Wester Auchraw Croft Holistic B&B

25/08/2026

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25/08/2026

Ben Vorlich from Loch Earn

That mountain rising in the distance is Ben Vorlich, standing at 985 metres above beautiful Loch Earn.

I took this photograph while cycling National Cycle Route 7, which passes through Lochearnhead — another adventure you can enjoy while staying at Wester Auchraw Croft.

Why rush through this part of Scotland when there is so much to discover?

Stay for a few nights and make the croft your base. Climb Ben Vorlich, cycle Route 7, wild swim in Loch Earn, explore the villages and landscapes along the Heart 200, discover ancient sites and castles, and finish the day with dinner at one of the wonderful restaurants around Loch Earn, Balquhidder, St Fillans and Comrie.

Then come home to the croft, sleep deeply and wake up to breakfast before choosing your next adventure.

Stay. Explore. Slow down.
Book direct at Wester Auchraw Croft and discover the Heart of Scotland from our door.

27/07/2026

One of my favourite morning outings from Wester Auchraw Croft...

After breakfast, I often recommend guests take the short drive along Loch Earn to St Fillans.

Standing silently in the loch is the beautiful mirrored sculpture Still. Every visit is different. Sometimes it almost disappears into the landscape, reflecting the water and mountains so perfectly. Other mornings it catches the first golden light, becoming a shining figure against the Highlands.

It isn't just something to photograph.

It's somewhere to pause.

To breathe.

To watch the clouds rolling over the mountains and remember that not every journey needs to be rushed.

If you're staying with us, this is just one of the many peaceful places waiting to be discovered within a few minutes of the croft.

Breakfast at the croft.
A scenic drive beside Loch Earn.
A quiet moment with one of Scotland's most remarkable sculptures.

Sometimes the simplest mornings become the ones you remember most.

📍Wester Auchraw Croft, Lochearnhead
Book direct for the best rates: www.westerauchrawcroft.com

13/07/2026

10/07/2026

Did Wester Auchraw Croft Stand Before the Battle of Culloden?

One of the questions guests ask most often is whether Wester Auchraw Croft was here during the Battle of Culloden in 1746.

The answer is fascinating.

While the croft you see today was most likely built in the late 18th century, the settlement of Wester Auchraw already existed. Families were farming this land during one of the most significant periods in Scottish history, and the landscape surrounding us would have witnessed the profound changes that followed the Jacobite Rising.

Today, Wester Auchraw Croft remains one of Lochearnhead's rare surviving cruck-framed Highland crofts, lovingly restored while preserving many of its original features. The hand-hewn timber beams, thick stone walls and traditional layout offer a glimpse into how Highland families once lived, worked and gathered around the fire after long days on the land.

Although life is much more comfortable today, staying here still offers something increasingly rare – a chance to slow down and experience a genuine piece of Scotland's living heritage.

Whether you're exploring Loch Earn, walking the surrounding hills, cycling National Cycle Route 7 or simply relaxing beside the wood-burning stove after breakfast, you're becoming part of a story that stretches back more than two centuries.

If you love history, nature and authentic Highland hospitality, we'd love to welcome you to Wester Auchraw Croft.

📍 Wester Auchraw Croft, Lochearnhead, Perthshire
✔ Breakfast included
✔ Dogs welcome
✔ Book direct for the best rates

02/07/2026

Paddle Boarding with Your Dog – A Quiet Loch Near Loch Earn

One of the joys of staying at Wester Auchraw Croft is discovering the quieter corners of the Highlands that rarely appear in guidebooks.

Just five minutes from the croft lies one of my favourite little lochs. Hidden amongst woodland and sheltered from the wind, it feels a world away from the busier shores of Loch Earn. In early summer, the water becomes dotted with white and yellow water lilies while dragonflies skim across the surface and the only sounds are birdsong and the gentle splash of a paddle.

It's one of those places that rewards slowing down.

This morning Georgina headed out with our dog on the paddleboard. Dogs often take to paddleboarding surprisingly well. Once they realise the board is stable, many are perfectly happy standing at the front, watching the world drift by as you quietly explore the shoreline together.

The beauty of paddleboarding with a dog is that there is no rush. You notice things you would otherwise pass by, the reflection of the clouds, the reeds moving beneath the board, the occasional trout breaking the surface and the scent of the surrounding woodland carried across the water.

