Crieff & Strathearn Perthshire

Crieff covers a much wider geography than the main town itself; Strathearn stretches out through Comrie and St.Fillans and on the south side reaches the foot of the Ochill hills.

If you’re looking to visit Crieff and Strathearn you won’t be disappointed. Immortalised by William McGonagall in his poem “Crieff” the beauty of the area was thought to cheer even the most depressed of souls;

"Ye lovers of the picturesque, if ye wish to drown your grief,
Take my advice, and visit the ancient town of Crieff."

Natural Scotland In All Its Glory

Bordered by the River Earn and home to the breathtaking Loch Earn, the area is one of
Scotland’s most scenic. The name Crieff is derived from the old Gaelic word craobh which means “among the trees”. It is aptly named, alive with natural beauty and a diverse wildlife. As you’d imagine, this lends itself to many scenic walks – try a hike up Ben Vorlich - and cycle routes. Bursting with lush green leaves and colourful blooms in the summer, this beauty is only surpassed by the coat of golden, russets and reds that appear in Autumn.

Get Outside!

Not surprising then is the vast array of outdoor activities in the area. Loch Earn is famed for its water sports including windsurfing and water skiing. The sports don’t stop in the water though; mountain biking is a huge sport in Strathearn and the locals enjoy the fantastic downhill terrain and amazing facilities at Comrie Croft. The annual Hairy Coo Race is fast becoming one of Scotland’s favourites.

If you prefer your sports a little more relaxed then fishing is plentiful, both at the loch and the river. Brown trout and rainbow trout served up with some great local veggies from the monthly Crieff Farmers’ Market is a dish that’s hard to beat!

Eat Strathearn

Which bring us nicely on to Crieff’s other great attraction! The food and drink in this area is bountiful and as well as the extremely talented, artisan producers, who sell through the Farmers’ Market and local delis, you will find Scotland’s oldest whisky distillery. Glen Turret is home to the smooth, malt whisky of the same name and part of the Famous Grouse brand – Scotland’s favourite blend!

You will find award winning food at The Barley Bree in Muthill, recently awarded the coveted Restaurant of the Year in the Scottish Restaurant awards. The judge who performed the site visit was struck by “how well the kitchen worked the Scottish ingredients to produce such fantastic flavours."

And of course, you know that Crieff is home to everyone’s childhood favourite – sugar mice! Gordon and Durwards is one of the only shops we know that is guaranteed to raise a smile on even the dourest of faces! This traditional sweetie shop houses jars of sweets, handmade fudges and tablet. To be honest, the famous sugar mice are almost reason enough for a visit to Strathearn!