An annual trip with mum and dad-in-law has become something of a tradition, so in October we headed up to Perthshire to enjoy a spot of Scottish Autumn weather. Unknowingly, we’d booked what turned out to be half-term week in some of England’s schools, so traffic was heavy on the motorways and the service stations were heaving, but as soon as we reached Blairgowrie it petered out, allowing us to enjoy the scenery and quiet roads.

Our home for the week – Neids Cottage, was deliberately chosen for its isolation. It’s a single storey stone cottage by the river Isla, and comes complete with 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a living and dining room with an open wood fire, and lots of outdoor space. Unfortunately the cottage owners had locked the attic room, so we couldn’t make it into a little hidey hole, or enjoy the views, but Rich and I still got to enjoy the kingsize ensuite.

As enthusiastic off-roaders, Rich and dad-in-law got very exicted about the 1 mile of dirt track to get to the cottage from the road. Again, this is often enough to persuade Rich to book a holiday somewhere – never mind the house!

The log fire too was a hit, so much so that we turned the heaters off in the rest of the house.The lounge has a large sofa and 4 armchairs so there’s plenty of room for everyone, with a wide screen telly if you want to watch it, or lots of windows if you don’t. Sleeping 8 in total, it’s an absolute bargain, and makes a fabulous base for walking in the surrounding hills, or touring the sites.

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