Lodging in luxury at Perthshire rural getaway

Hoping for some peace and quiet in the country Ciaran Sneddon enjoys a relaxing weekend at the Grand Eagles Lodge Park

It’s twilight on a warm Friday evening when I arrive in rural Perthshire for a quiet, relaxing weekend.

The drive along the country roads was straightforward, and my parents and I are hoping for somewhere peaceful to spend a few days together.

Pulling up to the Grand Eagles Luxury Lodge Park just outside Auchterarder we breathe a collective sigh of relief.

The modern lodges are tucked away off a quiet road, with dozens stretching across gravelled ground.

Anyone wanting a weekend of roughing it in the middle of nowhere should probably look away now...

As we arrive it appears that we are one of just a few weekend visitors within our section of the park, and indeed most of the others appear to be residents rather than holidaymakers.

You can see the appeal almost instantly upon entering the lodge – it’s easy to maintain, compact, bright, well furnished, modern and comfortable.

Thistle Lodge, our home for the weekend owned has a twin room, ensuite double bedroom, shower room, and an open-plan kitchen/dining/lounge area.

The kitchen facilities are more than sufficient to rustle together an evening meal, and a small path, which works its way alongside a river, is the perfect place for a post-dinner wander.

Our first night is spent relaxing and watching the sun go down with a good book.

The following morning, I am amazed at how quiet the park is – very little noise carries from the quiet road that runs along the park’s outer edge and despite several neighbours already up and active, it’s peaceful.

After a slow and steady start to the day we head in to Auchterarder, which is only a short distance from the park.

Relative to its limited size, it is bursting with plenty of boutique shops and cafes to while away the hours.

After a morning of window-shopping, we get into the car and make for The Famous Grouse Experience on the outskirts of Crieff.

If you are a fan of Scotland’s national drink – or even if you’re not, like me – then this interactive tour is a fascinating way to spend the afternoon.

Following the process of the barley from its cereal form to the end result, we worked our way around the distillery before sampling two of the whiskies at the end – we are given handy pots for our driver to carry his drink in until we are home.

Crieff itself is another great town in which to spend some time, particularly if you have a passion for crafts and quirky or unique gifts.

A haberdashery attracted mum’s attention for an hour or so, while the high street offered a host of coffee shops to be sampled.

After raiding the local convenience store for provisions, we head back through the countryside to the lodge park. As it is a gorgeously sunny Saturday, the park has more of a lively buzz to it and it’s clear to see the attraction of having somewhere to escape to for a few nights a week.

For me, despite the quiet, there is a slight lack of privacy which detracts from the experience.

The glass fronting of the lodges, which so wonderfully allows the sunshine to fill the room in the morning, means that you are looking straight into the home of your neighbour and vice-versa. This is not a major issue but when you’re surrounded by some of the most beautiful landscapes in Scotland, it’s hard not to wish the view was uninterrupted.

To me, the biggest selling point, is the park’s location. Consider it as the diving board from which to leap into the waters of rural Perthshire.

For those on a golfing holiday, attending a business conference and wanting to see more of the countryside, or even those wanting a straightforward week away with the kids, it would be a great place to be.

Those wanting a weekend “away from it all” may be left a little disappointed.