As we left Killiecrankie, we followed a checklist of places to visit en route. First up, was The Queen’s View; the viewpoint of all viewpoints looking out over Loch Tummel. It offered a view as far as the eye could see, and also a glimpse of what the oncoming weather had in store for us as it blew in from the west. After admiring the present, it was time to escape the approaching horde of tourists and delve deep into the past.
After a few stops along a very scenic drive, we pulled up at the Fortinghall Yew Tree, rumoured to be the oldest living thing on earth. I’m sure the Redwoods in California would contest this could they speak, but nonetheless, it was interesting to visit a tree that had probably witnessed thousands of years of evolution, destruction and reconciliation.
Lunch for the day was off the beaten track. Very off the beaten track. Following directions from Henrietta at the Killiecrankie Hotel, I drove slightly nervously down a single track road at the edge of Loch Voil for a good half hour or so. The Infiniti Q50 comes with many optional extras but aquatic ability isn’t one of them. I was extremely glad to arrive at the impressive Monachyle Mhor with car relatively dry. Lunch was well worth the drive.
With the day slowly coming to a close, it was time to head to our hotel for the night: the Four Seasons, Perthshire. Meandering alongside our third loch of the day, Loch Earn, we arrived into St Fillans with the sun just hiding behind a very vertical geography.
The hotel itself was great. A chalet-style building with plenty of character, it was clean and welcoming inside. Although it was the view outside that stole the show. With the clouds looming, it was time to explore.
After a good hour or so of attempting to lap an enormous loch, it was time to head back to the hotel to fill our bellies. Dinner was delicious; traditional Scottish dishes with a modern twist. The highlight for me was the starter of haggis which combined unique flavours with a hearty Scottish classic. That being said, the fillet of Aberdeen Angus beef was a melt-in-the-mouth experience and unlike anything I had ever eaten before!
After a good night’s sleep and a hearty Scottish breakfast the next morning, it was time to hit the road once again. With the sky a single hue of blue and the sun warming the road ahead of us, it was looking like another great day…
Note: our stay at the hotel was complimentary for the purpose of this review