The Complete Guide To Crieff, Perthshire
Once a traditional Victoria spa town, Crieff is undergoing something of a transformation - quietly emerging as one of Scotland’s best foodie destinations. Boujie bakeries, delis, stylish bistros, Michelin-starred dining, boutique inns; its culinary reputation is flourishing, and this Perthshire town is fast becoming a treasure trove of great places to eat.
Small, compact, and surrounded by rolling countryside, I first stopped in Crieff on a trip to Aberfeldy and Comrie, planning only to hike the hills above town before moving on. Yet the little town surprised me, and I’ve found myself returning several times since.
Better-known names like Dunkeld, Pitlochry, and Gleneagles often steal the Perthshire spotlight, but we think that Crieff - alongside neighbour Comrie - is evolving into a destination in its own right.
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And just beyond town, the landscape is every bit as special. The hills above Crieff, especially around Loch Turret Reservoir, offer some of my favourite walking in Perthshire. These trails are full of lesser-known corners, with cairns, ridgelines, and gentler lochside paths that feel far removed from the busier routes elsewhere.
Pair a morning on the hills with an afternoon exploring town, and you’ll understand why Crieff lingers long after you leave.
This is our travel guide to Crieff, where to eat, and how to visit.
Quick Guide: The best things to do in Crieff
This is our quick guide to Crieff for busy travellers who want a snapshot, with more details below.
Explore the high street and historic centre.
Cakes and savoury bites at Ems & Co.
Pastries and sourdough from Damsel.
Shop local produce and indie stores.
Bistro lunch at Delivino.
Eat at the historic Coorie Inn.
Tasting menu at Lalique.
Whisky tour & tasting at Glenturret Distillery.
Sweet treats at the Chocolate Galley.
Hiking trails at Loch Turret.
Local art at Strathearn Gallery.
Glamping stay at Braidhaugh.
Day trips to Comrie, Loch Tay, and Aberfeldy.
Where to stay in Crieff
The Murray Park Hotel: for a modern stay in the town.
Merlindale B&B: for a luxury small stay in the town centre.
Braidhaugh Lodges: for luxury glamping, an easy walk from town.
Cairn Lodge: for a lux country house stay in nearby Auchterarder.
Coorie Inn: for boutique rooms and top-notch food in nearby Muthill.
Helpful Guides To Plan Your Perthshire Trip
If you’re planning a trip to Perthshire, we’ve got plenty of Perthshire guides to help you plan. Check out the best places to stay in Perthshire, the most charming Perthshire villages, and detailed guides to Dunkeld, Pitlochry, Comrie, and Aberfeldy. Plus, this forest-and-foodie 3-day getaway.
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Travel tip: The best way to explore Scotland is by driving yourself. We use Discover Cars for our car rental in Scotland, choose full coverage insurance, and opt for trusted companies like Hertz, Enterprise, or Sixt. Book your car with Discover Cars here.
How to spend the perfect day in Crieff
If you only have one day in Crieff, this is how to have the perfect day:
Pastries & sourdough from Damsel - hiking at Loch Turret - Ems & Co coffee and savoury bites - shopping at Crieff Food Co - lunch in Delivino - explore Drummond Castle - whisky tasting at Glenturret Distillery - dinner at Coorie Inn or Lalique.
Best things to do in Crieff
As you can imagine, this list is all about the amazing places to eat! But there’s plenty to see and do, including walks, hikes, whisky, and historic sites.
Explore the Historic town centre
Start your visit in the historic Perthshire town with a walk around its core. Crieff is fairly extensive, but its main area centres on the high street, neighbouring lanes, and squares, which host most bakeries, cafes, and shops. You'll also find the oldest historic buildings here, and it’s well worth following your feet downhill towards the river, where charming cottages line the road.
Indulge in the Local Bakeries
For a town of this size, Crieff has an exceptional bakery scene, one that’s absolutely worth planning your day around. Personally, I think the pastries, patisseries, sticky buns, and sweet treats here (alongside a curated coffee selection) rival those of cafes in Edinburgh or Inverness.
