Activity: A Slow Summer Stay at Guardswell Farm
In the fast-paced world of constant notifications and the quiet pressure to be “always on”, slow living becomes less of a luxury and more of a necessity. Late Summer, the season of Lùnastal, when the light softens and the land invites rest, is the perfect time to step back. Guardswell, a secluded hillside retreat in Perthshire, is one of the most grounding places I know to do exactly that.
At Guardswell, simplicity is the balm: a cup of tea by the stove, the scent of freshly washed linen, a warm shower at the end of the day, fresh country air rolling through the windows. You wake to a cockerel, not a phone. You watch sheep graze across the hillside instead of watching your inbox climb. The panoramic views quieten the mind almost instantly.
When we arrived for a slow Summer break, I realised just how much my body needed the pause. We let ourselves simply be: wandering through meadows, greeting the chickens, cooking over an open fire, sitting with the long, quiet views from the Pendicle down to the Carse of Gowrie. I devoured books from cover to cover without a hint of guilt. Sunrise and sunset poured through the picture windows and we watched every shift in the light. It felt like remembering how to breathe.
Guardswell has a way of coaxing you back into yourself. Even with my best intentions, I’m not always good at slowing down, but here I embody it fully. Time stretches. Thoughts soften. Nature does its work. Few places allow me to switch off completely, yet Guardswell is one of the rare ones that does.
If you plan a slow Summer stay, here are a few gentle ideas for your trip:
Visit Kenmore and take in the views of Loch Tay
Stop at Aran Bakery in Dunkeld and its sister shop, Lon
Walk at Loch of the Lowes nature reserve to spot red squirrels and birds of prey
Thrift your way through the small towns — there are treasures everywhere
Browse independent shops, including Homer and The Watermill in Aberfeldy
Enjoy dinner or mocktails at the Grandtully Hotel by Ballintaggart
For something indulgent, afternoon tea at Gleneagles (and a wander around the kitchen garden)
A slow Scottish Summer staycation, rooted in land, light and rest: the perfect way to honour the season of Lùnastal.
