Brewlands Estate is a slice of heaven. Not just because of its atmosphere of tranquillity and peace, but because of the literal slices of culinary heaven you will be served here. 2015 is VisitScotland’s Year of Food and Drink, promoting and celebrating Scotland’s natural larder and the quality of its produce. An ideal place to experience this is on the Brewlands Estate in Glenisla, Perthshire.
Situated on the edge of the spectacular Cairngorms National Park, the estate has been owned and farmed by the Ivory family since the 19th century; however, archaeological evidence suggests that it has been occupied for at least 4,000 years.
In July 1224, “The Brewlands” was granted to the Abbey of Coupar Angus by King Alexander II. For 300 years, Cistercian monks spent their summers in this beautiful glen, tending their cattle and honeybees, and unknowingly creating a legacy of gastronomic delights which has continued right through to the estate’s dinner tables today.
The monks used the estate’s natural resources to make wildflower and heather honey and to brew beer and mead from the pure spring water which still supplies Brewlands Estates’ properties today.
That delicious heather honey is still produced and sold at delicatessens across the UK, and the remains of a tiny secret whisky distillery are still hidden on the hill above Brewlands Lodge to this day. Being a mixed sporting estate, Brewlands has its own tender beef, lamb and organic venison and game. Take a leisurely stroll through the grounds and you will find wild raspberries in the woods and juicy blueberries all over the moorland.
Beloved by Queen Victoria and a holiday retreat for both American Presidents Bush, the estate now offers Brewlands Lodge as a five-star holiday let, sleeping up to 15 people. The lodge can be rented self-catered, partially or fully catered with further staff available.
Brewlands is a foodie’s heaven and true to VisitScotland’s ethos it fully utilises the excellent range of local produce available for its holiday lets catering. The estate’s cook serves local cheeses, smoked salmon, whiskies, local seasonal berries and vegetables as well as wonderfully fresh seafood feasts including lobster, oysters, mussels, crabs and prawns, bought at the pier head as the boats bring in their catch.
Lady Ivory, part of the fifth generation to look after the estate, said: “We are very proud of the estate’s heritage and the outstanding quality of food here. It’s important that our guests receive the same treatment as if they were staying in a private five-star hotel and this includes the utmost attention to the catering we provide. We can organise everything from freezer cooking left for guests’ arrival, to barbecues, picnics on the hills, or champagne and canapés for a romantic surprise. We can take those keen to catch their own suppers on fishing, shooting or stalking trips on the estate. Foodies also love our trips to the local salmon smokery or to the nearby distilleries.
“We provide the very best which Scotland has to offer and this is surprisingly easy for us to do.
“Local produce is not only fresher and tastier than mass-produced shop-bought food, but also greatly enhances guests’ experiences of their visit to Scotland and to Brewlands Estate; the food you eat should reflect your environment.
“Two-thirds of Scotland’s visitors think that quality food is a decisive factor when choosing where to go on holiday. This might explain why so many of our guests come back year after year.”
Brewlands Lodge is the ideal place to stay when visiting the estate. The lodge dates back to the 13th century but has been sympathetically restored to retain many of its original features and Highland charm.
The eight bedrooms and six bathrooms are beautifully decorated and furnished and the property even has its own hot tub to unwind in. The estate’s friendly staff can tailor your holiday to be exactly the way you’d like it to be; from your own cook, masseuse, tennis coach, tour guide or chauffeur, your every wish and whim can be catered for.
Brewlands Lodge is now available to rent through holiday lets company Cottages & Castles from £2,400 per week. Contact 01738 451610 or visit www.cottages-and-castles.co.uk