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Here at ScotlandShop we have recently welcomed House of Tartan in Crieff to the ScotlandShop family, and we thought it would be a good opportunity to share with you all the fantastic things there are to see and do, and places to stay, in this beautiful area in the middle of Scotland. Make it your next Scottish destination!
Discover Crieff
Food & Drink
Let's start with Food and Drink, because why not? Here in the office it's what we talk about all the time, and I am pleased to say Crieff is known for it.
Campbell's Bakery
For the very best in Scotch pies, oatcakes and shortbread you must pop in to Campbell's on King Street in Crieff. The story began in 1830 when Donald Campbell opened a small bakery in nearby Callander, and following in his footsteps, his great grandson, Bob, went on to open the premises in Crieff in 1929 which remain today. 190 years of baking later it is no wonder everything tastes so good. Today the seventh generation Iain, bakes small batches of breads, biscuits, cakes and pies by hand on the premises using only the very finest ingredients. And the best bit is that you can join Iain and his daughter to learn the tricks of the trade, and make Scottish classics such as oatcakes, Selkirk Bannock and shortbread. Contact them to find out more and book yourself in.
The Crieff Food Co.
Awarded UK Food Hall of the Year 2020 at the Farm Shop and Deli Awards, The Crieff Food Co. is more than just a Food Hall. It also houses The Crieff Café, Gift Shop and has an Online Shop. The perfect spot to buy locally sourced products including everyday essentials, treats and everything in between.
In the café, homemade and locally sourced produce from Perthshire and Central Highlands is served for breakfast and lunch, alongside coffee, tea and cakes. You can find a selection of local gifts, kitchenware, homeware, books, cards and gift wrap in the gift shop, including seasonal offerings. If you love authentic local produce and products, this is the place to find them.
Find out more on The Crieff Food co. website.
The Glenturret Distillery
On the edge of Crieff you will find Scotland’s oldest Working Distillery, The Glenturret Distillery. The distillery is featured in records from as far back as 1763. Originally named Thurot Distillery, Sir Patrick Murray of Ochtertyre was the first owner.
The single malt whisky is made using traditional methods: the distillation process is very slow, done in hand-beaten copper stills in small batches with each batch having a slightly different taste.
This is more than just making whisky, it is an old craft that has been handed down over centuries. You can book a Distillery tour and find out about its history, heritage and traditional ways of making single malt whisky, and there’s even a bar and restaurant on site, the two-star Michelin restaurant, The Glenturret Lalique.
If you love your whisky, it is not to be missed.
Check out The Glenturret Distillery website for more information. Or you can read our blog piece here.
Sweet Treats from Gordon & Durward
The story goes that Miss Gordon married Mr Durward and in 1925 together they formed the delicious sweetie shop Gordon & Durward that sits on the High Street in Crieff. In 1947 the shop was then sold to George Anderson (affectionately known as Sweetie Geordie) and his wife Daisy, who passed it on to their son John and his wife Pamela. When they retired in 1989 the Donaldson's took over. Quite a change in industry as they used to own the Garage in Crieff and Donaldson's Oil, but the Graham and Caroline clearly have a talent for creating temptations for those with a sweet tooth and they have taken the business to new heights with Gordon & Durward favourites now found all over Scotland. Graham shared that the secret is their use of the very best of ingredients and where fudge is concerned they still use traditional Copper Boilers which gives it that moist, sweet, buttery flavour and amazing melt in the mouth texture that we all love. Of course when with opening the shop in Crieff we have also fallen in love with these sweet treats and you can find the famous Macaroon and Fudge in our shops in Scotland and the US.
Something Gordon & Durward are very famous for is their chocolate mice and at Christmas there is a fantastic tradition in Crieff where all the shops hide a pink chocolate mouse in store and there is a competition to find them all. Who knows which tartan our pink mouse will prefer? Something to co-ordinate in Ailsa Pink or Bruce of Kinnaird perhaps? Or a more subtle Gordon Red Ancient which has a lovely pink stripe and also ties in nicely with the brand name?
Crieff Food Fest 2024
Launching in 2024, Crieff Food Fest is a Crieff Community Council Initiative that will hopefully become an annual event. Run from Monday 7th October to Sunday 13th October, it will be a week of culinary delights, celebrating everything Crieff has to offer in terms of food, beverage and Highland hospitality.
