take a right after about a hundred yards onto the Essendy Road (A947). From here there are many secondary/minor roads running westwards providing enjoyable gentle, short runs to the Loch of Clunie or the Loch of Lowes Nature Reserve.
• Classic circular route (50 miles/81 km) from Blairgowrie through Dunkeld (historic cathedral) to Pitlochry (salmon ladder and distilleries) and back through Kirkmichael and Bridge of Cally. Splendid scenery throughout with a mix of gradients.
• The Glenshee Mountain Bike Track (3.2 km) is a blue grade cross mountain track blue with 2 uphill sections which gives you the feel of real mountain biking.  It’s accessed by the Cairnwell chairlift and it takes about 10 minutes to ride.
• Alyth Bike Park (8 miles from Invermay in the Community Woodland above Alyth): 200m skills loop; 40m pump track; and 200m blue grade trail.

Crightons Cycles (www.crightonscycles.co.uk), is a few hundred yards away from Invermay. It’s a friendly, family-run, one stop shop for bicycle enthusiasts providing expert advice, parts and repairs and cycle hire (24-speed sport hybrids, mountain bikes, children’s bikes).

And, if you just want to potter about around town, there’s a bike stored in the garage for guests’ use.

Golf

When Old Tom Morris visited Blairgowrie Golf Club for a match against the captain and secretary in 1890, he described it as, “the most beautiful inland green I have ever seen”. Less than a mile from Invermay, the Club boasts two superb 18-hole courses – Rosemount and Lansdowne – and the Wee Course, a terrific 9-hole track.

All of the courses enjoy crisp, springy heathland turf, with holes carved through a landscape of heather, birch and pine, in a peaceful setting where you’re more likely to be disturbed by roe deer or red squirrel than other golfers.

Rosemount (6,630 yards) was originally laid out by Dr Alister McKenzie (Augusta National and Cypress Point) and then refined by James Braid. There are no hills or blind holes, but there are lots of dog-legs and beautiful large, undulating greens.

Youngster Lansdowne (7,007 yards), which was designed by Peter Alliss & Dave Thomas, recently celebrated its 40th birthday. Some say, it is the sterner test of the two with subtle, strategic bunkering adding to both the attractions and the difficulties.

The Wee Course (2,327 yards) is a real gem – a beautifully-manicured, wonderfully-designed layout. It’s a well-balanced combination of 3s and 4s displaying most its big brothers’ trademark features.

There are also superb practice facilities: two driving ranges, short game area and putting green and a beautiful clubhouse with excellent catering.

Blairgowrie is a traditional members’ club, but that doesn’t prevent it giving visitors a warm welcome. Its commitment to customer service has been recognised by the WorldHost award.

And if these powerful local attractions are not enough, Invermay is the perfect base for your Scottish Golf Grand Tour. It’s less than an hour’s drive from each of St Andrews, Carnoustie and Gleneagles, as well as a host of other wonderful courses.

Fishing

The River Tay and its tributaries, the Ericht which flows through Blairgowrie and the Isla, just a couple of miles away, are recognised worldwide as among the best salmon and trout rivers in Europe.

The Blairgowrie & Rattray District Angling Association provides a wealth of information about local fishing (www.brdaa.co.uk) and permits, tackle, bait and ghillie services are all available from Kate Fleming (www.kateflemings.co.uk) or James Crockart & Sons (www.jamescrockartandson), both located on Allan Street about a mile from Invermay.

Invermay itself is well-equipped for the fisherman. There are two outside Belfast sinks for gutting and preparing the catch, and there are drying facilities, safe storage and a chest freezer.

Skiing

The Glenshee Ski Centre, 18 miles north of Blairgowrie, is the UK’s largest ski resort, with everything you would expect for both novice and advanced skiers and snowboarders, including tuition, equipment hire, refreshments and ski patrols.

Spread over three valleys and four mountains, there are extensive nursery slopes for beginners; 26 varied blue and red runs for intermediates; and a couple of black runs – including the formidable, mogul-strewn Tiger – for the expert.

And when the snow line comes further down the glen, there are excellent touring opportunities along Forestry Commission roads or Glen Isla’s waymarked trails.

Walking and cycling, golf, fishing and skiing – these may be the most popular activities for our visitors, but they are far from the only ones. You can drive off-road with quad bikes, Land Rovers, tanks or even huskies.  You can get on the water with a kayak, canoe or raft. You can go up in a balloon or down via bungee or inflatable sphere. Go pony trekking, orienteering or geocaching. Climbing or abseiling.

And whatever you fancy, if you’re new to the sport, you’ll find local instruction and advice available.