The merest mention of a season will evoke special memories for everyone and autumn, no doubt, will do just the same. That point when the heating needs to be turned back on and your sandals are banished to the back of the wardrobe for another year to be replaced by gloves and scarves and walking means rosy cheeks and kicking up the fallen leaves.

And Scotland is just the place to create memories of all things autumn. With vast national parks dedicated to celebrating the impressive and imposing scenery of the mountains and lochs, where else could you think to lose yourself for a few days?

Every shade of red, amber, russet, golds are knitted together in a patchwork of woodlands and hillsides with stitching of mosses and lichens of greens and browns juxtaposed with the dark, imposing lochs that will play tricks on your eyes and have you believing the myths and legends of yesteryear.

If it’s wildlife you’re after, then Scotland in autumn is a thing of wonder. Whether you want to explore from land or water, the wildlife is in abundance; Scotland in autumn gives visitors the opportunity to spot golden eagles, red kites and the rarer gyr falcons soaring against the striking sky or majestic marine mammals such as seals, various dolphin species and minke whales playing in the waves. Walking, cycling, yachting or kayaking, you can do it all in Scotland.

They say the best thing about memories is making them and what better place to start than a stay at this magnificent baronial castle in Argyllshire (004b). Being just 200m from the beach, you can enjoy the views over Loch Long and the Firth of Clyde without even leaving the comfort of the plush sofa and open fireplace if you so desired! Being just 40 minutes from Glasgow airport, you’ll waste none of your precious time immersing yourself in the sights, sounds and smells of Scotland in autumn. Book now for October 24^th to 31^st 2009 and make massive savings on this 11 bedroomed magnificent luxury castle and start to create your own memories.

Perthshire is a natural choice for visitors given metaphorically speaking, it is nestled between the lush lowland pastures of the south and the rugged grandeur of the Highlands, in the very heart of Scotland.

The central point is the bustling City of Perth, with the river Tay running through it.  The region boasts a gentle climate and fertile soils and in 2008 the Fair City of Perth won a Gold Award in the RHS Britain in Bloom Floral Awards as well as the `Large Town/Small City Category.

The impressive Scone Palace, once the crowning place for Scottish Kings, is based just outside Perth and is considered a five star visitor attraction.  If you are particularly interested in gardens, the region boasts some of the country’s finest private gardens and public parks. Nine of Perthshire’s finest gardens have pooled their resources in the Perthshire Gardens Collection. Participating in the scheme are Hercules Garden at Blair Castle, the magnificent formal gardens at Drummond Castle near Crieff and at Kinross House, Kinross, Scone Palace Gardens, the Explorers’ Garden at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Branklyn Garden in Perth, the great plant collection of Glendoick, the Botanic Garden at the University of Dundee and, in scenic Strathtay, the wild woodland delights of the gardens at Cluny House.

Perthshire is also Big Tree Country, with the world’s highest hedge at Meikleour, Europe’s oldest tree, the widest conifer in Britain, the sole survivor from Shakespeare’s Birnam Wood and many more remarkable trees, woodlands in which ospreys, red deer and red squirrel can be spotted.

Or for those who enjoy skiing, Glenshee lies some 20 miles north of Blairgowrie. The resort is titled the 3 valleys of Scotland and is considered quite extensive by UK standards.

Towns and places to visit in Perthshire include Aberfeldy, Loch Tay and Glen Lyon, Auchterarder, Gleneagles and the Ochils, Blairgowrie and East Perthshire, Crieff, Comrie and Strathearn, Dunkeld and Birnam, Kinross-shire and Loch Leven, the Fair City of Perth, Pitlochry and Highland Perthshire, and some of the most scenic Scottish glens.

Finally, it goes without saying that Whisky is to the Scots what Vodka is to the Russians.  The Famous Grouse [Distillery] named after the charismatic national game bird, the Red Grouse, is based just outside Crieff and is a popular visitor attraction year round.

If you’re looking for a short break holiday to celebrate the joys of spring then why not look at this converted Church tower apartment in Crieff, Pethshire.  This lovingly restored holiday property, sleeping 6, has a special offer for the first weekend in May – 3 nights for £509 per night, that’s just £85 per person for a 3 night stay.

If you are still looking for somewhere to book last mintue for Easter then I might just have the property for you.

I am currently sitting on an extremely comfortable sofa, straddling a nest table upon which rests my laptop.  The sunlight is literally beaming like a Cheshire cat through the vast 28 paned arch windows opposite.  Panels of light large enough to play hopscotch on rise and fall on the beige carpet.  To say I am in my element is an understatement.

Do you live in London? Are you a motivated individual, good at organising a small group of friends/family under pressure?  Are you looking for a little light release from the daily grind?  Summer still feels a long way away.  Have you ever thought you’d like to go to Scotland but can’t because you think it’s too far away?

On my walk to work this week, I noticed a palpable ‘it’s nearly spring’ feeling permeating the air from every hedgerow and tree branch as the birds seemed to sing just that much louder and just that teeny bit livelier than they had since .. well, I can’t remember.  Winter this year, for me, was a blur.