Summer travel: Finding a home from home
Pure Leisure Group, which provides holidays in the UK and Barbados, is continuing to ensure that this splendid Highland Perthshire destination, near the village of Kenmore, offers something for everyone.
The destination is less than a two-hour drive from all of Scotland’s major cities and is the perfect base for exploring the region.
Thrill-seekers can undertake outdoor pursuits across the scenic lochs and rivers with guides from Beyond Adventures. The team offers paddle boarding, kayaking and canoeing, including equipment hire.
At Highland Safaris & Red Deer Centre, visitors can enjoy breathtaking views on a Land Rover safari, while mountain bikers can make use of the drop-at-the-top service and enjoy afun-filled ride back down the hill.
And for those wanting to explore the impressive landscape on foot, there are a variety of routes to choose from.
The trail from Kenmore to Achran via Queen’s View – so called because Queen Victoria honeymooned there – takes around three and a half hours to complete and is a popular choice. Birks o’ Aberfeldy, popularised by Robert Burns, is a slightly shorter option.
Mains of Taymouth Golf Course has been regarded as Perthshire’s finest nine holes for more than 30 years and has been designed to challenge all levels of golfer.
And the independently-run Courtyard Bar & Brasserie is a must-visit for after a day spent adventuring. Its team uses as much locally-sourced produce as possible and offers a menu with hearty meals to suit all appetites.
Delicious meats, cheeses, fudges and textiles can be found in the Courtyard Shop & Delicatessen, which provides a handy hamper wrapping service for anyone looking to buy gifts.
Guests can make Mains of Taymouth their holiday home bolthole or a favourite staycation spot, as there are more than 40 luxury four and five-star self-catering properties available to hire, as well as holiday homes and Highland lodges for sale. Homeowners have a range of options with tenures from 25 years. All new lodges come with 12 months’ private owner use.
Accommodation to rent ranges from a two-bed traditional cottage to Castle Gardens mews houses, which sleep between six and eight people.
Meanwhile, the grand Farmhouse is a large, detached property which sleeps up to a dozen people and features a sauna, hot tub and travel cot.
With log-burning stoves, the accommodation at Mains of Taymouth provides the ultimate relaxation.