Run by the same team behind Braemar’s stylish Fife Arms, The Fish Shop in Ballater brings the same flair to seafood, with a menu that champions fresh, sustainable catches and a design that nods to Scotland’s fishing heritage. Sit yourself down in handmade East Lothian banquettes wrapped in lowcarbon leather, and browse the bounty displayed on the boattable salvaged from the wild West Coast.

Wander away those city worries in the nine-acre walled garden and wild forests of Blair Castle. The perfect spot to romanticise those countryside ambles, and pop in to the castle for a dose of history.  

This sprawling 145,000-acre playground in Highland Perthshire skirts the Cairngorms National Park. Curl up in a charming Highland lodge or a cosy shepherd’s hut, and wake up to misty hills, deer grazing nearby, and the gentle sound of the River Tilt. By day, explore over 50 miles of waymarked trails, try your hand at fly-fishing, or join a ranger-led foraging walk. When hunger strikes, head to the Tullibardine Restaurant at Blair Castle for seasonal, locally sourced dishes with a view of the private gardens.