Auchterarder: Trails, History and Special Experiences

Auchterarder combines expansive trails, a remarkable local history and a variety of experiences. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment can plan their stay entirely around their own interests: with short walks and views, historical discoveries or active pursuits at Gleneagles.

Trails with Varied Landscapes

Auchterarder’s network of trails covers more than 50 miles, or 80 kilometres, of routes for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. This means the selection ranges from a short circuit to longer outings. The Avenue is an easy route of around 500 metres, which takes approximately 15 minutes to walk. Along the way, views open up towards the Grampian Mountains.

Other trails also offer their own distinctive landscapes. Black Road runs as a north–south link through Auchterarder, just off Abbey Road. Common Loan offers views towards Craigrossie. The Oak Walk provides views across the Strathearn Valley towards the Grampian Mountains.

History Between Tower, Church and Weaving Mill

Auchterarder was granted the title of a Royal Burgh as early as around 1200. A visible testament to the town’s later history is the Old Church Tower, built in 1660 from stones from Kincardine Castle. The Victorian era also brought a local weaving industry to Auchterarder. By 1892, Hally’s mill had 540 mechanical looms – a specific detail that makes the importance of this economic sector tangible.

St Mackessog’s Church is the surviving fragment of a late medieval church that once served as Auchterarder’s parish church. The existing building probably dates from the 15th or 16th century. Its crow-stepped gables survive, while fragmentary walls remain standing up to 2.6 metres high. The church is of national importance and may overlie the site of an earlier building from the late 12th or early 13th century. This makes it a special point of interest for anyone interested in the development of medieval churches and settlements.

Local commemorative culture also includes talks by the Auchterarder and District Local History Association. Most take place between autumn and spring in Aytoun Hall on Auchterarder High Street. The Barony Parish Church also stands on the same street: a 1904 Gothic Revival church with red rubble masonry, gable finials, a tower and a low pyramidal slated cap. North of Auchterarder is the building known as Auchterarder Castle, separate from Castlemains Farmhouse. It incorporates parts of the medieval Auchterarder Castle and stands on the site of the demolished castle.

Active Days and Shared Experiences

Gleneagles expands the range of options with various activities. The Sporting Club has a 7-metre-high and 27-metre-wide indoor climbing and bouldering wall with 40 climbing routes, as well as a section for timed climbing. Gleneagles also includes a nine-hole par-3 course. Anyone wanting to combine animals with special experiences can take part in hands-on falconry experiences and learn to hold and fly Harris hawks.

Other activities cater to different preferences: off-road driving experiences take place on challenging Highland trails, through river crossings and over steep inclines. The Equestrian School offers indoor and outdoor training, riding lessons and guided rides. The Auchterarder Public Park may also be of interest to families. It contains a high-quality playground set amid wildflower meadows and natural elevations.

Which Holiday Apartment Fits Your Travel Plans?

If walks and landscapes are the main focus, The Avenue, Common Loan and the Oak Walk can serve as specific points of reference for planning your days. Those interested in culture can include the Old Church Tower, St Mackessog’s Church, the Barony Parish Church and the history of weaving in their plans. Anyone who prefers more active days will find climbing, riding, falconry, golf and off-road experiences at Gleneagles. A holiday apartment in Auchterarder therefore provides a suitable base for organising your stay around your interests and energy levels, without committing to just one type of trip.

For more ideas of places to visit, you can also compare Blair Atholl, Kinfauns, Invergowrie, Grandtully, Kenmore, Glencarse, Fowlis Wester and Ochtertyre.

For the overall travel overview: Perth And Kinross.