Pitlochry

One of my favourite places to be, not just in Scotland, but in the whole world – the charming town of Pitlochry. A place I’ve visited numerous times over the years, with it’s sparkle shining brighter each time I visit.

This picturesque town, nestled in the heart of Scotland, really is one of the jewels in the crown of our wee country. A Victorian throwback, Pitlochry is often referred to as the “gateway to the Highlands.” Situated in the council area of Perth and Kinross, the town is thought of as the last stop of a north-bound journey, before arriving into the Scottish Highlands. Pitlochry is a popular spot for holiday-makers, both domestic and international, particularly in the summer months. Not just a great base for exploring the southern reaches of the Highlands and the Cairngorms National Park, Pitlochry has an abundance of things to do in the town itself, as well as in the near vicinity.

So, without further ado, here are my recommended things to do in this historic town!

Ben Vrackie – this foreboding mountain overlooking the town is a delight for hill-walkers. Lying just north of Pitlochry, the hill is easily accessed by a direct path from the town. At a summit height of 841m (just shy of the 914m required to be classed as a Munro), the Vrackie falls into the Corbett class of Scottish mountains (hills between 762m – 914m). Although not a Munro, reaching the summit is still a challenging walk, taking most people between 4-5 hours to ascend and descend. A great way to start your trip to Pitlochry, although if attempting to conquer the Vrackie, please be prepared for any weather and dress / prepare accordingly.

Pitlochry Dam and fish ladder – think of Pitlochry, and no doubt the dam and salmon ladder is one of the first images to pop into your head! Construction of the dam took place between the late 1940s and early 1950s, a hydro-electric scheme creating a dam between Loch Faskally above, and the river Tummel below. Creating the dam would prevent the circa 5000 salmon and sea trout that migrate annually, from reaching their spawning beds upstream, so a salmon ladder was also constructed, to allow the fish to reach the waters above the dam. The ladder is 310m in length and has 34 pools, of which 3 are resting pools. A new visitor centre opened in 2017, detailing the life cycle of the salmon, and showing the activity of the ladder on remote screens, where hopefully you’ll be lucky enough to see a salmon passing through the ladder. The visitor centre also has a café and gift shop and is well worth a visit. I would definitely recommend the walk along the top of the sprawling dam – it’s a massive structure and really does make you feel small! Water flowing through the open dam is also a sight to behold. https://www.pitlochrydam.com/

Queen’s View – granted, Highland Perthshire’s most iconic view isn’t actually found in the town itself, but is just a short drive away, around 5 miles to the west of Pitlochry. This is the most popular visitor attraction in the area, and it’s not difficult to see why. A common misconception is that the view was named after Queen Victoria, after she visited the area in 1866. In fact, the Queen herself is said to have remarked that it was indeed named after her. However, many historians believe that the view was actually named after King Robert the Bruce’s wife, Isabella, around 550 years prior to Victoria’s visit. The view is one of the most photographed areas in the whole of Scotland, and it’s not difficult to see why. From the viewpoint above the eastern edge of Loch Tummel, one can gaze out across the loch, all the way to the mighty Schiehallion in the distance, as well as the glorious Tay Forest Park. This area is also thought to be one of the last strongholds of the Capercaillie, probably Scotland’s most iconic bird. As well as the Queen’s View, there are parking facilities, a café and a visitor centre, offering up all kinds of information about the area, including walks and local wildlife. This truly is a view fit for a Queen. NB: at the time of writing, the visitor centre and café are currently closed for refurbishment works, but the viewing point and car park remain open. https://forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/forest-parks/tay-forest-park/queens-view-visitor-centre

House of Bruar / Falls of Bruar – again, not strictly in Pitlochry itself, however an attraction well worth visiting. The iconic House of Bruar sits just off the A9, around 9 miles north of Pitlochry. Known as the UK’s leading Scottish country clothing specialist, this majestic-looking outlet offers everything the Highlands are famous for; from Tweed and Cashmere clothing, an art gallery, hunting and fishing equipment and apparel, as well as an onsite restaurant and butchers, offering up the finest local game and produce (and also the nicest public toilets that I’ve ever had the pleasure of using!!). To the rear of the outlet lies a woodland walkway, taking you high up the spectacular gorge of Bruar Water – the Falls of Bruar. These beautiful woodlands offer a stunning circular walk, firstly ascending up through the gorge and over wonderful stone bridges, before descending back down again. A stunning area of Highland Perthshire that holds a special place in my heart – for it was here, on my most recent visit of December 29th 2022, at the platform overlooking the cascading waterfall next to the first stone bridge, that I got down on one knee and popped the question to the unsuspecting Lauren, my girlfriend. Thankfully, after a few shocked utterings of “oh my God,” she said yes! We shall most definitely be back to visit on our next trip to Pitlochry! https://www.houseofbruar.com/