Although this small loch is only a short drive from Wester Auchraw Croft, it still feels wonderfully private. It is one of several peaceful places nearby where guests can experience the quieter side of Highland life beyond the well-known beauty spots.

If you're bringing your dog to stay with us and enjoy being on the water, I'd be happy to point you towards a few local locations that suit different weather conditions and experience levels. Some are ideal for an early morning paddle, while others are perfect for an evening when the hills are reflected in still water.

Like all outdoor adventures in Scotland, conditions can change quickly, so always wear appropriate safety equipment, use a buoyancy aid, and only paddle within your ability. Respect wildlife, avoid disturbing nesting birds and leave these beautiful places exactly as you found them.

Sometimes the best memories aren't made by travelling further—they're made by quietly sharing a board with your dog on a hidden Highland loch, watching the lilies drift past beneath a wide Scottish sky.

30/06/2026

A hidden wild swimming place near Loch Earn.

There are places that reveal themselves quickly, and others that ask something of you before they share their beauty.

The Emerald Pool is one of those places.

Tucked away beneath an ancient canopy of oak, birch and moss-covered rock, this quiet waterfall has become one of my favourite places to return to throughout the seasons. In summer, sunlight dances through the leaves, turning the water into shades of emerald and jade. After heavy rain, the waterfall gathers strength, filling the pool with its constant song.

It is not simply somewhere to swim.
It is somewhere to arrive.

Over the years I have come to believe that knowing a place in nature is much like making a new friend. You cannot rush the relationship. You return, you observe, you listen and, slowly, trust grows. Every season reveals something different. The light changes. The birds change. The scent of the woodland changes. Eventually, the place begins to feel familiar, and you begin to understand its character.

Wild places deserve that same courtesy.

Before entering the water, pause for a moment. Watch how the current moves. Feel the temperature. Notice the rocks beneath your feet. Ask yourself whether today is the right day. Nature is generous, but it is never something to conquer. It asks only that we meet it with humility, patience and respect.

Those who do are often rewarded with moments that stay with them for years.

The Emerald Pool is one of several beautiful wild swimming locations within easy reach of Wester Auchraw Croft. Some are well known, while others remain quietly hidden among the glens and forests around Loch Earn.

For guests staying at the croft, I'm always happy to share a few of my favourite places, along with advice on the safest conditions, the best time of day to visit, and the quieter corners that many visitors simply pass by.

Some places are best discovered slowly, one conversation at a time.

27/06/2026

The Croft Tea Collection.

Today I gathered the first oregano from our organic garden, now hanging to dry beneath the old cruck beams of Wester Auchraw Croft.

Over the coming weeks it will become part of our own collection of herbal teas, offered to guests staying with us here in the Highlands.

I also love wandering beyond the garden. Today I was foraging near Kenmore, where the mugwort I transplanted last year is now thriving back at the croft.

It's a simple pleasure, but one that reminds me to slow down and notice the abundance all around us.

Read the full story on the blog and discover how our little garden is becoming part of every guest's stay.

👉 Read more: https://www.westerauchrawcroft.com/loch-earn-journal/archives/06-2026

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24/06/2026

Last night I was trying to photograph the yurt, but the camera had other ideas.

Instead of capturing the structure itself, it captured movement, light and mystery. What emerged feels less like a photograph and more like a feeling, a reminder that not everything needs to be sharp and defined to hold beauty.

Sometimes the most meaningful moments come when we stop trying to control the outcome and allow life to create through us.

The yurt has always been a place of rest, stories, laughter and transformation. Somehow this image feels like it captured the spirit of the space rather than its physical form.

A dance of light in the darkness.

22/06/2026

There are places in Scotland that do more than offer a night away.

Beside Loch Earn, the wind through the trees, the changing Highland light and the sound of water have a way of softening the nervous system and altering the inner landscape.

I’ve written a new journal piece on the quiet magic of this place, walking, wild landscapes, rain, firelight, castles, wh**ky distilleries and the warmth of Highland hospitality.

Read it here:







https://www.westerauchrawcroft.com/loch-earn-journal/let-the-highlands-work-their-quiet-magic