Scottish Orchid Society@dundarach

This weekend sees the beginning of Perthshire Amber with Dougie McLean taking his show on the road round different venues in the county, including the the Cranogg on Loch Tay. Guest appearances from Eddi Reader, Beoga, and Malinky to mention some of them, ticket sales are good.

The Enchnted Forest speeds dizzily along, Haloween theme now, the town street continues to bustle with extraordinary activity. Dundarach was voted the most "scary castle" in town for Haloween this year. The fancy dress was a big event this time round, all entrants received a bag of sweeties. The firewaork on atholl Road, memorable.

Orchid growers decended on Dundarach, en mass for their annual general meeting, complete with their entries to the competition for the most interesting or extravagant blooms. It is a 3 day event, now in its 1th year at Dundarach.

The captain of the last wooden whale boat in Scotland called in to hire a van, enabling the transport of a 7 foot scale model of the whaler itself to Christian Salvesen Ltd.

its the enchanted forest

Well, it's come around once more. The Autumn Festival in Pitlochry. The street is full of people, there are buskers up and down Atholl Road and the transports are busy ferrying the happy people to the woods round Loch Dunmore for this years "Enchanted forest" Big bucks have been spent this year, providing a more complete evening of entertainment. One good thing about it is it gives the visitors a walk in the woods as opposed to a sedentary experience. Interestingly, a Kelpie has moved into the cellar here. We hope he moves on in 2 weeks when its all over. Brrr! Im shivering just thinking about it. Guest appearance from Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster and some beings from Outer Space, complete with Glasgow accents. All in all a great diversion for participants and spectators alike.

Birds of Prey

This week, full 7 days, sees an international conference of people from the RRF or Raptor Research Foundation. The main event is in the Atholl Palace hotel with Dundarach hosting people from Portugal, Spain, USA, (Mississippi, Idaho, Ohio, Passadena, Connecticut,CalifornisSweden, British RSPB, Denmark, Italy, Wales, Norway, Australia, Israel + a few more!.

summer scorcher offer

The summer scorcher offer was fully subscribed and this evening, the "scorcher II's" are finishing their dinners as I write, dark at 8.45 tonight. We have had 3 days of sunshine and it has been lovely. Autumn is not quite here, only a few leaves turning yellow. Tonights dinner menu featured , to quote 3 examples from the 16 choices, a starter, 3 layered vegetable terrine with a balsamic reduction, a main course, Leg of Perthshire lamb, cooked on sprigs of rosemary and served with mint sauce, dessert, gooseberry sponge pudding, flavoured with pudding spices and served with ice cream and cream.

The squirrels are busy cuting hazel nuts and ferrying them across the lawn, to bury them beneath the copper beech tree. The hotel cat spends much time stalking and chasing but she is no match for a couple wiley red squirrels.

While up Craigower Hill this week we were able to see the common lizards there

basking in the hot sunshine obviously, they are prospering, thanks to the hibernation mound provided for them to help their overwintering.

end of august

Pitlochry Station from the footbridge

The Dundarach has been its usual bustling self. There are more and more Japanese visiting, as the film has been re released of the Soseki Natsume visit to Dundarach 100 years ago. The one where Mr Derek Smail plays the part of Mr Dixon, the kilted proprietor of Dundarach in the 1900's. Mr Soseki arrives by train and comes along to Dundarach. We re-enact the visit and the famous poem called "old days". An observation that captures the spirit of the times. All in Japanese, of course.

The gardens here look good, the hebaceous plants are likeing the moisture and the rowan trees are now covered in red berries, the blackbirds are enjoying the feast.

The Lower Gate Lodge, the one we built a couple of years ago is now weathered down to a mellow look, all the customers say they like it.

Nights are drawing in, dark at 9.30 pm now.

gto's and tractors

tractor rally in the field here, this afternoon, sunday 17th July 2009

a nice sunny day.

Nobody came to dinner until the open championship golf finished, stewart Cink is the champion.

Top picture, mitsubishi sports cars on a day in Pitlochry.

Spanish twitchers and Dutch striders

The hotel has been totally filled with guests from all over again.
A party of Nederlanders are here for a 3 day walking visit to Pitlochry.

The spaniard, here to watch sea eagles and ospreys etc.

More dutch on Distillery and castle visits

More good weather with a bit of rain at night, perfect

comments of customer from County Cork

I was staying in Dundarach last night, room 20. It was the best night ever. The whole hotel is the best. The food was perfect. Our hotel is beautiful. I love it.
Lots of Love, Rebekah Gleeson. age10

ps it is the best hotel in the world.

