HIGHLAND HAPPENINGS

A trio of essential stopovers for bedding down, tucking in and kicking back

There is no shortage of places to call home in this prelapsarian part of the world. But skip the beautifully bijou 16th-century Forter Castle ( fortercastle.com) at your own peril. Situated in the heart of Perthshire, inside Cairngorms National Park, this five-floored towered stone citadel was rescued by the Pooley family brick-by-brick back in 1988 and has been lovingly restored by the scion, noted interior designer Katharine Pooley. Expect refined touches such as four-poster beds and high-thread-count sheets; cut-crystal decanters and stemware; acres and acres of family tweed and tartan; dozens of oil paintings, ceremonial swords and crests and coats of arms strewn around the exclusiveuse property, which is now both a family home and a holiday rental sleeping up to 12 guests (plus three dogs). For hopeless romantics, there’s even a chapel, should a stay prove truly life-changing.

Over near Crieff, Scotland’s oldest working distillery now has one of the country’s most refined fine-dining experiences: The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant (theglenturret.com/ restaurant). Backed by the deep pockets of the French glassware, fragrance and parfum house which now owns the distillery, it drafted in head chef Mark Donald in 2021 who, in less than six months, burnished his already impressive culinary credentials by securing a Michelin star for the site. His precise execution, delicate flavours and exquisite attention to detail and stunning presentation are evident in the multicourse tasting menu with locally sourced ingredients that are paired to a substantial and impressive wine list, curated by executive sommelier Julien Beltzung. Service is unimpeachable, as is the sizeable selection of rare and aged whiskies on offer in the bar.

The biggest news out of the Highlands, however, concerns (what else?) golf. Having been acquired by celebrated Canadian developer Cabot, Castle Stuart Golf Links will soon have a sister course designed by acclaimed golf course architect Tom Doak. Located on a pristine piece of land along the coast of Moray Firth, the course will play around Castle Stuart’s 400-year-old castle and incorporate natural contours, meandering through hillsides and expansive open land with several holes along the water.

“Castle Stuart has been considered a benchmark of exceptional Scottish golf since it first opened 13 years ago,” Ben Cowan-Dewar, CEO and co-founder of Cabot, said last summer of its first European project. “We are honoured to be a steward of the land and carry the original vision for the property forward.” That vision, as part of the newly dubbed Cabot Highlands (cabothighlands.com), also includes a realestate offering, allowing those who wish to own a part of this storied landscape access to its natural beauty, not to mention hiking, cycling, fishing, falconry, horseback riding and more, all year round.