Highland Hush

Rachel McConachie enjoys a serene family escape steeped in history at Blair Atholl Estate

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THERE'S something magical about turning off the A9 at the House of Bruar - that gateway to Highland delights and impeccable knitwear - and finding yourself, moments later, winding along a narrow road that seems to disappear into the Perthshire countryside.

That's exactly how our weekend began: my husband, our daughter Lily, our two dogs and me, escaping to Blair Atholl Estate for fresh air, fine food and exploring.

Our home for the weekend was Clachan Cottage, one of a cluster of stone cottages near Old Struan. You turn off as if heading to the House of Bruar, slip under the A9, duck beneath a railway bridge and the world opens out: fields, hills and that unmistakable Highland hush.

Clachan Cottage is a beauty: a traditional stone building with a red wooden porch that immediately caught my eye. It proved a godsend for muddy boots, soggy coats and, most importantly, two damp dogs!

Inside, the cottage was everything you could wish for on a chilly evening: a crackling wood-burner in the living-room and a huge comfy sofa. The kitchen was perfectly equipped for family cooking, though dinner was courtesy of the House of Bruar fish and chip shop: lobster and chips for me and haddock with mushy peas for my husband.

Before the weather fully turned, I couldn't resist a little exploration. Across the road from the cottage rises Struan Point, a modest hill with an intriguing claim to fame - in the 1990s, locals reportedly saw a UFO hovering above it.