Avonlea

Crieff sits between the highlands and the lowlands on a south-facing slope in the Grampian foothills. The town boasts the oldest distillery in Scotland, Glenturret, founded in 1775. It has a visitor centre offering tours all year. Just north of the distillery is Glen Turret and some of the best hillwalking in the area: including the Munro, Ben Chonzie. Following the River Earn west from Glenturret brings you to Comrie, a settlement whose origins date back at least to the Romans.

In the eighteenth century Crieff was a busy market town with farmers coming down from the highlands and from as far away as Skye to trade their livestock. In Victorian times the town developed as a spa resort; today it remains popular as a tourist destination.
The Visitor Centre has its own pottery offering factory tours and a shop. The Stuart Crystal Centre has Stuart, Waterford and Wedgwood goods for sale. The history of Scotland goes beyond bloody battles and castles. Away from the famous conflicts associated with Wallace, Bruce and Bonnie Prince Charlie, ordinary folk just got on with their lives. Crieff and Strathearn Drovers’ Tryst annually in October celebrates the life, work and play of the people who made Crieff the crossroads of Scotland in the 1700s. This innovative festival seeks to recreate the atmosphere of the droving days - without the inconvenience of 30,000 cattle! The Drovers Tryst Centre is open to visitors all year round.

Drummond Castle Gardens, south of Crieff, are open to the public. They were laid out by John Drummond, second Earl of Perth, in 1630. The view from the castle terrace reveals the grand symmetrical design and strong French and Italian influences. South of Drummond Castle is the village of Muthill, complete with its old church and 11th Century tower. Muthill is, like Comrie, on the route of the Coast to Coast Walk from Oban to St Andrews.

Auchterarder itself is an 800 year old Royal Burgh. There is a heritage centre in the town and the long High Street has a range of interesting shops. On the outskirts of Auchterarder is the town's best-known attraction: the internationally famous Gleneagles Hotel with its four golf courses, including the PGA Centenary Course which will be the venue for the Ryder Cup in 2014. These courses are open to visitors all year round, and there are in excess of 20 more golf courses within 20 miles of Crieff!