Nestling like a white jewel in the dramatic Highland Perthshire landscape, Blair Castle has a centuries old history as a strategic stronghold at the gateway to the Grampians and the route north to Inverness. Famous as the last castle to be held under siege in 1746, Blair Castle is the ancient seat of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl and the home of the Atholl Highlanders, Europe’s only remaining private army. More than 30 rooms are on display, full of treasures and alive with the characters and personalities of their former occupants. Highlights of the visit include: the magnificent ballroom bedecked with 175 pairs of antlers; the superb China Room featuring more than 1700 individual pieces and an ornamental Victorian armoury housing a targe used at the Battle of Culloden. There are also paintings by Sir Edwin Landseer, fine mortlake tapestries and plasterwork by Thomas Clayton. Gardens & Grounds Blair Castle is at the hub of a breath-taking historic landscape most of which was laid out in the 18th century and features a beautiful 9 acre walled garden with landscaped ponds, a peaceful wooded grove home to some of the countries tallest trees, a ruined Celtic kirk; a red deer park and a whimsical gothic folly. Children will also enjoy the castle’s woodland adventure playground.