Perthshire Archaeological Finds at Forteviot

Recently a rare 4000-year old Bronze Age grave has been uncovered at Forteviot only a few miles from Perth. Covered with a huge 4-ton sandstone slab that was removed by a crane, the grave is described as “spectacular” by experts. The site where the find was made is where Kenneth McAlpin, the first king of a united Scotland, died in AD858

A Historic Scotland spokesman said, “ Bronze Age cist burials are not uncommon finds in Scotland, but early indications from this new discovery, both the quality of the grave goods and also the careful construction and decoration of the burial cists, suggest that the individual buried here was someone of the highest social standing – and that is very rare and very exciting.”

Some of the artefacts uncovered were on view at the site and guides took groups of visitors round the area of the dig on the open day in August.

Much work has been done over the years on excavating sites of archeological interest. Visitors are familiar with the Roman Camp at Ardoch, many standing stones, and the fine reconstruction of the ancient settlement at the Crannog near Kenmore where underwater survey continues.

Perthshire and Scottish Apples

One of Scotland’s main apple growing areas, dating back 800 years, was the Carse of Gowrie, situated between Perth and Dundee, to the north of the River Tay. The old Scottish Orchards once numbered tens of thousands of trees and, as part of the celebrations of its 200th anniversary, the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society (RCHS) wants to encourage the planting of new orchards. Native varieties include The Lass O’Gowrie, a sweet and juicy cooker from Perthshire, The James Grieve, The Coul Blush, Britain’s most northerly apple from Coul in Ross-shire, The Bloody Ploughman, cultivated around 1800, The Cambusnethan Pippin from either Clydesdale or Stirling, and The White Melrose raised at Melrose Abbey before 1831.A Perth & Kinross Countryside Trust survey found that of 50 recorded orchards only 17 remain and only 9 of those have any commercial potential.

The RCHS held its first conference in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in 1824, this year the conference will again be held in Edinburgh in October. It is hoped that people will be encouraged to take an interest in and plant native varieties of apple trees, providing a useful crop that can be eaten straight away or stored for winter use and benefiting wildlife.

Visit Perthshire in autumn to enjoy spectacular countryside colours. Remember to look at our What's On and Places to Visit pages, and others. Book a short break or longer. Repeat visitors get discounts!

last minute availability 29th August

Available

Chapel House

29th August to 5th September

sleeps 4

22nd to 29th August now filled.

Chapel House sleeps 4 in 1 ground floor bedroom with en suite bathroom and upper floor bedroom and separate bathroom. Beds may be made up as twins or king sized doubles.

Due to quite unforeseen circumstances, one of our regular parties has had to cancel their visit to The Chapel House this year. Starting 22nd August for 2 weeks Chapel House is available at discounted price of £450 per week. Prices include bed linen, towels, heating and WiFi.

Contact us directly for this special offer. Tel: 01764 684100

Set in a lovely position, only a 10 mintute walk from a good food Pub, 9 miles West of Perth, perfectly positioned to enjoy Perthshire and beyond. Edinburgh and Glasgow airports an hour's drive.

Welcome to our Duncrub Holidays Blog

Welcome to Duncrub Holiday’s first ever Blog. When we started self catering (we think it was 1974) the Internet and a web site was just make believe. Our first website was in 1995 and our current one is our third. What a mound of information we can provide visitors now!

Both the Chapel House and the Tower House have wireless internet access which makes it even easier to access all the information you need on holiday. We wondered if our 19th century chapel would be able to accommodate such technology, but it's there and working.

We provide as much flexibility on booking dates as far as possible a completely flexible approach to length of stay and date of arrival and departure. We are constantly looking for ways to improve our service and get some great ideas from guests so please do not hesitate to contact us at any time.

We offer a 10% discount on a second week booked and a 10% discount on a return visit in the same year. We will be using our Blog to bring you samples of great value for money breaks available to book. At any time you can check availability, prices or book. Select either the Chapel House or the Tower House, click the "availability and booking" button and follow the instructions. Our 2010 prices can be seen now, or call us on 01764 684100

The Chapel House, opened in 1994, sleeps 4 (though we do have a folding bed for an extra person) and it is perfect for family holidays, short breaks, business trips, visiting friends and relatives, bringing your dog, and the downstairs en suite bedroom has been occupied several times by wheelchair users. The dining room doors open on to the patio and enclosed garden and there are only a few steps to the West door to the nave of the chapel where guests can unwind at the end of a day out, or stay-at-home day, playing table tennis or badminton. The sitting room make over, undertaken last winter, has been very well received by all our regular guests.

In the Tower House, opened in 1998, we replaced the bedroom ceiling and new cherubs adorn the blue skies and clouds above the bed. Technology has moved on so much we do not need some of the clutter in the sitting room area so we plan a few changes there over the next few months. No dogs accepted in Tower House – it just wouldn’t be suitable. The stone spiral staircase leading from the ground floor to the first floor causes a few initial gasps, but it does not take long to get used to them. The ultimate romantic break for 2.

Scotland is full of surprises and experience tells us that visitors to Scotland love the hues and tones of the heather-clad hills, the light evenings in the summer months, and wonderful autumn colours. In the off-season Scotland’s scenery can be particularly rewarding.

With everything to offer from a ceilidh to a classical concert, gardens to grand castles, golf courses, whisky distilleries, restaurants and much, much more……..Duncrub Holiday homes offer an ideal setting from which to explore Scotland’s glorious scenery, history and culture together with a very warm welcome.