A Blissful Time in Brewlands

The next destination of the trip was Brewlands. Tucked away in Blairgowrie, just north of Dundee, the landscape looks quite a bit different compared to the heights of the Highlands. The rolling hills of Brewlands, dotted with cows and sheep, make it easy to surrender to the beauty of nature.

I had the pleasure of staying in Brewlands Cottage, through Brewlands Estate, which offers several different options for accommodations. The cottage rests comfortably on the bank of the River Isla, close to the King and Queen Mother’s Balmoral and Glamis Castles. The house itself was beautiful, with a historic 18th century sitting room, original features such as the fireplace and wood burning stove, and a cozy hot tub overlooking the river. I fell in love with this cozy cottage and the locals as well.

Just before pulling up to Brewlands Cottage, we found the cutest little honor box shop on the side of the road. Offering everything from cakes to local eggs, this made our welcome to Brewlands even cuter.

That evening, we dined at the Glenisla Bar and Restaurant. Their Sunday roast is the perfect comfort food, and our waitress was absolutely delightful. The dogs could come too, and they even had a special dinner of beef, potatoes, and homemade gravy.

Our first full day there, we went on a walk organized by the local townspeople to raise money for a new church roof. It seemed like a lovely cause to contribute to, and as a bonus, a great way to explore the area. The dogs were able to join (on leash, of course) and it was a wonderful way to move your body while sightseeing. As an avid animal lover, I was so happy to see cows and their calves, as well as sheep with their newborn lambs.

Blairgowrie is full of activities. From castles to carefully tucked away glens, to delicious dining and beautiful towns to explore.

The town I adored the most was definitely Pitlochry. We had an amazing high tea at the Atholl Palace Hotel, which originally opened in 1878 as the Athole Hydropathic, full of Turkish baths and treatment rooms for Victorian patients, complete with accommodation. In WWII, Cambridge was actually evacuated to the Atholl Palace Hotel, and you can find further information about the building’s complete history in the Atholl Palace Museum, which opened in 2005.

One of my favorite activities was when Brewlands Estate kindly organized a tour so we could see all the animals being raised in the glen. The groundskeeper, Craig, showed us baby pheasants to hundreds of ducks, and it was amazing to see all the marvelous life that thrives here.

Another rather special feature regarding the whole experience were the locals. We attended their 153rd Highland Games and attended their dance in the evening. The Glenisla Highland Games were unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, with men the size of mountains participating in competitions measuring strength, speed, and capability, such as putting the stone and tossing the caber. There were Highland Dancing competitions as well, like the Sword Dance and the Shean Truibhas (a graceful dance which means “old trousers” in Gaelic. There were vendors dotting around the field, full of games, raffles, and selling their wares. Children and families running around in delight, watching the dancers captivate the audience, it was such an elated sight to behold — I doubt I’ll ever forget it.

At the dance later that evening, I got to know the locals a bit more (and I am so happy to say that I discovered them to be delightful and charming) and I reeled for my first time! Again, a core memory, something I will cherish forever.

I cannot wait to share my next stop in Scotland with you all. Happy Monday!