We'll be involved in the Food Fest trail, so keep an eye out for that!
Places to Stay
There are some fabulous places to stay in and near Crieff, which you may have already heard of!
Crieff Hydro
Leading Spa Hotel and Resort, Crieff Hydro is a popular spot for visitors. You can book in for treatments, use their leisure facilities including gym, swimming pool and tennis courts, and immerse yourself in the Victorian baths.
As well as the hotel, you can book a self catering lodge and enjoy your meal at the restaurants on site.
Day passes are available if you fancy an adventure, giving you access to activities at Action Glen, including Archery, Fishing, Gin and Whisky Tastings, Adventures for Kids, golf at Crieff Golf club and so much more.
Discover more on Crieff Hydro's website.
Gleneagles
Who hasn't heard of Gleneagles, especially if you're into golf? Gleneagles offers much more than golf you'd be happy to know (if golf isn't your thing!) and that includes accommodation, a spa, and, naturally, food and drink.
Spoilt for choice, you can stay in their luxury 5 star hotel and choose from ten restaurants and bars to satisfy your belly, one of which is the Andrew Fairlie, a two-star Michelin restaurant inspired by French cuisine. Pamper yourself at the spa with a mud and steam ritual after spending time in the pool and gym.
And if you still have energy after all of that, Gleneagles offers activities like fishing, shooting and riding in the Scottish outdoors. And of course, golf! I'll come to that in the Golf section.
Discover everything on offer by visiting the Gleneagles website.
Culdees Castle Estate
Fancy a bit of Glamping? Culdees Castle Estate offer Glamping luxury in their cabins, which have been designed to blend in with their natural surroundings and constructed with natural materials. You may know about Culdees from Channel4's Renovation Nation TV Show!
Built in 2019 to fundraise for the Culdees Castle's renovation, each cabin, or 'lodge', has its own name and distinct interior personality with hot tubs, fire pits and BBQs for use during your stay. The cabins are named after the four custodians who have taken care of the Castle so far: Drummond Lodge, Spiers Lodge, Majors Lodge and Horton Lodge. A place to unwind in complete privacy for up to two adults and no children sounds like bliss to us!
For more details on their Glamping experience, visit the Culdees Castle Estate website here.
Comrie Croft
Not far from Crieff on the A85 is Comrie Croft, a certified B-Corp that is owned by fifty local people, employees, family and friends. It not only provides accommodation, Comrie Croft also offers a range of activities including mountain biking trails, a farm shop and tea garden and a venue for weddings.
You can stay in the Eco-Lodge, which is a hostel style Scottish farmstead with a touch of luxury. Or if you want to get closer to nature, choose one of their camping areas suitable for tents and campervans. If you fancy some glamping, try their handcrafted Nordic Kata tents for a cosy retreat in the birchwoods.
If you're into mountain biking then you'll be pleased to know Comrie Croft will be hosting a competition called Clans @ The Croft on Sunday 27th October 2024! Delayed because of Covid, the event is finally here and it sounds like fun.
It is the UK's first Enduro you can enter with your friends to compete as a team of three (aka Clan). There are also solo races if you prefer. For more info and to enter visit their website here. Good luck and let us know how you get on!
Nature & Wildlife
The area around Crieff is fantastic if you love nature and the outdoors. From adrenaline pumping activities to quiet strolls through the forests, there is something for everyone.
From Crieff there is easy access to the northern part of the beautiful Trossachs National Park. On the eastern edge lies Loch Earn, a perfect spot for water sports. If that hasn't tired you out, there are also wonderful hikes in the area. Head up the hills on the northern side to St Fillans Viewpoint, a circular walk that requires a bit of effort and walking shoes. But well worth the climb as the views are stunning.
Other places I recommend visiting, as they're not too far from Crieff, are The Hermitage in the Tay Forest Park, the famous Birnam Oak in Dunkeld (as mentioned in Shakespeare’s Macbeth) and Birnam Arts, a centre that celebrates Beatrix Potter as she spent her childhood summers in the area.
And if you fancy having a go at “Munro bagging” (climbing one of Scotland’s mountains classified as being 3,000 ft or over) then there are a few to choose from, including Schiehallion, Ben Chonzie and Ben Vorlich.
