Walking:
The CATERAN TRAIL is a walking route full of breathtaking landscapes with a wide range of changing terrain that should suit long distance walkers of any age. Situated on the southern end of the Highlands in the Heart of Perthshire and the Angus Glens this route provides the walker with a true feel of Scottish landscape and offers a glimpse of the lifestyle of the Caterans in the 15th to 17th centuries.
The DEN OF ALYTH has several walks of varying length through the deep, shady glen of the Alyth Burn amongst mixed open woodland. As well as being a quiet place to walk, the Den is a place to rest, picnic and watch the varied wildlife. Oak, ash and birch trees are home to small birds like tree creepers and great tits, while dippers and grey wagtails live by the waterside.
Walk around AULD ALYTH or the quiet country roads leading to Glenisla and the Angus Glens. The views are magnificent. Also in the area is the waterfall, REEKIE LYNN, on the way to PEEL FARM.
Nature:
GLEN ISLA is one of the more significant and the most westerly of the Angus Glens, a wide valley in the southern Grampians, between Glen Shee and Glen Prosen. The River Isla flows south and then southeast into the Valley of Strathmore.
LINTRATHEN reservoir is a nature reserve in the Braes of Angus, situated at the southern end of Glen Isla, 4 miles (6 km) northeast of Alyth. Surrounded by farmland, the loch is visited by large numbers of wildfowl, wintering geese, whooper swans and the occasional osprey.
LOCH OF KINNORDY, nearer Kirriemuir, is a shallow loch set in a natural basin which attracts all sorts of wildfowl and is open from dawn to dusk.
Near Dunkeld, LOCH OF LOWES is all about ospreys. From April to September a pair of ospreys usually breed here and there is an observation hide just 150m from their nest, as well as a camera so visitors can watch close up pictures of the birds. The reserve covers 95 hectares of the loch, shoreline and surrounding woodland.
Peter Pan:
The Peter Pan House in Kirriemuir is the birthplace of J M Barrie who is best known for his wonderfully enchanting story of the boy who never grew up.. His childhood house is equally as delightful and visitors have a rare privilege to see where he grew up and step into the rooms where he spent his childhood and even go into the wash room that is said to be the inspiration for his Wendy House and was his first theatre during his childhood.
The narrow streets of Kirriemuir are lined with traditional red sandstone houses, friendly shops and galleries, interesting museums, cosy cafes and welcoming pubs, not to mention some of the best ice cream in Tayside.
From the 'Camera Obscura' you can enjoy panoramic views of the countryside and southern slopes of the Grampian hills. Kirriemuir, which has lost none of its charm, is central for explorations of the beautiful Braes of Angus - all penetrating deep into the lonely eastern Grampian mountains.
Ski:
The cottage is ideally situated for ski-ing at Glenshee which is located at Cairnwell Pass where the A93 enters the Cairngorms National Park. Alyth is only 20 miles away via the B954 to Dykend on the B951 and then on to the A93. It is also accessible from Blairgowrie via the A93. With its diversity of pistes, Glenshee offers something for everyone from invitingly easy to the surprisingly steep, the most extensive skiing and snowboarding in Scotland. Beginners are able to get to grips with skiing and snowboarding on the nursery slopes and it is also ideal for intermediate skiers/snowboarders with no less than 26 blue and red runs, varying from the long and exhilarating to the short and steep. Experienced skiers and boarders, however, are able to test their skills on two excellent black runs. Snowboarders are also treated to a specially designed Fun Park.With so much choice, it is easy to see why Glenshee is Scotland's premier resort.
Golf:
This cottage is at the heart of what must be a golfer's paradise. Between two and twenty miles from Birnie are: Alyth Golf Club, a moorland,18 hole course with tricky greens; Glenisla Golf Centre, a rolling parkland, 18 hole course with water hazards, set in beautiful scenery; Strathmore Golf Centre and Driving Range which offers a challenging 18 hole course and an easier 9 hole course with plenty of other facilities in rolling parkland which has excellent teaching facilities at the golf academy including a 10 bay floodlit driving range, short game practice area and 6 hole putting green; Blairgowrie Golf Club (Rosemount), which has two heathland, 18 hole courses and one 9 hole course in wooded surroundings; Kirriemuir Golf Club, a parkland and heathland, 18 hole course; Piperdam Golf Driving Range, which helps to perfect your golf swing at the 12 bay driving range with a short game area and professional tuition; Guthrie Castle Golf Course, designed to be the ultimate golf challenge, taking advantage of all natural hazards and truly one of a kind; Downfield Golf Club, a very fine heavily wooded parkland,18 hole course of championship standard, but good for all levels of golfer to enjoy.
In 30 to 50 miles there are Carnoustie Golf Links, having three famous courses in this complex, two of them less challenging than the famous Championship course and, St Andrews - the Home of Golf, which has 10 courses close to the town centre including the Old Course and Kingsbarns. Enjoy!
