Latest news with #HighlandPerthshire
Telegraph
19-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
I stayed in one of the multimillion-pound Omaze houses. This is what it was like
Every time I pick up my phone for a guilty scroll on Instagram, or turn on the TV mid-day, there it is: an advert for Omaze. It's usually a jolly media personality extolling the virtues of the latest prize – a swimming pool here, a cinema there. The company has recognised something in the British public that has enabled them to captivate the nation; our love of a good raffle mixed with our addiction to property porn, tied up with a neat feel-good factor bow (a guaranteed minimum donation of £1m and 17 per cent of ticket sales from each draw go to charity). The prize may be a multimillion pound house, but – with upkeep costs sky high – an overwhelming trend has seen all but a handful of the 39 winners to date choose to sell up and cash out, rather than move in. Indeed, April's prize, a Highland Perthshire property on the banks of Loch Rannoch, won by 81-year-old Patricia Moule, went on the market almost immediately – at the end of June – and is currently listed on Rightmove for £3,975,000. There is one alternative, however: renting out the property to holidaymakers. This is what Lisa Morgan chose to do, after she won a £4.5m home in Cornwall, along with £250,000 in cash, in September 2024 (and hit the headlines when she turned up for her 11.5 hour shift as an NHS nurse in Merseyside the next day). Her home, Seahorses, in Maenporth near Falmouth, is one of just two properties in the UK openly advertised as an Omaze-winner's home – the other being Post Knott Lodge in Bowness-on-Windermere in the Lake District. The opportunity for a real-life snoop around one of these media-famous houses was too tempting an opportunity to pass up, so I tracked Seahorses down on Cornish Holiday Cottages, booked in, and bundled my family off for a weekend by the sea. I'll admit, the struggle to get our compact crossover SUV up the steep incline approaching the house filled me with a sudden apprehension – but once I was out of the car, punching in the code for the electric gate and confronted with the spectacular views, my fears abated. If the south Cornwall coast is good for anything, it's a touch of drama. It was a rare, sunny day in early May with clear blue skies and a bracing breeze, and across the lawn I could see straight out to sea, with Falmouth blinking in the sun on the horizon. I traced the coastal path – accessible through the gate at the end of the garden – scrawling away through the lush green clifftops opposite, the grass dropping into dramatic granite grey towards the crashing seas below, while Pendennis Castle stood in stately, historic contrast to the glass-clad luxury home beside me. 'Swimming pool!' screamed my three-year-old son, breaking me from my quiet moment of wonder. The family had begun exploring, and my husband was already rolling back the electric top on the outdoor heated pool – my children watching, delighted, from the safety of the pool house. Seahorses feels like the sort of place that's been designed so that you hardly ever need to leave it – and over the next three days, aside from a trip to a local supermarket (to supplement the lovely Cornish Food Box which was left for us), and a spot of exploring, we barely did. Open plan in design, its two lounges have very distinct purposes: a smaller room with sofas, an Xbox and even a VR headset was clearly intended for teens; while a larger communal living space was connected to the kitchen and offered sublime sea views. There were also indoor and outdoor dining areas, a barbecue, fire pit, hot tub, four additional bedrooms – all with electronic blinds – multiple bathrooms, a boot room and utility space. There was even a wine room – although this, sadly (if not unsurprisingly), had not been stocked. But the highlight (for me at least) was the turret, reached by a winding, wooden, floating staircase, at the top of which was a desk and telescope, and a door opening onto a large, private terrace complete with sun loungers. A sun trap with outstanding views. 'From the moment I walked into the house I knew I had to keep it,' Morgan told me. 'The emotion I felt was quite overwhelming, knowing what I was about to give to my family.' A flick through the guest book made it clear that this generosity has been felt far beyond her own family, however. Inside, I found personal messages that suggested fond familiarity with the owner, signed off in shortened names and with kisses. 'This house couldn't have 'happened' to a nicer, [more] hard-working family,' one read. 'Memories made to last a lifetime,' said another. Morgan's passion for the home is undeniable. 'The decision to set Seahorses up as a holiday home was an easy choice because we didn't want to leave it empty for long periods of time,' she told me. 