It’s already a haven for walkers, cyclist and nature lovers with its abundance of wildlife and stunning scenery. Now, Atholl Estates, the 145,000-acre estate which is home to Blair Castle and is part of the southern end of the Cairngorms National Park, is going one step further to give visitors a real “getaway” from the stresses and interruptions of the 21st century.
Next year, the estate will introduce six eco-friendly woodland “pods” – an alternative to camping in a tent – to woods near Glen Tilt. To ensure the woods stay as peaceful and quiet as possible, guests will be given a special wheelbarrow to transport their belongings from the car park to the pods.
Mike Dukes, from Atholl Estates, said: “We are delighted to announce that these holiday pods are coming to the estate. They will provide our guests with a wilderness feel without the effort of trekking with a heavy load, or having to set up a tent. They also have the security of a solid structure and offer a feeling of extra space due to the domed shape of the pods. We think they will be very popular with a sector of our clientele who already enjoy camping, but perhaps want to try something a bit different.”
With no electricity, the pods have a very low carbon footprint and will appeal to environmentally aware tourists.
“The Glen Tilt woodland is clearly spectacular and a haven for many species of flora and fauna. These pods are designed to cause minimal disruption to the woodland on installation, as they don’t need foundations or utility provision,” said Mike.
“There will be no vehicular accuse to this area of the woodland, either. Guests will arrive at the caravan park reception to pick up the keys and will then be directed to the Glen Tilt car park, where a designated space will be provided for them. They will wheelbarrow their belongings along an existing foot track to reach the pods. We want to ensure the pod wood is as peaceful and quiet as possible,” he added.
The pods will be dotted about the trees to form a small community which will still have easy access to estate amenities and facilities such as pony trekking, castle tours, 4×4 Land Rover Safaris and tractor tours,” said Mike.
The pods are expected to be ready for use by guests by March 28, 2015.
Contact: www.atholl-estates.co.uk