Culdees Castle Estate Glamping

In the foreground your toes are peeking out from a heather-coloured tartan blanket. Mid field, beyond the window at the foot of the king-size bed, a deer is grazing in the early morning light. Beyond it are the Gothic red turrets of a castle built on land once owned by Clan Drummond. As soon as you open your eyes, you’ll be reaching for the camera to try and capture what's laid before for you – a well-framed glimpse of quintessential Scotland in all its glory.

There are currently three of the five luxury woodland cabins planned for Culdees Castle Estate Glamping in place. Already they've garnered high praise, including being billed in The Guardian's top five "best new UK sites" in 2020. All of the cabins are tucked into the five-acre forest that forms just a small part of an historic 660-acre estate in Perthshire. There's more than enough space to go round, with a whole acre of woodland per self-contained cabin. And while the scale of the place is grand, the glamping is pure fairytale. But that’s not to say this place is for kids; far from it. It’s a romantic, adults-only glamping getaway where the fairytale magic is yours to reclaim.

You park up by the castle, from where there are views of the distant Highlands, and then make your way, on winding pathways, into the trees. Soon enough you find a wooden-tiled cabin that Snow White and her little band of helpers might have prepared for you. Well... apart from the fact that there’s a hot tub outside and a few mod cons in it. Built in Estonia, the cabins are designed to blend into woodland surroundings while offering a little cocoon of insulated luxury inside. Each has its own toilet, shower and a kitchenette with just enough to cook a simple meal for two.

The estate’s enthusiastic new custodians, Tracey and Robbie, can provide a hamper of local produce or, if you want to eat out, a wealth of tips on where to go. For “the most amazing steak”; head to John and Fernandas, or for a delicious haggis meatball; book a table at Max & Ben’s Bistro. In fact, Tracey will probably book it for you and it’s the same for days out too. She abandoned her first attempt at a visitor guide to the area as there was simply too much to include. Instead, she is keen to help guests curate their own bespoke stays with visits to places that interest them most... and there’s likely to be something that takes your fancy. The estate is midway between two well-heeled Scottish towns: Crieff; where the Caithness Glass Centre is found, and Auchterarder; home of the famous Gleneagles Estate. There’s walking, cycling, horseriding, fishing and golf nearby; white-water rafting, ski-ing and the Highlands within an hour. And if there’s anything else you want from a stay at Culdees, we know someone who’ll be happy to arrange it.