Travel: Pitlochry

Friday, 3pm Prepare to go "wow" as you head up the drive to the Atholl Palace Hotel in Pitlochry.

4pm Discover more about the history of the hotel in its museum, which gives an insight into the lives of both the Victorian guests and the hotel's staff.

6pm Sink into a fireside sofa and relax in the Stagshead Bar before soaking up the views from the Verandah Restaurant.

Saturday, 9am After helping yourself to a cooked breakfast at the hotel, take a stroll down the drive and into the town of Pitlochry.

Noon Wander up the hill from Pitlochry to visit the Moulin Inn and Brewery (01796 472196, www.moulininn.co.uk), where you can see the four speciality beers being made before sampling them in the pub.

3pm Take a walk back to the hotel along one of Pitlochry's many clearly-marked paths, keeping your eyes peeled for dippers along the burn and treecreepers in the woods.

4pm Relax in the Atholl Palace's spa and pool or work up an appetite for dinner in its gym. Or take a walk around the grounds.

7pm Back to the Verandah Restaurant, where you can pick from the ever-changing table d'hte menu or the hotel's speciality menu, featuring steaks and a wide selection of fish.

Sunday, 10am See how heather is turned into jewellery at the Heathergems visitors centre (01796 474391, www.heathergems.com) in Pitlochry.

Noon Enjoy lunch at one of the many eateries in Pitlochry, before visiting the town's confusingly-named Blair Athol distillery (01796 482003, www.bells.co.uk), which makes whisky for the Bell's blend. You can then make yours a double by heading up the hill to Edradour (01796 472095, www.edradour.co.uk), Scotland's smallest distillery.

THE FACTS

Breaks at Atholl Palace Hotel (01796 472400, www.athollpalace.com) start from 149pp including two nights' dinner, bed and breakfast.

• This article was first published in The Scotsman on March 26, 2011