Lady of the manor Lesley Taylor took a party to Gamefield House, in the rolling Perthshire countryside, for a weekend she will never forget
When you get older, birthdays are never quite the same, but surely big birthdays should be celebrated, no matter how depressing it is to enter a new decade?
With my husband’s 50th birthday looming, we pondered various options of how we could celebrate it and decided a weekend away in a house with close friends and family would be the perfect option. So with friends and family travelling from England and northern Scotland, along with the most spoilt member of the family, our cocker spaniel Olly, we travelled to Gamefield House near Crieff on a wet and windy Friday afternoon.
We were warmly welcomed by the lovely Audrey who had the welcome mat rolled out – log fire in the hallway beckoning us inside; soft lighting was switched on around the house and candles flickered giving the whole house a delicious cosy feel. She left us a welcome basket of tasty Scottish produce including chocolates and shortbread and even put milk in the fridge.
LOTTERY WIN
We had seen pictures of the house but we really were overawed with the sheer scale and beauty of it. It felt like we had won the lottery, even though it was just for the weekend!
Audrey showed us around the five beautiful bedrooms, each with its own unique style featuring luxury fine Egyptian cotton bed linen and all with en suites. We walked around like enchanted children taking in each new pleasure – the highest-quality baths and showers, the luxurious silk curtains and the quaint artefacts and artwork. We were overwhelmed with the master suite (perfect for the birthday boy) complete with a luxurious king-size bed, fireplace and roll-top bath.
When our guests arrived, we felt like lord and lady of the manor, beaming with pride as we showed them around our home for the weekend.
The heart of any home is the kitchen and this is on open-plan with a large dining area and family room. The large Aga is ideal for cooking and they have guidebooks just in case you get stuck.
We gathered around the granite-topped island, preparing food and drinks then enjoyed an informal supper sitting on benches at the kitchen table. Some of us lounged on the large adjoining couches, draped with mulberry throws and fluffy cushions, some chatted in the kitchen while others sipped liqueurs on the outside veranda complete with cosy covered seating area
SUMMERHOUSE
But the icing on the cake lay at the bottom of the extensive garden. We changed into our complimentary dressing gowns and slippers and headed off to the large wooden summerhouse complete with a wood-burning stove and bar.
This was opulence at the highest level as cosy candles flickered inside, with ample comfy seating covered with blankets and throws easily accommodating all 10 of us. We chilled in the adjacent hot tub, bathed in blue light, sipping champagne and it felt surprisingly toasty, despite the cold weather outside.
The next morning, we woke up like kids at Christmas time and as we looked out of the large picture windows over the superb grounds and rolling Perthshire countryside, we were treated to a thick blanket of snow.
Later that morning, the men booked mountain bikes from nearby Comrie Croft to explore the countryside. They decided to do some geocaching within the area and set off full of enthusiasm. Comrie Croft also has its very own bike trails situated on a 250-acre estate that suits all the family, based in the beautiful Strathearn Valley and can also provide a great back-up service, supported by a fully stocked bike shop, high-quality bike rental, pro workshop and coaching and guiding services for those who want to learn or see a little more.
Not keen on cycling in the snow, we girls headed to the nearby Wild Thyme restaurant at the Glenturret Distillery. Wild Thyme offers visitors a fabulous choice of dining options including self-service and table-service options. We sat and ordered in front of a roaring fire, relaxing in chocolate leather couches and admiring the eye-catching Famous Grouse wallpaper.
We plumped for the two-course lunch special for £10 which was excellent value.
With dishes such as pickled Scottish mackerel and chicken and goose parfait, we were spoilt for choice. Warm homemade mozzarella and sun-dried tomato bread along with a jug of fresh water greeted us at our table. The bread was so tasty I almost told them to cancel the rest of our order as I could gladly have eaten that all day.
My coq-au-vin was delicious, beautifully presented in a large white bowl, while the rich red jus complemented the succulent white meat perfectly.
Dessert options of Glenturret Whisky queen of pudding (only fitting when the restaurant is based where they produce the malt) and my friend’s iced lemon yoghurt with lemon curd and citrus fruit were top notch and we rounded off lunch with coffees back at the fire. Wild Thyme also do afternoon teas, warming soups and huge cream scones which two ladies across from us certainly seemed to be enjoying.
After all this food we headed next door to The Famous Grouse Experience at the Glenturret Distillery, the oldest working distillery in Scotland. We were met by the resident cats Glen and Turret before our charming guide Niall took us through the traditional whisky-making methods with amusing anecdotes along the way.
GLENTURRET DISTILLERY
At Glenturret Distillery, the whisky is still made By Hand and By Heart, an artisan process that evolved hundreds of years ago and is still used today in the production of The Glenturret single malt, which is added to The Famous Grouse blend.
At the end of our hour-long tour we got a photo opportunity beside the biggest bottle of whisky in the world, the chance to sample a few drams and to visit the gift shop where the birthday boy purchased a bottle of the Glenturret Malt for the Burns supper we had planned for our final fling.
Back at Gamefield House, we all dressed in tartan, cooked haggis and prepared the stunning dining room for our special party.
We gathered around the specially-commissioned oak table with ultra-distinctive chrome and embossed leather chairs, raised our glasses to the birthday boy and the famous Bard, a fantastic end to a weekend of memories that we will never forget.
The next morning, none of us wanted to leave this fabulous house. They have the perfect balance between luxury and comfort with everything that you could possibly need right there.
They are keen to attract wedding parties and already welcome visitors from overseas looking to spend some time away from tropical heats. They just announced a partnership with two more local businesses, a bespoke catering company All Things Food courtesy of Serena McIvor, from Auchterarder, and Simulated Game Shooting based at Drummond Estates who can offer an unforgettable simulated game shooting experience.
Out and about, Perthshire has an abundance of activities and restaurants nearby, so the location is perfect, that’s if you can bear to tear yourself away from this stunning retreat.
For further details on Gamefield, Crieff, and to book, call 01764 650303, e-mail info@gamefield.co.uk or visit www.gamefield.co.uk