Horsey Reach

Perthshire has so much to offer: Glorious Countryside, the River Tay, Golf Courses Galore, Skiing, Country Walks and Drives, Excellent Shopping, Art and a Huge array of Hotels, Restaurants and Cafes for dining out.
Here is just some of what's available:
Salmon Fishing
The River Tay is the longest of Scotland's Salmon Rivers. Visit the Fish Tay website for a full list of Tay beats or we'd be happy to organise private fishing, spey-casting instruction or personal ghillie services for you - please call Jim on 07748 304486 - he'd be happy to speak to you even if it's just for some advice.
White Water Rafting
Other more adventurous activities on and around the River Tay are offered by a number of companies in Perthshire including:
Splash, Activ8s, Nae Limits (some of these also offer quad-biking and other outdoor activities)
Golf
Golf courses within 30mins drive include:
Blairgowrie, Alyth, Strathmore, Dunkeld and Birnham, King James VI,
Murrayshall, Gleneagles
Some a little further afield although still within 1 hour's drive:
St. Andrews, Carnoustie
Walking
Let Visit Scotland show you the way - from gentle stolls along riverside paths to strenuous hikes up a mighty munro!
Another useful site for walks and scenery is Perthshire's Big Tree Country
Children's Activities
Just on the other side of the village to Horsey Reach is the Active Kid Adventure Park which has go karts, terrific slides, climbing frames, trampolines and a place for mum and dad to sit and relax.
A couple of good websites to look at for children's activities: Active Perthshire and Activity Scotland.
Pony trekking/riding lessons at Blair Castle Trekking and Crieff Hydro 
Perth Leisure Centre has a fantastic swimming pool: Tel: 01738 492421
Cycling: Comrie Croft Bikes
Dolphin and whale watching with Moray Firth Cruises although this is a couple of hours drive away it is certainly be worth the trip.
Children's quad biking and other outdoor activities: Bydand Leisure
Historic Perthshire
Nestling in the Perthshire countryside you will find evidence of Scotland’s historic past: ancestral homes and castles rub shoulders with churches and battlefields. To name but a few we have:
Glamis Castle - the childhood home of the late Queen Mother, magnificent castle and grounds
Scone Palace - (pronounced 'scoon') for centuries the crowning place of Scottish kings and home to the Earls of Mansfield
St. John's Kirk, Perth - where John Knox fuelled the fire of the Reformation
Castle Menzies, by Aberfeldy - where Bonnie Prince Charlie stayed on his way to the Battle of Culloden
Queen's View - one of Scotland's most famous views across Loch Tummel to Schiehallion, commemorates the first wife of Robert the Bruce
Blair Castle - still protected to this day by the last and only private army in Europe: the Atholl Highlanders
Stanley Mills - our own slice of history - only 10 mins walk from Horsey Reach - a beautifully restored mill and visitors centre depicting life in the 19th Century
Other Outdoor Pursuits
Clay Pigeon Shooting, Quad Biking, 4x4 Off-Roading plus more all available from Hilton Dunkeld House and Scottish Quads.
Shopping
Perthshire is perfect for a little bit of retail therapy:
Perth City Centre has a wealth of shops: It has the usual suspects including good sized Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, Next, Boots, WH Smith, Waterstones, as well as some rather nice additions: McEwans of Perth, an independent department store with its fabulous John St. Boutique (well worth a visit), Martin and McQueen, luxury leathergoods (possibly the best handbag shop in the world!!), some really great independent jewellery stores: Lorraine Law and Jewellery Workshop, shoe shops galore: Sandalwoods, Imprimo, Rogersons and gift shops and art galleries: Bertie Browns, Boo Vake, Frames Contemporary Gallery and Julian Jardine Ceramics.
Perthshire's smaller towns and villages offer a number of independent retail outlets and in particular art, craft and gift shops that are worth visiting: Aberfeldy, Blairgowrie, Dunkeld and Crieff all offer something a little different.
Worthy of special mention is House of Bruar - at the north end of Blair Atholl just off the A9. Huge country shopping centre, fine Scottish produce, cashmere, knitwear and gifts. Also garden centre and Bruar Falls, a strenuous woodland walk to the top. Along similar, but smaller lines are the Bankfoot Visitors Centre and going south on the A9: Baxters.
I can personally recommend Legends of Grandtully - for the most delicious chocolates I have ever tasted (and nice cake), this is on the road to Aberfeldy, and in Aberfeldy itself there is the Watermill, for an eclectic mix of books, art and wholesome cooking. And for art-lovers I can recommend The Strathearn Gallery in Crieff and The Atholl Gallery in Dunkeld, both always exhibit works by Scotland's finest artists.
Pampering
Take a day out of your busy schedule and really relax at one of the following spas:
Hilton Dunkeld House, Gleneagles and Charlie Taylor in Perth.

Dining Out

Perth and the surrounding area can certainly compete with Scotland's biggest cities when it comes to eating out. For a full list of Perth restaurants and night life see the Perth City Website.
I can personally recommend: Dean's at Lets Eat for more formal dining, Cafe Tabou for relaxed authentic French cuisine and The Bothy for a more lively night out (and great cocktails).
And more locally, in Stanley itself, I can recommend The Tayside Hotel for a relaxed bar meal and The Apron Stage for fabulous food in a cosy relaxed environment, we like to think of it as 'a little slice of France'. A few miles out of the village, there is also the renowned Ballathie House Hotel, for excellent cuisine in a more traditional, formal environment.

For Coffee, Cakes and Light Bites

These are handy to know when you're out and about, but also worthy of the drive to get you up and going: Stewart Tower, the award winning dairy and ice cream parlour which is virtually on our doorstep, and where I'll send you if you arrive early! Gloagburn Farm Shop, my personal favourite place for lunch, great menu, and a nice shop to browse as well And I've just discovered their wonderful breakfast menu!! There is, of course, the afore mentioned Legends of Grandtully and Watermill in Aberfeldy, and new to my list of places to lunch is Delivino in Crieff (although you usually have to book, even for lunch) which offers modern European food with a lovely selection of wines.  

And for something different:

Improve your cookery skills at the Tony Heath Cookschool, learn bread-making with Lesley's Kitchen, learn fine art photography with Jo Cound or even paint some pottery at the Ceramic Experience. Tony, Lesley and Jo have all offered to come to Horsey Reach and teach you there, by special arrangement.