Crieff

Crieff is a town in Perth and Kinross on the edge of the Scottish Highlands, with a population in 2021 of 7330. It's a well-preserved Victorian resort town, along with Comrie to the west. The main reason to visit is to see the terraced gardens of Drummond Castle.

Get in
 Perth is the most convenient railway station, with frequent long-distance trains and onward transport. With a bicycle you could get off at Gleneagles near Auchterarder, or at Dunblane.

Citylink Bus 913 runs May-Sept once M-F from Edinburgh, taking 1 hr 50 min via Kinross and Broxden P&R (for Perth). It continues to Comrie, Lochearnhead, Crianlarich, Tyndrum, Glencoe, Ballachulish and Fort William.

Stagecoach Perth Bus 15 runs from Perth along A85 to Crieff, taking 50 min, and continuing to Comrie and Dalginross. It runs hourly M-Sa and every couple of hours Sunday.

Bus 15A runs every couple of hours from Stirling, taking an hour via Bridge of Allan, Dunblane, Braco and Muthill.

Docherty's Bus 18 meanders from Auchterarder via Tullibardine and Muthill to Crieff, taking 25 min. There's three Tu-F and one on Monday.

The main bus stop in Crieff is on High St by McColl's newsagent.

By car follow A9 past Stirling and branch north on A822 at Braco, or from the east take A85 from Perth. If it's a fine day, A823 is a scenic route from Dunfermline over Knock Hill to Yetts of Muckart, then through Glen Devon and Gleneagles.

Get around
You can reach the castle and the distillery on foot. You need wheels to reach the loch in Glen Turret.

Taxis in town are A2B (+44 7708 010432), Brown's Hire (+44 7970 598870) and Crieff Taxis (+44 1764 654620).

See

 * is a ruin of a 15th century parish church within the graveyard of the present church. The 11th-century tower used to be free-standing. There are many other listed buildings in the village, which is pronounced MOOTH-ull.
 * is a small ring of stones of uncertain date, off B8062 just west of Pow Water. Half the fun is finding it, as the stones are low and often obscured by crops.
 * is an attractive little village 7 miles west of Crieff on A85. It sits on the Highland boundary fault line and is the most tremor-prone place in Britain, but they're obviously minor as so many historic buildings stand unscathed. These include the White Church, the grandiose Gothic Parish Church, and a Rennie Mackintosh shop with a turret on the main street. Glen Lednock to the north is a scenic walk, with the river cascading over "The De'il's Cauldron". On B827 a mile south of the village, Cultybraggan Camp is a collection of Nissen huts that once housed the most fervent Nazi POWs, and later became a secret bunker for a post-nuclear command centre.
 * is an attractive little village 7 miles west of Crieff on A85. It sits on the Highland boundary fault line and is the most tremor-prone place in Britain, but they're obviously minor as so many historic buildings stand unscathed. These include the White Church, the grandiose Gothic Parish Church, and a Rennie Mackintosh shop with a turret on the main street. Glen Lednock to the north is a scenic walk, with the river cascading over "The De'il's Cauldron". On B827 a mile south of the village, Cultybraggan Camp is a collection of Nissen huts that once housed the most fervent Nazi POWs, and later became a secret bunker for a post-nuclear command centre.

Do

 * Lady Mary's Walk is a genteel scenic stroll along the River Earn for a mile or so west of town.
 * is an attractive valley north of Crieff. You can drive up the lane as far as the reservoir dam, which creates the loch. A track leads up the glen and onto a ridge, from where you can reach the top of Ben Chonzie, a Munro of 931 m (3054 ft).
 * Golf: Gleneagles Hotel is the top venue, see Sleep. There are three championship courses (King's, Queen's and Centenary) plus the 9-hole par-3 Wee Course.
 * Crieff GC is at the north end of town. The Ferntower course is 6091 yards, par 71. The Dornock is nine holes, so two circuits make 6540 yards, par 64.
 * Comrie GC in that village is nine holes. Twice around off white tees is 5660 yards, par 70.
 * Muthill GC by the castle is 4673 yards, par 66.
 * Muthill GC by the castle is 4673 yards, par 66.


 * Skydive at, which has tandem and beginner courses plus regular jumps for the experienced. Spectators welcome (no pets or alcohol) though you don't see much until the canopies approach for landing. Strathallan Castle opposite the airfield is a private residence and you can't visit.
 * Crieff Highland Gathering is held in mid-August on Market Park, with the next on Su 18 Aug 2024.
 * Blackford Highland Games (a few miles south) are in late May, with the next on Sa 25 May 2024.
 * Balquhidder, Lochearnhead and Strathtyre Highland Games are next held on Sa 20 July 2024 in the park at Lochearnhead, west on A85.

Buy

 * Stores in Crieff are the Co-op (daily 6AM-10PM) and Morrisons (daily 6AM-6PM).

Eat

 * High Street other sit-in choices are Thai Esan, KB's Italian, Craobh, G's Bistro and Delivino.
 * Comrie has Deil's Cauldron, plus Royal Hotel serves non-residents.
 * Comrie has Deil's Cauldron, plus Royal Hotel serves non-residents.

Drink

 * Bars along Crieff main street are Pretoria, The Quaich and The Square. Station Bar is further south along King St.
 * Tower Gastro Pub at 81 East High St has a restaurant and rooms.

Sleep

 * B&Bs line the main street A85 and Burrell St A823, and include Alpine Cottage, Lovat House, Comely Bank, Leven House, The Tower, Fir Tree, Merlindale and Murraypark.
 * Comrie has Comrie Hotel and Royal Hotel.
 * Splurge at
 * Comrie has Comrie Hotel and Royal Hotel.
 * Splurge at
 * Splurge at

Connect
As of April 2024, Crieff, Comrie and their approach roads have 4G from EE and Vodafone, but only a patchy signal from O2 or Three. 5G has reached the A9 but not the Crieff area.

Go next

 * To the east, Perth is the nearest big town.
 * West the A85 leads alongside Loch Earn then towards Loch Tay, Crianlarich and Tyndrum. Stay on it for Oban, or take A82 north to Glencoe and Fort William.
 * Southwest brings you to Dunblane, Stirling and the road to Glasgow.
 * North the A822 winds through the hills towards Aberfeldy and Dunkeld.