First up, Damsel, a small but brilliant bakery turning out flaky pastries, incredible sourdough, and consistently great coffee.
We’ve been working our way through their small but perfectly formed pastry counter, but the pain au chocolat and custard-filled sticky buns stole the show before our most recent hike. Their sourdough, fruit, and seeded loaves are perfect to bring home after the weekend, and their coffee, from Fife roastery Modern Standed, is brilliant.
Then there’s Ems & Co, where the counter is filled with beautifully crafted pastries, cakes, and savoury options that are almost too pretty to eat. On our last visit, we devoured rabbit rillettes and hearty black pudding sausage rolls before giving in to a selection of pastries we definitely didn’t need but absolutely wanted.
The staff are friendly, there’s a small seating area if you’d rather eat in, and the coffee (sourced from Kinross-based Unorthodox Roasters) is excellent. They also sell beans if you want to refill your supply for the week ahead.
Shop the boutique Foodie stores
Head along the high street to find a small but terrific selection of boutique, foodie stores worth making time for. We love the Chocolate Galley, a locally owned cafe-chocolate shop, that’s heaven for chocolate lovers, with bags of chocolate and build-your-own chocolate boxes.
Also, head to Gordon & Durward, something of a Crieff institution; we could’ve filled our faces with the beautifully made confections, but we went with a selection of chocolate truffles alongside a few bags of old-fashioned sweets.
If you’re self-catering or simply love good ingredients, pop into the Crieff Food Company, a well-curated shop specialising in local produce alongside deli items, artisan breads, a local butcher, and a strong selection of pantry staples.
We also loved J L Gill, a whisky-focused bottle shop that is a treasure trove of single malts.
Visit Drummond Castle
Just a few minutes’ drive from Crieff, Drummond Castle Gardens is a stunning destination for history and heritage lovers. While the castle itself isn’t open to the public, the expansive terraced Italianate gardens offer glorious views of the keep and the surrounding countryside.
Expect elegant yew hedges, formal parterres, a 17th-century obelisk sundial, and rich history, from its early 17th-century origins to its Victorian-era redesign.
The castle is open seasonally, usually from 1st May to 31st October, with entry available between 11am and 5pm (last admission is an hour before closing). Tickets cost £12.50 for adults, £5 for children, or £30 for a family. Check opening times and book your ticket on their official site.
Pop into The Strathearn Gallery
A small and bright contemporary art gallery, you’ll find The Stathearn on the corner towards the end of the high street. One of our biggest regrets was not finding this in time for the gallery's closing; they had a lovely exhibition of local artists on display.
Pieces here are contemporary; there are frequent exhibits, as well as exceptional glass art, ceramics, and sculpture.
Whisky Tasting at Glenturret Distillery
Just outside town sits Glenturret Distillery, Scotland’s oldest working distillery and one of the most polished whisky experiences in the region.
You can join a guided tour to learn about their traditional whisky-making process, or simply settle into the stylish, modern bar for a DIY tasting flight.
The bar team are great at helping you choose something based on your preferences - peaty, sherried, or something softer - so whether you’re a whisky lover or just curious, it’s a relaxed and memorable stop.
Glenturret is open daily, with the visitor centre operating 10am to 6pm from April to October and until 5pm through the winter months. There’s on-site parking, including electric charging points, and the shop opens from 10am to 4:30 pm with a range of core bottlings, limited releases, and locally made gifts.
Hiking at Loch Turret
Crieff’s charm continues beyond its town centre, and if you can, head to Loch Turret for some of the best hiking in Perthshire. Set high in the hills above the town, expect a short but steep drive to the car park and trailhead, where the landscape feels wonderfully remote.
You can choose from several walking routes, but our favourite is the Auchnafree Hill Loop. You’ll need around five hours, and this rewarding circuit blends easy-to-follow trails with stretches of pathless moorland.
This is a proper hike, so sturdy boots, waterproofs, and layers are necessary. And download a map before you go; this area is remote, and getting lost is a real possibility.
For something less challenging, the lochside path takes around one to two hours, depending on how far you want to walk. A much gentler option along the reservoir’s edge, perfect for a shorter walk or post-bakery leg stretch.
