Gleneagles erkunden

Dieser majestätische Palast aus dem 15. Jahrhundert war der Geburtsort der schottischen Königin Maria Stuart und es heißt, dass er von ihrer Mutter, Marie de Guise, heimgesucht wurde. Heute, 450 Jahre später, liegt der Palast in Ruinen. Er hat kein Dach mehr, doch mit ein wenig Fantasie kann man sich den Palast in seiner Blütezeit als Sitz der Stuart-Könige vorzustellen. Der Palast liegt an einem See, an dem man Boote mieten kann, in einem schönen Park mit Skulpturen und einem herrlichen Springbrunnen, der zu einem Spaziergang einlädt.

Vor etwa 1500 Jahren war Scone (ausgesprochen: sku:n) die Hauptstadt des alten piktischen Königreichs. Seit dem Mittelalter wurden die schottischen Könige dort auf dem Stone of Destiny (Stein der Vorsehung) gekrönt. Der heutige Palast wurde Anfang des 19. Jahrhunderts erbaut und liegt in einem wunderschönen Park und Garten, zu dem auch ein Pinetum (Kiefernwald mit Sorten aus aller Welt) und ein Labyrinth gehören. Es werden Führungen durch den Palast und seine Schätze angeboten, außerdem gibt es einen Laden und ein Restaurant, das in den alten Küchen untergebracht ist. Scone Palace ist nur 35 Minuten von Gleneagles entfernt.

Blair Castle liegt im Herzen der wunderschönen Highlands von Perthshire, etwas mehr als eine Stunde nördlich von Gleneagles. Das prächtige Atholl-Anwesen, zu dem die Burg gehört, empfängt mehr Besucher als jedes andere Anwesen in Schottland. Erkunden Sie die Burg bei einer Führung durch die Dachkammern oder genießen Sie das weitläufige Gelände - es werden auch zahlreiche Aktivitäten angeboten, von Land-Rover-Safaris bis hin zum Angeln. Jedes Jahr im August findet in Blair Castle die International Horse Trails and Country Fair statt, eine der besten Reitsportveranstaltungen Großbritanniens und ein viertägiges Spektakel, das mehr als 40.000 Besucher anzieht.

Stirling Castle, eine der beliebtesten Besucherattraktionen Schottlands, ist auch eine der größten Burgen Schottlands und von großer historischer Bedeutung. Die Burg wurde im 14. und 15. Jahrhundert auf einem Felsvorsprung erbaut. Diese atemberaubende Lage bot ihr eine starke Verteidigungsposition mit Panoramablick. Kürzlich wurden 6 der königlichen Gemächer im Rahmen einer 12 Millionen Pfund teuren Renovierung wieder so hergerichtet, wie sie Mitte des 16. Jahrhunderts ausgesehen haben könnten - ein echtes Erlebnis, das Sie in die Vergangenheit zurückversetzt! Es werden kostenlose Führungen angeboten, oder Sie erkunden die Burg in Ihrem eigenen Tempo mit persönlichen Audioführungen in mehreren Sprachen.

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.

Traditionelle Highland Games mit Dudelsackspiel, Highland Dancing, Schwerathletik, Leichtathletik und großem Pipe-Band-Wettbewerb. Außerdem findet ein großes Finale der Massed Bands statt.

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.

Das landschaftlich reizvolle Loch Tay ist das Herzstück eines Landes der Superlative: Der höchste Berg von Perthshire, der längste Fluss Schottlands, das längste und schönste Tal der Highlands und der älteste lebende Einwohner Europas (ein Baum), um nur einige zu nennen.

Schottland ist ein Land, das fantastisch zu Fuß erkundet werden kann. Unser Chauffeurteam kann Sie vor Ort zu beliebig vielen interessanten Orten bringen, um Ihre Wanderungen zu beginnen. Wir stellen Ihnen hier einige beliebte Touren vor und unser engagiertes Concierge-Team berät Sie natürlich gerne über weitere.

Ramblers Scotland ist Teil der Organisation The Ramblers, die überall und jedem hilft, das Wandern zu genießen und die Orte zu schützen, die wir gerne zu Fuß erkunden. Die Wohltätigkeitsorganisation kümmert sich um Wege und Grünflächen, führt Wanderungen durch und ermutigt jeden, nach draußen zu gehen und zu entdecken, wie das Wandern die Gesundheit und das Glücksgefühl fördert.

For a truly local experience, head to The Kirkstyle Inn. With its open fire and strong selection of brews on tap, it has a charming atmosphere and is the perfect post-walk pitstop. The best seats in the house are at the bar, where you can watch the team at work, ask all the questions you like about the best beers and be in easy reach of the next packet of crisps. 

Started by two Gleneagles alumni, The Coorie Inn is the kind of pub everyone wishes was their local. Here the emphasis is on produce, with the team looking for ways to incorporate local and seasonal ingredients into their plates. From using their own honey to sourcing Scottish game, every element is carefully considered. Expect cosy fires and an elevated menu that seamlessly blends Scottish and French dining principles. 

With its manicured gardens and fairytale turrets, Drummond Castle has long been the subject of much interest from history buffs and horticulturists. In 2024 its profile was given a little extra polish with the castle getting the fashion set’s seal of approval from Dior, who showed their 2025 Cruise Collection in its grounds. It was the first time the French fashion house had returned to Scotland since Monsieur Dior himself showed his collection in Gleneagles’ Ballroom in 1955.

Named after Lady Mary Murray, whose family owned land here in the early 19th century, this pretty walk is a local favourite. The three and a half mile route takes you past some of the most beautiful woodlands in the country, with many of the larger trees having reached the grand old age of 150 or more. Look out for the particularly picturesque bank of mature oak, beech, lime and sweet chestnut trees that fringe the side of the River Earn.  