For those of you who'd love some wildlife spotting, then I'd highly recommend the following hot spots:
Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre and Wildlife Reserve to see the Ospreys in Spring and Summer when they have returned from Africa to nest and rear their young. There is a webcam at their nest, but there is also a bird hide next to the centre, so make sure you bring your binoculars to catch a glimpse of these 'Fisher Kings'.
If you time it right in Autumn, you can see salmon leaping up the Black Linn Falls along The Hermitage Woodland Walk (a National Trust site).
Loch Leven RSPB nature reserve is great for birdwatching: I have seen Ospreys here, as well as Whooper swans, buzzards, and kingfishers to name a few. You can also take in the Loch Leven Heritage Trail, 13 miles around the loch, either on foot or on your bike. Keep your eyes peeled as you may spot a red squirrel on your explorations!
Art & Culture
Maybe Art & Culture is more your thing than the outdoors, and I am pleased to share you won't be disappointed to find it in and around Crieff.
The Crieff & Strathearn Museum
Set to open to the public on May 4th, 2024, Crieff and Strathearn Museum is located in the Old Town Hall after support from the community for a centre to share the history of Strathearn.
"We want to make an inspiring venue to entertain and to educate, with displays, events, virtual and augmented reality, performances, story-telling, re-enactments, tours and films — to make a truly valuable community resource." - Crieff & Strathearn Museum website
At the same time the Old Town Hall, which has been vacant, is being used again and the museum will breathe life into this historic building. This project is being run by volunteers and you can support the charity by becoming a Member.
Find out more on the Crieff & Strathearn Museum website here.
Drummond Castle Gardens
Just south of Crieff are the beautiful Drummond Castle Gardens, where this summer there will be a very special event: the Christian Dior Fashion Show! On June 3rd, the famous fashion house will reveal their Cruise Collection for 2025. Sadly, you probably have to be prominent in the fashion world to get an invite, but we are excited about it nonetheless (we are still waiting for ours...).
Outlander fans will recognise these gardens as they were used as a stand in for the Versailles' gardens in the series (season 2 if you'd like to know!). The gardens were also featured in the 1995 film, Rob Roy, with Liam Neeson, Jessica Lange and Brian Cox.
In 2024, only the Gardens will be open to the public (from 10th June until 31st October), the castle itself remains closed. The Gardens are an impressive sight, beautifully manicured with lots to explore. There is even a short woodland walk, which you can get to from the Gardens. Dogs are welcome, too!
Visit Drummond Castle Gardens' website here.
The Library of Innerpeffray
Established in 1680, the library of Innerpeffray was the first free public lending library in Scotland. Open from 1st March 2024 until end of October 2024, you can visit the library and tours are available, as well as an outdoors Heritage Trail.
In the collection are books from 1476 to 2001, and you can even see Robert Burns' handwriting! If you love the smell of old books, being among all those words that your ancestors may have written or read, being transported back in time, then you'll be in your element here.
Find out more about the Library of Innerpeffray on their website.
Scone Palace
Near Perth, the historic Scone Palace is home to the Earls of Mansfield and is “the Crowning Place of Scottish Kings and the original home of the Stone of Scone”.
There are also gardens, a coffee shop and restaurant and food shop on the grounds of the Palace open to the public, as well as plenty of events throughout the year. You can even stay at Scone Palace in luxury 5-star accommodation.
Dogs are welcome and they might like to know about a yearly event, Paws at the Palace! The next one is on 1st September 2024. A fun day out for dogs with games, parades, classes and demonstrations. I imagine their tails are already wagging at the sound of this!
For more information about Scone Palace visit their website.
Strathearn Gallery
Established in 1994, Strathearn Gallery is a well-known contemporary art gallery in Crieff showcasing sought-after Scottish artists including Sarah Carrington, Dominic Cullen, and Helen Glassford.
Exhibitions are on throughout the year. Take home a piece of Scottish art to mark your visit and remind you of our beautiful country and the wonderful time spent here.
Visit Strathearn Gallery's website.
Golf
Of course there has to be a section about golf, it's Scotland after all! Check out our tartan golf range and be the talk of the course while you're there.
Crieff Golf Club
On the outskirts of Crieff as you enter from Perth is Crieff Golf Club, one of the best inland golf courses as rated by Golf World magazine. There are two courses to choose from, the 18-hole Ferntower and the 9-hole Dornock course.
