20 Years of Holidays at Craiganour

"The first year we came to Craiganour was the start of a tradition that has become almost as fixed as Christmas. Some things have stayed the same – the superlative walking the stalking, the fishing and cycling, and the expeditions near and far. Other things have changed- the greatly improved standards of comfort at the lodge (including state of the art bathrooms and wonderful family room), the return of grouse shooting and construction of James Turrell Skyspace, surely the ultimate meeting point. We have had great house parties of all ages and many backgrounds, including city dwellers who have never seen so much empty countryside before. The skill of the stalkers in showing novices and old hands alike the intricacies of deer stalking and helping them bring back stags in impressive and much appreciated, especially by overseas visitors. Skill and patience is also needed to catch trout in the loch, but we do enjoy eating them for breakfast. For me, booking a cook is essential as one of the greatest treats is a family party without having to think about food. Margaret served us the most delicious meals with a smile, and all that fresh air makes everyone hungry. We have also made expeditions to Edinburgh for the festival, Blair Castle for the horse trials, Aberfeldy for tweeds, The House of Bruar for everything from cashmere to whisky, and to many other places. Most of all we have enjoyed each other’s company in a magnificent setting, looked after by Sonya and her team who work so hard to make us all happy." Philippa Herbert