Activities
The Highland
Games in Crieff during August attracts thousands
of visitors to this historical Perthshire town. Visitors are well-advised
to book their accommodation early in order to avoid disappointment. James
Cottage, with four luxury en suite bedroom, is the closest B&B to the
park where the Games are staged.
There
are a number of tourist attractions such as Crieff
Visitor Centre, Waterford & Stuart Crystal Centre, Drummond
Castle and the Glenturret
Distillery (Scotland's oldest and also home to The Famous Grouse
whisky) where James Cottage has made special arrangements to enable
its guests a 2 for 1 admission charge to the Famous
Grouse Experience.
Tullibardine Distillery nestles at the foot of the Ochil Hills in
Perthshire, where the Highlands of Scotland begin. These hills are
renowned for the crystal purity of their spring water.
The Distillery draws its water from the same source which fed the
first public brewery in Scotland and from where King James IV purhased
beer to celebrate his coronation in 1488. Today Tullibardine
(built on the site of the brewery) reigns supreme as a fine malt
whisky of majestic qualities. It is considered "Eminently quaffable".
The Internet Winestore was established in 1998 by a group of wine enthusiasts
whose only aim is to find and share great wine at the best prices.
In 2003, the business relocated to Crieff in Scotland and in November
2003, our first fine wine outlet "Harrisons Fine Wines" was opened.
A visit to Stirling
Castle is an essential part of any visit to central Scotland. Its location
rivals even Edinburgh Castle's for sheer magnificence as it sits on its high
volcanic rock, visible for many miles in every direction. The Castle is in the
care of Historic Scotland and is open to the public all year round and seven
days a week.
Scone
is a place that breathes history like nowhere else in Scotland. Today, in the
21st century, it is the home of the Earls of Mansfield, and a major attraction
to visitors from all over the world. Fifteen hundred years ago, it was the capital
of the Pictish kingdom and the centre of the ancient Celtic church. In the intervening
centuries, it has been the seat of parliaments and the crowning place of Kings.
It has housed the Stone of Destiny and been immortalised in Shakespeare's Macbeth.
With its roots in the 13th century, Blair
Castle’s history extends over some 740 years, during which time it
has welcomed countless generations of visitors. At the gateway to the Grampian
Mountains on the route north to Inverness, the location was highly strategic.
The Scottish Crannog Centre features
a unique reconstruction of an early Iron Age loch-dwelling, built by the Scottish
Trust for Underwater Archaeology. This authentic recreation is based on the excavation
evidence from the 2,600 year old site of 'Oakbank Crannog', one of the 18 crannogs
preserved in Loch Tay, Scotland.
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Fishing
Dear Angler,
You're reading our invitation to Central Scotland and hopefully James Cottage can provide the answer for those who want to travel independently, or with a group, to fish on some of the best waters in the country. Your entire itinerary can be arranged at no additional cost, such as arranging a beat, boat and ghillie should the requirement arise. Nothing is too much for James Cottage to arrange whether it be loch fishing in a boat or river bank on the Earn. James Cottage would even cook the day's catch for guests!
We at James Cottage have many years' experience of arranging holidays. We are therefore delighted to introduce you to a country so breathtakingly beautiful, rich in fishing and hospitality, you will want to return again and again and again ...
Because Scotland is our homeland, we are in a strong position to plan itineraries that are carefully chosen for comfort and value coupled with good and relaxing fishing. We leave you with the actual landing of the fish whether it is a 24lb wild salmon or a 3lb wild brown trout which sadly, has become a rarity in most other countries today. We can also arrange for your catch to be freshly smoked and frozen to take home and perhaps toast James Cottage during your Christmas dinner!
There's nowhere like Crieff to pursue your favourite sporting discipline and certainly no better way to discover the rich fishing grounds than with James Cottage - for you first and every visit!
The great thing about holidays arranged by us at James Cottage is that
you can be independent and totally relaxed ... and in style that only our
flexibility and experience can offer. You arrive as a guest but leave as
a friend. Fishingnet.com and Flyfish-scotland are
great sites to plan a fishing trip in Perthshire, Salmon fishing in Scotland
on the mighty Tay regularly produces large fish. There are many idyllic runs
for the fly and good pools for spinning. If the river is high then you may
wish to try 'harling' from a boat, Perthshire salmon fishing at its most
enjoyable and where better
to stay than at James Cottage.
Crieff
Angling Club controls three beats on the River Earn: Upper Strowan,
Braidhaugh, and Drummond Castle which together cover some 5 miles of
the river, mostly both banks. Permit is by Day Ticket or Club
Membership.