With stunning views of Perthshire and an in-house restaurant, Crieff Golf Club would be a fantastic destination for any golf enthusiast.
Visit Crieff Golf Club website here.
Gleneagles
Probably one of the most well-known names in the world of golf, Gleneagles played host to The Ryder Cup and has three of the best golf courses in Scotland.
Not just for the professionals, beginners can also play at Gleneagles. Featuring a clubhouse and practice facilities, Gleneagles has a 9-hole course as well as its three championship golf courses. You can even learn to play at the PGA National Golf Academy, housed at Gleneagles and open to anyone visiting.
For more details, visit their website.
Highland Games
Crieff Highland Gathering
Regarded as one of the premier games in Scotland, Crieff Highland Gathering will take place at Market Park in Crieff on Sunday 18th August. We are very excited to be a part of this historic, annual event now that we have joined the local community with our new Crieff shop.
With a full programme of traditional competitions, there will also be Piping performances, a salute to the Chieftain and the Massed Pipe Bands finale. Traditional music will be played in the Aldi Arena area of the Park. We hope to see you there!
For more information, head to the website.
Tartan
Seeing as we love tartan, we have to mention the tartans associated with Crieff!
Crieff Tartan
Crieff has its own tartan, the Crieff ancient tartan! This red, orange, green and brown tartan can be traced back to records kept by Wilsons of Bannockburn in 1793.
The National Museum of Antiquities in Edinburgh have a copy of the tartan design's records, as does the Scottish Tartans Society archive along with other materials related to this old tartan.
Strathearn Tartan
As capital of Strathearn, Crieff is also connected to the Strathearn district tartan.
Kate Middleton wore the tartan at the late Queen's Jubilee River Pageant, and it has been sought after ever since.
The father of Queen Victoria H.R.H. Edward, Duke of Kent, who was also Duke of Strathearn, was Colonel of the Royal Scots Regiment 1801-1821 and the story goes he sent a sample of the tartan to Wilsons of Bannockburn in order to 'dress the gallant corps'.
The Comrie Pipe Band has also adopted the Strathearn tartan.
Crieff at Christmas
Our MD, Anna, has strong memories of the Christmas shop being the highlight of Crieff when she visited the town in her younger years. At that time the Nutcracker was on the high street and it has now expanded to much larger premises down on the road into Crieff from Muthill, you can't miss it. So now we have established that Crieff is the epi-centre of Christmas we wanted to share all the other fabulous things that go on in December to make us feel festive and give you an excuse for a visit. The fun kicks off with a Christmas Market full of local crafts and delicious foodie treats, complete with Santa's grotto and at the end of the day when one of the children from the local primary school will have the honour of switching on the Christmas lights in James Square.
Slight diversion here, in James Square you will find the Murray Fountain, constructed by Glaswegian sculptor, William Mossman and installed in 1894. The inscription shares that it was "Erected by the inhabitants of the burgh of Crieff - a recognition of the many benefits received from the Murrays of Ochtertyre. More on the Murray Clan here. On our first visit we took a few snaps of the Fountain.
Back to Christmas and Santa's Post Office is absolutely our favourite feature of Christmas in Crieff. After the Christmas Market, Santa leaves James Square and heads up to his Post Office at the Old Town Hall to officially open it up for business. Children (and adults!) come from far and wide to this Victorian recreation to post their letters to Santa, we will be popping in with ours very soon!
Hopefully this blog has inspired you to book your next trip to Crieff and explore all that it and the area of Strathearn has to offer. You may need to visit a few times to discover this gem of a place. I'm definitely inspired to revisit the area! If you would like to book an appointment at our lovely shop you can do so here, or just pop in any day of the week except Sundays.
Image Sources:
Crieff (header image) – credit Crieff Succeeds / Damian Shields
Crieff Hydro – credit Crieff Succeeds / Damian Shields
Glenturret Distillery casks – credit Visit Scotland / Kenny Lam
Drummond Arms Hotel Loch Earn - credit Visit Scotland / Paul Tomkins
Innerpeffray Library - By sobolevnrm - Innerpeffray Library, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=98749497
Scone Palace - By PaulT (Gunther Tschuch) - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=80208249
