Newsletter February 2012

Exciting news:  we are to be the venue for the second day of the 4-day Jan Kjellström International Festival of Orienteering  2012 Scotland, 6th - 9th April

at Easter Weekend.  Dunalastair will host up to 2500 people on Saturday 7th April 2012 - see their website: Scottish Orienteering.  We last hosted a similar event in 1997 which was a huge success amongst competitors.  These events are very well organised and run and cause very little disruption to other visitors and it is only on one day.  If you are interested in entering the event, which caters for all ages and abilities, go to their website.

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Many people have enjoyed the revamped Enchanted Forest light show in Pitlochry which finished at the end of October.  It is now held in the Explorers Garden next to the Pitlochry Festival Theatre.  The latter is a wonderful successful venue for plays and musicals of West End standard.  We much enjoyed My Fair Lady and Whisky Galore which had very good write ups.  A very talented cast.  There is something on at the theatre throughout the winter.  Blair Castle is also open on certain days each week over the winter and of course the House of Bruar is a popular visitor attraction and shopping experience all the year round.  The Watermill in Aberfeldy holds events throughout the year and has a wonderful bookshop and cafe as well as an interesting shop for gifts for the home.  Highland Safaris have all sorts of interesting things to do all year round.  Do try them.   So many of our visitors say they just don't have time to fit in all there is to do in the area.

A new café/gift shop called TREATS in Kinloch Rannoch square has proved a great success with visitors.  It serves delicious and stylish snacks and light lunches, open 10 until 5pm.  It has beautiful gifts too.  You can do your gift shopping in a tranquil setting.

The local tourism group, Rannoch & Tummel Tourist Association, now have a website where you can find all the accommodation available in the glen here.  It is www.rannochscotland.co.uk.  It is gradually being developed and over the winter will be improved to include more photos and information.

Our prices are mostly held for 2012.  Considering heating is included, this is equivalent to a discount.

Over the winter, a mains water pipe is being laid by Scottish Water through this part of the glen so that eventually we will be able to attach the cottages to it.  This will help with water pressure and winter problems and will hopefully enable us to let more cottages over the winter.

We are trying to work out how to provide internet access in the cottages.  This is not an easy problem to solve.  Anyone with Vodaphone or Orange and a smart phone/ipad can collect their emails via that but other mobile providers have no masts here.

As usual over the winter we will be renovating, painting and decorating and generally updating the cottages so that we continue to provide comfortable homes from home for your holidays.  Old Laundry is having bath installed and the shower room updated to make it even better.

Best wishes from all our team at Dunalastair Estate,
Rose La Terriere