HIGHLAND NIGHT pitlochry

Now the monday night entertainment on the field is well under way. Beautiful sunny evenings with the Pipe band playing are so inspiring. There are visiting choirs and bands too, from Norway for example, all joining in to make memorable evenings.

7 weddings at Dundarach Hotel

Then some dutch people came for a couple of days and 14 of them, 7 couples, had been married in the morning, at Gretna Green!! The hotel was called upon to produce a wedding cake for the multi nuptial feast, big enough for 30 people, at short notice. 4 more days of good sunny weather then a thunder storm today.

early June

The last week has been glorious. This afternoon there is a High Tea in from Hamilton, above a picture of what they are eating, + fish and chips of course. The season continues for the hotel with many lunch guests from Japan, they have a set Salmon lunch and come to visit the place their famous author stayed, he was Soseki Natsume.

Other guests from England, Scotland, German guests in a coach and bikers from Holland.

The 2 John-o Groats to Lands End cyclists, Rob and Dave reached their destination eventually and phoned to let us know.

Weekend excitement at Pitlochry hotel

The bank holiday dawned and the hotel was fully booked.

Some charity cyclists, coming from Alness, failed to arrive on time, then , late on, one was helped in, suffering from exhaustion. His colleague arrived later still, though still on his bike. After a good nights rest and a breakfast they both rode off, into the morning. They phoned that evening, from Lanark, fit and well, having completed another 100 miles.

A group of Italian mature students were here, practising english for a couple of nights.

Some late night arrival Hindustanis taught us how to brew "chai" which includes boiling the milk and tea together to make a strong brew, with many sugars.

It was the start of Pitlochry Golf Week, the annual partners golf tournament, the weather was good. It continues on 'til Saturday

Blair Atholl Highland gathering on saturday 23rd and the games on the Sunday, everyone went to it.

All in all a really busy time.

Whisky Galore, the musical

Opening night for this new musical adaption of the famous tale. The cast are spectacular, our favourites were the irascable Mrs Campbell who is finally civilised by the effects or the water of life. Equally good, the catholic priest, who incidentally did 2 bagpipe numbersas well as carrying the role of bar fly and pastor. The west coast accents were perfect. The whole performance was a really enjoyable evenings entertainment. Recommended to all.

Race cycles for Etape in Dundarach Hotel

So the hotel filled up with cyclists overnight, they are doing the closed road Etape timed trial/race. A unique event for amateurs and pros alike. They ate porridge and bananas for breakfast and were out for the 07.00 hrs start, on Atholl Road. It turned into a nice day in the Vale of Atholl but we don't know how it'll be up Rannoch way. The photos are of the cycles in Dundarach conservatory.

A guide for our German Guests

Ein herzliches Willkommen

Die Tatsache, die so viele Gäste Zum Dundarach Hotel Jahr für Jahr zurückkehren, ist Zeugnis zum besonderen Vergnügen, das es versorgt, ein freundlicher Empfang, ausgezeichnete Speise und alle im ruhigen Trost vom Tal des Pitlochry die hervorragende Landschaft.

Ob es Geschäfts oder Vergnügen ist, können Sie nicht helfen aber können entspannen und können hier abwickeln. Eine seltene Vermischung der Zufriedenstellung erwartet Sie in einer Landschaft von inrivalled natürlicher Schönheit, die Hochland Perthshire ist.

Um das Hotel

Stehen in umfangreichen Böden auf der südlichen Kante von dieser angenehmen Hochlandstadt, ist Der Dundarach ein Hotel in 1935 geworden. Die Eigentümer freuen sich auf Machen, der Sie in diesem eleganten und traditionellen ehemaligen Weinkaufmann willkommen heißen‘ s Heim. Sie werden probieren können die ursprüngliche Atmosphäre vom Haus ohne die Höhe von Trost zu beeinträchtigen und Sie zu warten, erwarten von Ihrem Hotel.

Das Hotel bietet eine angenehme Lounge an, ununterbrochene Blicke von den umgebenden Hügeln zu geben, kennzeichnend ein Stab, wo Sie viele besondere Malzewhiskys und ein ausgezeichnetes Restaurant probieren können, schottisches Bodenprodukt, eine Qualitätweinkarte und hervorragendes Decor.

Alle 40 Schlafzimmer sind daran anschließend, einige neue und einige traditionelle. Es gibt Direktwahlentelefone, machend heißes Getränk Einrichtungen, Haar dryers und Farbfernseher mit Satelliten.

