The lodge that rocks

Marble Lodge

1 of 6

To get away from the January blues, my fellow three companions and I decided to pack up the car and head off on the long drive north to Blair Atholl, in Scotland.

And Marble Lodge, set on the banks of the River Tilt, provided us with the the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of working life with its remote and peaceful location providing us with the welcomed opportunity to sit back, unwind and enjoy the great outdoors.

With breath-taking panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, the cottage is a rambler’s dream with numerous trails available across the region that caters for all abilities, and with the river only a stone’s throw away, the lodge is also an ideal base for fishing enthusiasts.

But don’t worry, if complete isolation from life gets too much, the lodge has everything you need to provide those craved home comforts, including broadband internet acc - ess, landline telephone connection and a fully-equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, washing machine and tumble dryer.

The cottage is one of many selfcatering lodges owned by Atholl Estates throughout the Perthshire area and this specific accommodation can house up to four people.

However, extreme care must be taken when approaching the lodge, especially in the winter, as the fivemile rocky and icy off-road track proved a difficult task for our heavilyloaded Fiat Punto, with a number of loud scrapes and bumps causing continuous concern.

The lodge was originally a shepherd’s cottage but was given its name after a new road was built in 1815 to a marble quarry just upstream where marble was extracted for the next 15 years. There are still various examples of Glen Tilt marble throughout nearby Blair Castle.

So the morning after arrival, we decided to head back down the track, on foot, towards the castle six miles down the road.

On first sight, you instantly get drawn into the unique white exterior which hides the castle’s true age following several modifications made within the Georgian era. The fortress was one of the first private homes to open to the public and it is filled with ornaments and weapons collected from the numerous dukes that inhabited it.

The corridors are also lined with antlers hanging with pride following numerous hunts throughout the years across the estate and as you stroll around the rooms you really get the feel of the castle once being a loving family home.

The area is also renowned for being the place where Scottish geologist James Hutton found evidence for his theory that molten rock fused together washed away sediments to form new land, a view that at the time was controversial and thrown out by the Royal Society of Edin - burgh but in present day we hold as scientific fact. And for those who love geology, the evidence that Hutton found on the Tilt is as clear now as it was back in 1785 and can be seen in numerous locations along the river banks with unusual jagged shaped rocks coming out at all angles in various different shades of black and grey infused together.

The geologist famously once said, “What more can we require? Nothing, but time,” and that really sums up this trip as two nights just isn’t enough. To compensate the long 450-mile drive from Bedford, you really need at least five days to enjoy everything this lodge has to offer.

After heading back up the path to the lodge, we finished our day by putting our sore, aching feet up, and recovered from a hard day of walking by making good use of the lodge’s open fire to keep us warm. With no television, we bonded over a number of board games and stories.

The lodge really is the perfect location for a family or group of friends to come and enjoy each other’s company.

Infostation 

Ian Ryan stayed at Marble Lodge. Rates start from £455 per week. To book visit www.athollestateslodges.co.uk