'I want others to be able to share in the magic and make lasting happy memories here. Families these days are so spread out, and Seahorses is an ideal place to bring everyone back together.' Her words are borne out in love and care which has clearly gone into making the house feel like a home. It's packed with thoughtful details – a wide variety of glass types (essential), plenty of washing powder, and baskets of blankets dotted throughout the common spaces, allowing you to roll back the doors and let the cool, refreshing sea air roll in while keeping warm. What was missing? Shampoo – though, to be fair, this is an omission typical of many a self-catering property. And search though I did across the many, many drawers of the five large bedrooms, I could not find a hairdryer (a small inconvenience, I know, but when there's a VR headset downstairs, a somewhat surprising one). Otherwise, however, our every need had been met. We also made time for a bit of exploring – or as much as you can do with a one- and three-year-old in tow – heading out for a walk along the undulating coast path (my son more interested in the discovery of abundant sticky weed than the views), and making the two-minute drive down to Maenporth Beach, where there was plenty of parking, soft sand and a café. The children also enjoyed nearby Trebah gardens, an eight-minute drive to the west, where a great adventure playground, small beach and – as the name suggests – pretty gardens made for a lovely day out. For those keen to venture further, popular Falmouth is just 10 minutes away by car (or 45 minutes on foot), and links by tiny ferry to even more popular St Mawes across the Carrick Roads estuary. It's a wonderful part of the world – but lovely as it was to explore the area (and put some money in the pockets of local businesses), it was even more lovely to come back to Seahorses each time; our tucked-away, temporary idyll. After a weekend of bubbling in the hot tub, splashing in the pool and barbecuing by the open log fire, my family returned home, as promised, with memories to last a lifetime. And, in my case, a monthly subscription to Omaze. Essentials Penny Walker was a guest of Cornish Holiday Cottages (01326 250339). Seahorses has five bedrooms (sleeps up to 10) and six bathrooms, plus a hot tub, swimming pool, electric car point, dishwasher and woodburner. It is also pet-friendly. There is limited availability in August and September, although the calendar opens up in October. From £3,096 a week.
The Courier
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Courier
How Pitlochry tourist office closure sparked resurgence of printed tour guides
It's an open secret that Pitlochry is one of Scotland's most popular destinations, but when the tourist information centre closed last year, visitors found themselves somewhat lost. And in the age of digital first, it's perhaps expected for the company printing physical tour guides to see a continuing decline in the number of maps they manufacture. But not so for Explore Scotland. The makers of Explore Pitlochry and Highland Perthshire are instead experiencing a significant boom. And this year they've printed off 70,000 physical guides to meet anticipated demand. The business has worked with Pitlochry artist Dylan Gibson to reflect how the area has changed over the past three decades. Highland Perthshire companies have also welcomed the surge in guide use, allowing them to advertise prominently to tourists seeking somewhere to stay. The guides have been circulating in Pitlochry and Perthshire for 30 years. And when the new custodians of the maps, Marius and Angela Bezuidenhout took over during the pandemic, the expectation was for around 40,000 of them to be used seasonally at most. So in September last year, when VisitScotland shuttered their Atholl Road offices, they thought they would end up making fewer maps, as tourists turn to Google Maps and Amazon Kindle digital versions. But the opposite has happened, says co-director Marius. 'The demand has been unprecedented,' he said. 'We are already having requests for restocks. 'People probably thought that the printed tourist guide was dead, with everything moving online. It seems not. It is actually more popular now than it has been for years.' Head of design and development, Ali Penman, added: 'The previous owners and producers did a great job and published the Guide for 30 years. 'However, when the tourist office closed, there was no information that hotels, B&Bs and businesses that cater for tourists, could leave for guests. 'What it also shows is that Highland Perthshire remains a destination that visitors from near and far want to come to.' First published in 1997, the guide has recently benefitted from an update, upgrading old maps of Highland Perthshire towns which had not kept pace with new buildings and historic sites. The new hand-drawn maps have been commissioned from Pitlochry-based illustrator, Dylan Gibson, who has also incorporated popular walks on the new maps. 'Marius wanted to produce a definitive map of the area which tourists could use as a physical map and take with them, explore the town and the surrounding area. 'Some of the existing maps went back 20 years or more,' Dylan said. The guide nods towards changing visitor trends with QR Codes now placed on the maps, offering additional online access. But even with 10,000 downloads to Kindle last season, demand for an old fashioned paper map is higher by a factor of seven. 'The guide has been a remarkable journey,' added co-director Angela. 'People love accessing trip information and booking from phones but they also appreciate something physical that they can keep, even as a memento.'