Day Tickets for non-members, can be purchased to fish for Salmon & Sea
Trout, Brown Trout and Grayling on separate Permits. Members, local or country,
may for any species. The Club also controls Drummond Loch.
Great fishing on Crieff Angling Club's River Earn
beat provides great sport for the enthusiast.
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Golf
"Golf is a simple game made difficult by
humans …"
There is no country quite like Scotland if you want to enjoy the long
tradition of hospitality and golf; licking your lips in keen anticipation
of following in the footsteps of famous players, such as Woods, Nicklaus,
Montgomery and Lyle when you play on pure links and parkland courses
of quality and breathtaking beauty! You can play the same courses that
helped shape these great champions while also giving them some of their
proudest moments at they rose to superstardom.
It’s also a place to unwind in comfort. Suck in the clean air, admire the mountains, enjoy the craic and you’re some way to captivating the magical spell of Scottish hospitality across the fairways … and Scotland’s weather comes free!
Reliable
Tour Operators research the destinations, accommodation and golf courses
before publishing their website or holiday brochure. But no amount of
research can match the James Cottage experience of golfing in Scotland
- it's our homeland! We keep many of our golfing ‘gems’ well
hidden, almost!
Our golfing holidays are dedicated to Scotland. We know of almost
every village and town across the nation; we traveled many a highway
and byway but, more importantly, the James Cottage proprietor is
a PGA European Seniors Tour Player and is readily available to lend
assistance, should the need ever arise. On occasions he engages in
friendly combat with guests; it could be your luck next time! This
ensures that you will enjoy the delights of Scotland as much as we
do.
We are here to save you all the bother of sorting out all the details
while saving you time and money as well. If you feel that more information
is required, please feel free to contact us for additional and unbiased
information: we are available to answer your queries to smooth over
any difficulties that may arise - and without obligation to you.
If we can't help, who could?
We
pride ourselves on being able to help make your golfing holiday in
Scotland an enjoyable experience and that you, like hundreds of others
before you, James Cottage will plan your 'dream itinerary' with passion
and support. James Cottage is also conveniently located in Crieff
to golf course that cater for golfers of all abilities. If championship
golf is on the menu, Gleneagles is within 9 miles while Carnoustie
and St. Andrews take a little longer. Crieff has two courses with
over 20 courses located within a 40-mile radius, including those
in Perth and Stirling. There is golf for everyone and there's no
better location than Crieff and James Cottage from which to explore
golf in central Scotland.
Chinese Proverb for learning golf:
“I hear and I forget
I see and I remember
I do and I understand”.
Practice sessions for golf should:
- Only be attempted when the player fully understands the nature of the skill to be achieved
- Concentrate on one skill at a time
- Build your confidence as you make progress on a particular shot
- Be carried out in short periods
- End with success.
There
are dozens of championship courses within easy reach of James Cottage
such as Gleneagles, St Andrews, Dundee, St Andrews Bay, Blairgowrie,
Pitlochry Edinburgh, Glasgow, Muirfield, Gullane and Crieff itself.
Click the links for a list of golf courses in and around Perthshire, Fife and Stirling and
why not take a short golf break and book a few nights at James
Cottage to relax after your rounds.
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Walking Scotland
Whether you explore the picturesque highlands or shop in the welcoming cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow which are located just an hour's drive away, or simply venture back in time at a relaxed pace as you stroll alongside the un spoilt banks of the rivers and lochs, James Cottage ensures you of a unique holiday experience in Scotland.
The rivers are some of the cleanest in Europe, and there
is no commercial traffic to interfere with the tranquil atmosphere.
Holiday traffic is light by many European standards but is ensures pleasure
for everyone . and pleasurable it is. Banked by gentle green countryside
and magnificent mountainous terrain, these reed-lined loch-adorned waterways
and designated footpaths offer peace and the opportunity to relax
and study the wonderful array of wonderful wildlife that thrives in this
pure and un spoilt environment. If you wish to be more adventurous and
explore the more strenuous walks, feel free to do so. There are so many
great and delightful walks within easy reach of James Cottage. A complete
guide is available in the visitors' holiday pack located in all bedrooms.
There are walks for everyone, whether you are experienced or a stroller.
If you return from a day's activity wet and cold, be assured that your clothes can be dried at James Cottage while you shower and relax in very comfortable surroundings. Packed lunches and soft drinks can be arranged prior to your departure so that there's no worry or urgency to get to the local supermarket to stock up for your walk the following day. James Cottage will ensure that every comfort and need will be catered for and should you require additional help or advice, simply ask when you'll be greeted with courtesy.
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