Versuchen Sie einen Geschmack von Schottland

Diese berühmte Landschaft bietet Sie deshalb viel an. Sie werden finden eine Fülle verschiedenen Hügels, Flussufers und Wälderspaziergänge. Es gibt Golf, allen Handikaps und Anfängern und Lachs anzupassen, die für das erfahrene im Fluss Tummel unter dem Hotel fischen. Es gibt auch das “Theater in den Hügeln”, eine Welt berühmte lebende Künste erfahren für alle. Sie können probieren oder können nachgeben, sich anzupassen.

Sie können die stattlichen und alten Burgen von Glamis, Scone, Menzies und Blair besuchen, eine Epoche schottischer Geschichte in der Örtlichkeit. Im Hochlandspielfeld neben dem Hotel während Sommers, gibt es wöchentliche Leistungen durch das Tal von Athol Rohr Band. Sie können lernen ungefähr Malzwhisky, und wie es es von den zwei Brennereien hier in der Stadt gemacht und ist probiert ist.

Von hier Ihnen können das Ganze vom Hochlandgebiet oder nur Töpfer entlang des byways von Rannoch, Atholl und Killiecrankie in dieser ruhigen friedlichen Welt bereisen

9th May

The hotel has been quiet this past week. Bluebells and rhododendrons now surround it. There has been the occasional honeymoon couple staying. Pitlochry self drive, the car hire company are getting more vehicles ready for the summer season. New receipies for the menu this year include monk fish, orange and sweet chili fishcakes. New birds in the ground are siskins, which feed on Nijer thistle seed. Next weekend, Friday the Theatre opens for the summer season and Sunday the big event of May, Etape, the closed road cycle race. Look out for disruption on sunday on the roads

the lovely spring goes on ! ! !

Lots of nice weather and everybody is out and about in the countryside.

Lambs are skipping round the meadows by the River Tummel.

Customers this week include more walkers, bikers and river rafters.

Pitlochry is looking pristine and groomed, thanks to the local voluntary groups and Perth and Kinross council.

16th April 2009

The hotel is full, 50 Netherlanders, holidaymakers from all over Britain too. The weather remains fine and dry. More white water rafters and canyoners are with us. They are lively in the bar. Mountain bikers hiring from escape route, along the lane.

Garden looks good, 1st plum blossom showed 15th edible cherry blossom today. Rhododendron blooms beginning.

7 reasons to stay at Dundarach

1. Service with a smile. Nothing is too much trouble for staff at the Dundarach.

2. Inependent Spirit. A family run establishment where things are just a little different from the chain hotels.

3. Great Deals. There are some high value offers circulating. Seek and you will find.

4. Pitlochry Festival. The summer fest runs from 15th May then there's the Autumn one following, in Oct.

5. Think local. The hotel uses locally sourced produce where possible. Highlights are Venison, Perthshire lamb and Angus beef. We normally use Scottish salmon, trout, sustainable haddock from the North Sea, farmed halibut from Shetland.

6. Pitlochry in Bloom. The bloom towns of Britain have enjoyed huge success from the local effort to beautify out towns and Pitlochry is no different. Hanging baskets and large landscape items are all on the agenda here in the Perthshire Highlands.

7. Easy parking. Don't leave your pride and joy on the street, park it at Dundarach and be secure in the knowledge that you are well away form the hurly burly of the main centre. 3 or 4 minutes on foot.

Easter weekend is over. Monday evening 13th April 9

Dundarach is quiet once more following on from some large groups, as well as our regular customers. A German couple who married at Gretna Green bringing 40 of their family with them, have gone on to Edinburgh.

Looking out from the restaurant the daffodil lawn , with its nodding thousands, is really very nice. The first azaleas are opening. Weather is still good, dry and sunny.

The decorated easter egg competition provided entertainment for the children, who had to collect items from the garden then they came to the kitchen where the workshop taught them how to join in and make the traditional "pasche egg";- using onion skins, flowers and daffodil leaves. Joint winners Natalie and Beth aged 8 and 9.

dundarach pitlochry hotel 10april 2009

This is the first news item from Dundarach Hotel.

Easter weekend is busy with lots of people from Scotlands central belt, Carluke, Biggar, Edinburgh, Glasgow and the oil capital, Aberdeen. Also Germany.

The highlands look great, the colours of winter are changing into the colours of spring. Lots of people are here for white water rafting, countryside walks, including hill walks and "mountain" biking.

The foreign visitors are here to see Blair castle and the malt whisky distilleries.