Shepherd huts with all the comforts of home can take you close to nature
A LITTLE-KNOWN piece of the Scottish landscape has been opened up as a holiday destination for the first time, with the arrival of two shepherd huts on the Atholl Estates in Perthshire.
Sitting on a stunning spot in the Tulliemet valley, the huts, which are named Lapwing and Curlew, command breathtaking views across Strathtay and are surrounded by an abundance of wildlife, from osprey, nesting eagles and deer to newly arrived resident beavers in the Tulliemet River.
Hand crafted in a Cumbrian workshop, the huts, which are designed for couples, have been decorated with modern fabrics, and an eclectic collection of antique and quirky curios.
There is a king-size bedchamber, hand-stitched quilts, hot shower, fully fitted kitchen, electric underfloor heating and log burning stoves, as well as outdoor hammocks and a firepit surrounded by wooden armchairs and sheepwool rugs.
Catriona Sutherland, head of marketing at Blair Castle, which lies at the heart of the Atholl Estates, said: “The huts are beautiful, so we have chosen to site them on an area of the estate that we have kept a bit of a secret.
“Although on an old shepherds’ path, few people have been able to access this part of the landscape, so our guests will have a very special and exclusive view of the valley.
“With the huts now in place, a UK holiday in 2021 does not have to mean crowded beaches or traditional beauty spots over-run with staycationers.
“For anyone, enjoying a new connection with nature, the huts are ideal.”
Jane Bonsor, the founder and creative director of Korla, a company that specialises in printed interiors fabrics, led the design of the huts from start to finish.
She said: “This project has been a true labour of love.
“I grew up holidaying in Perthshire and the landscape is full of childhood memories for me. I approached the design as if I was designing a home, full of home comforts.”