Explore Gleneagles

This majestic 15th-century palace was the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots and is said to be haunted by her mother, Mary of Guise. Today, 450 years later, it lies in ruins, without a roof, yet it only takes a little imagination to conjure up the spectacle of the palace in its heyday as the home of the Stewart kings. The palace is situated beside a loch, where boat hire is available, within attractive parkland dotted with sculptures and a magnificent fountain, making it a perfect spot for a stroll.

Some 1500 years ago Scone (pronounced scoon) was the capital of the ancient Pictish kingdom and from the middle ages on the Kings of Scotland were crowned there, on the Stone of Destiny. The palace standing there today was built in the early 1800s and is set in lovely grounds and gardens which include a pinetum (a pine copse featuring varieties from all over the world) and a maze. Guided tours of the palace and its treasures are available, along with a shop and informal dining restaurant situated in the old kitchens. Scone Palace is only 35 minutes from Gleneagles.

In the heart of beautiful highland Perthshire, Blair Castle is just over an hour north of Gleneagles. The gorgeous Atholl Estate of which the Castle is part of welcomes more visitors than any other in Scotland. Explore the castle with a guided tour of the attics, or enjoy the extensive grounds – there are plenty of activities on offer too, from Land Rover safaris to fishing; and every August Blair Castle is host to the International Horse Trails and Country Fair, one of the UKs most elite equestrian events and a four day extravaganza attracting over 40,000 visitors.

One of Scotland’s most popular visitor attractions, Stirling Castle is also one of the largest in Scotland, and of great importance historically. Built in the 14th and 15th centuries, its stunning location on the promontory of a rocky crag afforded the castle a strong defensive position with panoramic views. Recently a £12 million refurbishment returned 6 of the royal apartments to how they may have looked in the mid 16th century, a real step back in time experience! Free guided tours are available or you can make your way round the castle at your own pace with personal audio tours in several languages.

For many people, autumn is their favourite time to get out for a woodland walk. The sun is low in the sky, with its slanting rays penetrating further into the wood than in summer. If you can combine woods with water you can get some stunning reflections. Here are some of our favourites:

All these walks are within a short distance of Gleneagles – our Guest Relations team will be pleased to give you directions, or our Concierge team can take you there.

Traditional Highland games with piping, Highland dancing, heavy events, track and field, and grand pipe band contest. There will also be a grand finale of massed bands.

In the 1700’s Crieff was the cattle-droving crossroads of Scotland. Every year hundreds of people – and thousands of cattle – would converge on Crieff in October for the great Michaelmas Fair.

The Drovers’ Tryst Festival celebrates the lives of those hard working people, with a variety of guided walks around the beautiful autumn countryside around Crieff and strathearn. There is also a mountain biking competition, lots of social events, a photography competition and much more.

Scenic Loch Tay is at the heart of a land of superlatives: Perthshire’s highest mountain; Scotland’s longest river; the Highland’s longest and loveliest glen and Europe’s oldest living resident (it’s a tree), to name but a few.

Scotland is a fantastic country to explore on foot, and our chauffeur drive team can take you to any number of local places of interest for you to start your walk. Here we bring you a few popular tours, and of course our dedicated concierge team will be delighted to advise you of others.

Ramblers Scotland is part of The Ramblers, which helps everyone, everywhere, enjoy walking and protects the places we all love to walk. The charity is dedicated to looking after paths and green spaces, leading walks and encouraging everyone to get outside and discover how walking boosts your health and your happiness.