The Courier
22-04-2025
- Business
- The Courier
High street round-up: Fife publican's 3rd venue, Dundee Overgate shop closure and Perth Costa opens
A Fife publican is opening her third venue, while changes at the Overgate in Dundee and in Perth city centre are among the other developments on local high streets. The Courier has rounded up the latest from pubs, restaurants and shops across Tayside, Fife and Stirling in one handy place. Our regular updates will bring you up to speed with what's going on in your local high streets and shopping centres. Lauren Hutchison, 26, who already runs The Steadings and Alfie's in Kirkcaldy, has taken over The Glen Tavern in Dunfermline – promising 'positive changes'. The Pittencrieff Street venue shut suddenly in February when the firm previously running it went into liquidation. A new tenant is being sought for a historic former Bridge of Allan pub and restaurant. The Old Bridge Inn on Inverallan Road, which dates from 1710, is being offered for lease as a 'rare opportunity'. Kirkcaldy's former Society nightclub has reopened as The Venue. Ross Anderson, 37, has taken over the Charlotte Street building alongside a group of silent investors with The Courier invited for a first look. An image of a new McDonald's restaurant planned for Dundee has been revealed as part of a public consultation. Readers of The Courier have also reacted to the plans for the firm's fourth city outlet. A new Costa store in Perth has opened despite damage to its store window. Costa Coffee has relocated from its Scott Street unit to High Street. A Dundee cafe is set to open a new coffee shop in St Andrews. Empire State Coffee is taking over the former Rocca Italian deli on the Fife town's Bell Street. A Stirlingshire cafe and deli is set to close after 12 'wonderful' years. Rhubarb Lime on Main Street in Kippen will shut on May 25 with owner Shona Sanders thanking customers. Pizza Hut has confirmed its new location in Stirling. The chain will move into the former Papa John's unit on Goosecroft Road in the coming weeks from its former home on Cowane Street. Restaurants across Tayside, Fife and Stirling have been recognised at the Scottish Curry Awards 2025. The 17th annual awards were held in Glasgow last week. A Highland Perthshire woman who beat cancer has opened a new coffee truck on the banks of Loch Tay. Santra Taylor, 41, opened Tay-Lawers Coffee in Ardeonaig on Friday. A shopkeeper in Dunkeld is urging the public to buy local after a closure scare. Munur Kara paused trading at the shop for several weeks, citing financial hurdles faced by small businesses, and says he can only survive with help from the public. The Regatta shop in Dundee's Overgate shopping centre is to shut. Signs advertising a closing-down sale appeared in the shop window last week. Fife Council has asked for more time to decide on plans for a new Lidl supermarket in Dunfermline. Details of some objections to the plans for the former King Malcolm Hotel site have also been revealed. Another retail building on the Murraygate in Dundee city centre has been put up for sale. The unit currently houses Horeb Food Company on the ground floor and The Hair Lounge on the two upper floors, which have long-term leases. A barbershop in Crieff that was run by the same owner for more than 50 years has come onto the market. Naismith's on East High Street – also known as Johnny the Barbers – has been put up for sale. A new beauty salon has opened in Dundee offering hairdressing, makeup and men's hair loss services. Niamh Kilcullen and Caitlin Harris, both 24, have opened Blend Studios in a former window showroom on Mains Road on the edge of Hilltown. Danish furniture and homeware brand Sostrene Grene is opening in the Thistles shopping centre in Stirling this summer. The firm – which has an outlet in Dundee's Overgate – will move into a unit next to Superdrug.