For an easier walk closer to the town, visit MacRosty Park, which offers leafy woodland trails and green spaces perfect for picnics.
Local Bistro Lunch
For a relaxed but rather boujie lunch (or dinner), Delivino in Crieff is an easy favourite. Part restaurant, part deli, it’s the sort of place you settle into for an unhurried afternoon or evening of seriously good food and even better wine.
The menu changes with the seasons, but on our last visit, we ordered steak frites and a generously filled focaccia sandwich, alongside small plates like croquettes and olives, and a glass or two from their impressive wine list.
It’s the perfect blend of casual but elegant, and our top choice if you’re after a sit-down meal in the heart of Crieff. It’s popular at weekends, so booking ahead is wise.
Also worth noting are Craobh-Kroov and G’s Bistro; we haven’t eaten here yet, but we hear good things about both.
Destination Dining at Lalique
There are plenty of evening eating options in Crieff. But for something more extravagant, the two-Michelin-star Lalique at Glenturret offers a high-end tasting menu that balances local and global influences. Prices start from around £220 per person, making it very much a special-occasion spot, but the experience is worth it if you’re a foodie.
Dishes are refined, beautifully executed, and deeply flavourful. Being set inside Glenturret Distillery means you also have access to an exceptional whisky list, including rare and aged bottles. Book well in advance.
Go Glamping
While we generally prefer boutique hotels, these glamping pods just outside of town offer a unique alternative. Overlooking the River Earn, these charming wooden huts are ideal for couples and come equipped with private hot tubs, picnic benches, and fire pits for a cosy experience.
We opted for the superior pod, which features a compact kitchen stocked with essentials (though with so many good eateries in town, we don’t think you’ll need to cook), a sofa, a dining area, and a bathroom.
Nestled next to the river and an old stone bridge, this location is peaceful and picturesque, offering plenty of privacy for relaxing after a day of exploring, dining, and walking.
Is Crieff Worth Visiting?
Safe to say, Crieff is very much worth visiting and much of that resurgence is fuelled by its food scene. For a town of its size, the calibre of bakeries, delis, and dining spots is remarkable, and what stands out most is the authenticity: thoughtful cooking, seasonal ingredients, and a real pride in local produce.
If you’re someone who happily travels for great food, Crieff more than earns a spot on your Scotland itinerary, whether you’re planning a day trip or settling in for a relaxed overnight stay.
Crieff Travel FAQ
Where should I park in Crieff?
The easiest place to park is the large public car park behind the Co-op on Union Terrace. It’s central and usually has plenty of space, but do note that the walk back up into the main part of town is short and fairly steep.
If you prefer something more level, there are smaller on-street and car parking options (such as King Street and Leadenhall) dotted around the centre, though these can fill up quickly at weekends.
What’s the best way to get to Crieff?
Driving is by far the most convenient way to reach Crieff, especially if you’re planning to explore the surrounding countryside, visit distilleries, or hop between nearby towns like Comrie and Aberfeldy.
That said, local buses do serve the town: links run from Perth, Stirling, and Auchterarder, and they’re reliable for travellers coming in for the day without a car.
Once you’re in Crieff, the town is compact enough to explore entirely on foot.
Is Crieff easy to get around?
Yes - Crieff centre is small, walkable, and packed with cafés, shops, and bakeries within a short radius. The terrain is gently hilly, so comfortable footwear helps, but most visitors find navigating the town straightforward.
How long should I spend in Crieff?
A half-day will give you a flavour of the town, especially if you're focused on food stops or a quick wander. But to pair Crieff with a visit to Drummond Castle Gardens, hike above Loch Turret, plan a whisky tasting at the distillery, or add in a long lunch, it’s well worth extending your stay to a full day or even an overnight.
What else should travellers know?
Crieff makes an ideal base for exploring wider Perthshire. Popular spots like Comrie, Killin, Loch Tay, and Loch Earn are all within a short drive, while Pitlochry and Dunkeld are also reachable. And the landscape surrounding the town is classic Highland-edge countryside - rolling hills, farms, and peaceful glens that reward slow travel.
