Few sights in Highland Perthshire can compare with the view from the Shoreside cottages on the banks of Loch Tay.  As I watched the strips of low-lying cloud wrap themselves round the hills, I could imagine the strains of a Visit Scotland advert playing in the distance.

When the weather does break, Shoreside becomes the ideal base to explore the surrounding area.  Further along the lochside road is the entrance to the National Trust for Scotland’s Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve, a popular destination for hillwalkers as you can access seven Munros from the reserve’s car park.

If you don’t fancy a walk or hike around the highest peaks in the southern Highlands, it’s worth continuing with the superb drive over the singletrack road between Loch Tay and Glen Lyon, combining stunning scenery with a good workout for the driver’s arms as you navigate chicane after chicane.

Shoreside is well-placed to visit picturesque Kenmore, at the mouth of Loch Tay and nearby Aberfeldy.  The butcher’s shop on Aberfeldy’s main street is a must – especially to pick up some excellent sausages and bacon and just around the corner is the award-winning Watermill bookshop, complete with café and art gallery.

One of my favourite stops in the area is House of Menzies, a tearoom-cum-wine shop that stocks new world favourites including New Zealand sauvignon blanc and pinot noir, Chilean merlot and carmenere and Australian shiraz and chardonnay.  I could spend hours wandering among the rows of bottles – and almost as long at the tasting counter.

Some of House of Menzies’ best vintages are on sale at nearby Fortingall Hotel which is next to the world famous yew tree of the same name.  Billed as ‘Europe’s oldest resident’ at 5000 years old, the tree has birthed a pun at sheep-badged hotel bar, The Ewe. The hotel’s two rosette restaurant was light and airy and the mixture of tables, created a relaxed atmosphere, which was enhanced by the friendly and talkative staff. My steak, which I’m told was reared locally and supplied by a butcher in Pitlochry, was cooked to perfection and each of the accompanying elements – from the homemade chips to the vine tomatoes – were delicious.

A wonderful base to explore a very interesting area and amazing space to curl up and relax when it snowed! The Williamson’s, Glasgow, February 2020 Absolutely perfect place to spend Xmas holidays – cannot fault anything.  One big thank you! The Ellis’s, North Yorkshire, December 2019

Simply perfect in every way!  We will definitely recommend to all our friends - thank you! The Simpson’s, Doncaster, October 2019 Our second visit and we hope to return – fantastic property in a beautiful setting. Thank you! The Moseley’s, Birmingham, September 2019

Beautiful house and a very memorable view!  We had a wonderful holiday. The Wilson’s, Northumberland, August 2019 Thanks Carol, another amazing trip. The Gooney’s, Northamptonshire, April 2019