Monzie Estate

Dressed up because it’s not every Sunday you get invited to a castle! Our dates finally aligned to be able to stay at the Monzie Estate, the family home of David and Alexandra Crichton. When his father’s passing left him clan chief, they moved back from their jobs in London and New York to take on the monumental task of restoring the castle, the joinery and historical hydroelectric plant that his grandfather dreamt up in 1950s, after returning home from WW2. Soon after, the local council diverted the water and he had to take them to court for enough to power the 200kW run.

The hydro was producing 20kW per hour during our ad-hoc science lesson for the kids, but does 120kW in winter using water piped from the hill streams, to serve the whole village with renewable energy, no small thing in a year when power prices have moved from 3 to 19 cents. They do beautiful kitchen outfitting work at the Monzie Joinery and run simple but stylish and comfortable cottage lets and The Mill B&B- I would highly recommend staying here for a really unique experience. The kids loved having free run of the 4000 acres, the long barley-field walks are peaceful, the couple and their young family are so kind and hardworking- Monzie self catering cottages, Crieff, Perthshire