As our neighbours and friends, we hold a special relationship with the team at Glenturret. Here you’ll find the only other two-Michelin-star restaurant in Scotland besides our own, Andrew Fairlie. It’s also the country’s oldest working distillery, carefully preserved to allow you a fascinating insight into the traditional production process that’s behind its award-winning bottles. Our connection extends to the joint venture of our Limited-Edition Trilogy Series which they bottled for us in 2023. 

Available from The Stillroom

It’s hard to miss Ems & Co., given its heaving pastry display in the window that changes daily depending on what’s in season. At the helm is one of the country’s most talented pastry chefs, so you’re guaranteed a good treat here. Stop by after a local walk and take your pick from creations like a cherry and yoghurt cake or a Strawberry and hazelnut Paris-Brest. Just leave some for the rest of us. 

As Donald Matheson was dreaming up Gleneagles in the early 1900s, down the road in Dollar another trailblazer was creating their own unique Scottish scene. Explorer Ella Christie had just returned from Japan and set about creating one of the finest examples of a Japanese garden in the UK. The secret to her success was hiring Taki Handa, a fellow female gardener and a scholar from the Royal School of Garden Design at Nagoya. It became the first and only garden of its size and scale to be designed by a woman and has recently been fully restored for a whole new generation to enjoy. 

For a true taste of Perthshire, Gloagburn Farm Shop is a must-visit. This family-run spot is beloved for its championing of local produce – think artisan cheeses, homemade jams and seasonal veg pulled straight from the soil. Don’t leave without raiding their bakery for buttery shortbread or a still-warm loaf of sourdough, and if the sun’s shining, grab a coffee and enjoy it in their garden while watching the hens strut about.

All good holidays need a holiday read, and The Wee Bookshop in Dollar makes for some excellent browsing in that department. Here you’ll find a vast selection of tomes from classic adult fiction to all kinds of tall tales for kids, plus practical pieces like maps and hiking, which are great if you’re planning to get out into the great outdoors during your visit. With a cosy coffee shop on site and plenty of little corners to hunker down into, this is also a great spot on a dreich day for a place to quietly sit and read with fellow literary lovers. 

A haven for lovers of the unusual, Campbell’s Curiosities is the kind of antique shop that’s wonderfully jumbled for proper treasure hunting. Here, you’ll find everything from Victorian glassware to mid-century furniture, as well as the odd eccentric item you never knew you needed. Whether you’re on the hunt for a conversation-starting centrepiece or just browsing for a unique keepsake, this little gem offers hours of gentle rummaging. Bonus points for the team’s encyclopedic knowledge – they’ll happily share the stories behind the pieces if you ask.

If you’re in the market to bag a Munro, they don’t get much better than Beinn Vorlich, which towers above Loch Earn at just shy of 1000 metres. There are plenty of pit stops as you snake its steep sides, but if you intend on going to the top, you’ll have to put aside a full day’s hiking. The view from the top is worth the exertion. In fact, it’s so beautiful that we include its ascension in The Great Adventure Race, our gruelling annual triathlon.

Sometimes the simplest pleasures are the sweetest, and this hidden clearing near Dalchruin proves the point. Surrounded by sweeping views of rolling hills and punctuated by the distant sound of the River Earn, it’s an idyllic spot beside a small waterfall to throw down a blanket and tuck into a spread of local delicacies. Pack up treats from our picnic team, the Gloagburn Farm Shop or The Mercat and let time slow down as you soak up the scenery. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a red kite gliding overhead.

With its cobbled streets and perfectly preserved 17th-century houses, Culross is one of Scotland’s sweetest towns to wander around. While you’re there, take a look at the Palace and its charming kitchen garden, before setting your sights on The Mercat. This carefully curated provisions store, gift shop and bakery makes exacting laminated masterpieces as well as homemade baguettes stuffed with fillings like thick cut ham, Dijon mustard and cornichons. 

Take a tour of one of Scotland’s most prestigious performing arts schools, where you’ll get a look behind the curtain at the life of ballerinas, musicians and actors. Part of our commitment to nurturing grassroots talent includes supporting RCS students through a range of performance and educational opportunities. Every year we also host a beautiful performance from students, who put on a magical festive show for guests to enjoy alongside our celebratory afternoon tea. 

The subject of one of our recent features in The Gleneagle newspaper, these tidal pools in St Monans have a fascinating history entangled with the fishing community in Scotland, a group of artisans we have relied upon for our world-class seafood since we opened in 1924. While you’re over here, stop in for lobster rolls at Crail Harbour or make a reservation at the Kinneuchar Inn, one of Scotland’s most celebrated pubs. 

Our love affair with the most beautiful railway stations in Scotland began back when our founder designed Gleneagles’ own station, complete with intricate Victorian ironwork. Rannoch Moor is one of the last remaining wildernesses in Europe and is home to one of the most remote stations which is gorgeous in its own right. When you arrive you’ll not see a car in sight, with the pick up point stretching off into 50 square miles of hills and glens instead. While you’re here, keep an eye out for the rare flora and fauna that call this special place home. 

The single-track road into Glen Etive is the stuff of Scottish legend – and Hollywood, too. This dramatic glen starred in the James Bond film Skyfall, and it’s easy to see why it was chosen: rugged mountains, mirrored lochs, and a sense of untouched wilderness at every turn. Drive slowly and savour the unfolding panoramas, or park up and take a wander by the river for that ultimate Highlands experience. It’s the kind of place that makes you understand why poets and filmmakers alike keep coming back.