Attractions in UK’s top 500
Europe’s last private army parades at Blair Castle The Enchanted Forest Faskally Woods in Pitlochry throughout the month of October.
For the 2019 show entitled ‘Cosmos’, show producers have taken inspiration from the vastness and natural beauty of the skies that sit above the forest, encouraging visitors to look up and be captivated by the cosmos.
This is the second inclusion for the show in an international guidebook this year, after securing a feature in the latest edition of the award-winning travel guide, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide.
Ian Sim, chairman of The Enchanted Forest Community Trust, said: “It’s not every day you get recognition from one of the world’s most prestigious travel media companies - needless to say we’re incredibly proud of this feature.
“We have increasing numbers of international visitors attending the event every year and this will only serve to extend the reach of The Enchanted Forest to new visitors for years to come.”
Just behind that at number 488 is Blair Castle, with a special mention given to its private army.
Described by Lonely’s Planet’s vice president of experiences as “a wonderful picture of upper-class Highland life”, Blair Castle was a favourite of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
Part of the TV series ‘Victoria’ was filmed at the castle, which was also recently appeared in ‘James Martin’s Great British Adventure’ on BBC when he was caught on camera cooking venison with beetroot and blackberries in the walled garden with fellow chef, Tom Kitchin.
Julia Sim, head of sales and marketing at Blair Castle and Gardens, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be included in Lonely Planet’s first ‘Ultimate United Kingdom Travelist’.
“The castle has been the home of the Atholl family for over seven centuries and during its diverse history, it has been home to politicians, soldiers, agriculturalists and entrepreneurs.
“Accompanied by 145,000 acres of magnificent landscape, this historic destination is a rich tapestry of history.”
The list also featured geographical features that are partly in Perthshire, including salmon fishing in the River Tay and spending a night on ice in the Cairngorms National Park.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe headed up the list, followed by the British Museum in London and the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. Scone Palace