Unwind and explore
Unwind and explore
Weekend getaway in snowy Pitlochry, Scotland
January is a very slow and uneventful month. Nothing really happens. Work feels endless, there is not much daylight, at least in this part of the world (the UK) and there are no more fun holidays to look forward to.
So, what do you do on a slow weekend in January? Well, we decided to do a mini getaway in Pitlochry.
Nestled in the heart of Perthshire, Pitlochry makes an ideal weekend escape, blending Highland scenary with small-town charm.
Day 1
We left right after work on a Friday evening (that sweet sound when you close your work laptop for good).
Since we live in Edinburgh, by 8 pm we were already at our hotel. The ride was mostly uneventful, just a little bit of snowstorm for a couple of miles but other than that just smooth cruising.
We decided to stay at Westlands of Pitlochry. It was quite cheap for two nights, less than £150. Once we got there, we received a room upgrade, from a double room to a family room for three.
The extra space was quite nice, even though we didn’t necessarily need it. The room we booked had breakfast included, and that’s pretty nice since the English breakfast is always very fulfilling and you can go about your day without starving by noon. The breakfast is opened until 9:45 which is decent, you don’t need to wake up too early on your free day.
Since we already arrived quite late, we decided to go out to eat. Most restaurants here close the kitchen very early. We went to McKay’s Hotel and Restaurant, which was very close to our hotel.
Friday night is steak night and that’s what we went for. It also includes a bottle of wine (we received a Spanish wine). The food was delicious and the wine was good. No complaints here, we would totally come back to this restaurant. I really liked the décor as well. The ceiling is full of trinkets and event boats!
After dinner, we explored a bit but most shops were closed at that hour, so there wasn’t much to do except go to a pub. After walking around, we decided to turn in and get some nice rest.
Day 2
Since realistically we only had one full day in Pitlochry to enjoy some winter activities, we decided on the Enchanted forest and took with us our new winter acquisition: the sleigh. From the hotel, it took us about 20 minutes tops to get there.
We could have probably gotten there faster if I didn’t stop every minute to take pictures. Pitlochry is so scenic and very magical when it’s covered in snow. It doesn’t feel like a real place!
Eventually we reached the Enchanted forest, which surrounds the Dunmore Loch. We decided to start with the white trail, which is a circular trail around the loch. Then we went on the red trail and eventually did a trail that took us all the way to the Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre.
The best part was that we didn’t see that many people, so we could could use the sleigh on most of the hill parts and just have fun without interruption. It was amazing! To be honest, I haven’t used a sleigh since I was a little girl, and now as an adult, it was exhilarating and a bit nostalgic.
I think we spent quite some time in that Enchanted forest. The trail back to the village was a bit challenging because some of the parts were quite icy and slippering so we had to be a bit more careful than normal. I totally recommend doing this if you ever get the chance to explore this small town when it’s snowed in.
And of course, the trip ended with making our own smiley snow man. You cannot enjoy a winter day without making a snow man! It needs to be a legal requirement. 😂
Once we reached the village, we were starving. We went to eat was the Bridge Restaurant since it had good reviews. This one didn’t have an interesting décor or anything out of the ordinary, but the food was delicious. I went for the two-course meal and got risotto and crème brulé. Worth it!
Day 3
Sunday was slow. We woke up just in time to catch breakfast and then we eventually checked out (it’s until 11 am). We left for Edinburgh right after leaving our hotel since it was a rainy day, all day, so we couldn’t enjoy more more time playing in the snow.
There are many other amazing places to discover in Scotland, and if you love hiking take a look at my 5 stunning hiking around Edinburgh.
Until next time, unwind and explore.