Blair Atholl Distillery – I couldn’t have my first ever Scotland travel blog, without mentioning Scotland’s national drink – whisky! I visited this particular distillery in February 2020 (I know, nobody likes talking about that year, but thankfully my visit occurred at the start of the month, before anybody really knew what was about to come). Situated right at the foot of the town, Blair Atholl Distillery is easily accessed from the A9 if coming from the south, or simply by making your way down Pitlochry high street, from the north. The distillery is based in the foothills of the Grampian mountains and is sourced by the ancient waters of the Allt Dour, which flows from the the slopes of Ben Vrackie. A must-do for anyone who enjoys a wee dram of “the water of life,” this tour is both enjoyable and informative, even for those who aren’t fond of whisky, or even tee-total. The guided tour takes you through the distillery, detailing everything about the history of how the whisky is made, from grain to glass, and of course, ending in a whisky-tasting, as well as a the option of popping in to the on-site gift shop. There are various tours that can be taken, however on my visit, I opted for the Signature Tour, which featured 3 drams and a complimentary gift to take home. https://www.malts.com/en-gb/distilleries/blair-athol

Eating and drinking – my favourite thing to do anywhere, not least in Pitlochry!! On my most recent visit, my new fiancée and I stayed in Fishers Hotel, located in the heart of the high street. My first time staying here, I was impressed by the amount, and variety, of eating and drinking options. As time was marching on, and with us having friends to meet, we opted to have our dinner in the more casual surroundings of the Coach House, the main bar within the hotel. The Coach House offers typical pub grub, including speciality 12″ stone-baked pizzas, which is what we opted for, to be washed down with gin for the lady, and a pint of cider for myself….I’m a creature of habit, what can I say! Fishers does offer more sophisticated dining also, in the grand surroundings of the Castle Restaurant. As mentioned, we didn’t eat here, however an elegant menu featuring the best local produce and game, such as smoked sea trout, Scottish salmon and Sirloin steak, can be found. A delicious cocktail menu is also on offer throughout the hotel. Another on-site bar in the hotel is Gladstones Gin Bar. Alongside the draught beers, the bar specialises in serving up a wide range of gin from each area of Scotland, in gorgeous surroundings – highly recommended. Moving away from Fishers Hotel now, the most popular bar in Pitlochry has got to be the picturesque Old Mill Inn. A family owned pub and restaurant, this is without doubt my favourite watering hole in Pitlochry. Always jam-packed, this lively bar offers live music at weekends, as well as regular festivals throughout the year. The restaurant offers up great local produce, including Chicken Killiecrankie, locally-reared beef for the grill, as well as some cracking fish dishes, including the famous Scottish Cullen Skink soup. A generous dessert menu is available, as well as a wide range of alcoholic beverages to suit everyone. A must-visit for anyone looking for a good night in Pitlochry!! There are plenty of other bars and restaurants to be explored, but I couldn’t finish up on food and drink without mentioning the charming wee ice-cream shop of Scotch Corner. Located on the high street, this gem of an ice-cream parlour offers a vast array of sweet treats, including my personal favourites – tablet and fudge! Your dentist may not advise you popping in for some sugary tablet, but I certainly do! Ice-cream, fudge, tablet, old-fashioned sweeties and much, much more can be found in this delightful, wee shop.

Before finishing up, I’d just like to quickly touch on hotels and accommodation in Pitlochry. Pitlochry has a generous variety of options for the visitor to choose from, including regal hotels, such as Fonab Castle; grand hotels, such as Fishers and Mckays; plentiful bed and breakfast accommodation; and even something for those opting for a little less glamour, such as caravans and camping, at Faskally Caravan Park. What I would say is, regardless of which option suits you best, please be advised that Pitlochry is extremely popular in the summer months in particular, so always allow plenty of time for booking accommodation, prior to arrival.

Hopefully my recommendations of must-do/see/visits for Pitlochry and the surrounding areas of beautiful Highland Perthshire entice you to visit for yourself. There are, of course, many more sights to see in the nearby vicinity, such as the charming town of Aberfeldy and it’s attractions, but I’ll cover them at a later date in a separate blog.

I sincerely believe that you’ll fall in love with this wee town, just like I did many years ago, and see why it resonated enough with me to ask Lauren to spend the rest of her life with me! So come see for yourself, and get stuck into Unwrapping Pitlochry!