Pitlochry

United_Kingdom

Pitlochry is a town in Perth and Kinross with around 2800 inhabitants. It stands in the valley of the River Tummel, long a major route between the Lowlands and the Highlands and Islands. It grew up as a tourist resort in the Victorian era, especially after the coming of the railway in 1863. Later developments largely passed it by, so it retains its Victorian centre - all the more pleasant since the main road A9 was diverted onto a bypass in 1981.

  • Visit Scotland Pitlochry iCentre, 22 Atholl Road, PH16 5BX, +44 1796 472215, +44 1796 472751. M-Sa 10:00-16:00. Central, parking available. Main street

Visit Scotland Pitlochry iCentre, 22 Atholl Road, PH16 5BX, +44 1796 472215, +44 1796 472751. M-Sa 10:00-16:00. Central, parking available.

  • Pitlochry Dam and Fish Ladder, Pitlochry, PH16 5DR, +44 1796 472680. Pitlochry Dam was completed in 1951, blocking the River Tummel to create Loch Faskally, 5 km long. The dam incorporates a fish ladder (with windows to view underwater) to enable salmon to continue making their way upstream. The dam complex generates hydro-electric power for the National Grid.

Pitlochry Dam and Fish Ladder, Pitlochry, PH16 5DR, +44 1796 472680. Pitlochry Dam was completed in 1951, blocking the River Tummel to create Loch Faskally, 5 km long. The dam incorporates a fish ladder (with windows to view underwater) to enable salmon to continue making their way upstream. The dam complex generates hydro-electric power for the National Grid.

  • Festival Theatre, Port Na Craig, PH16 5DR, +44 1796 484626. There's a programme of theatre year-round, and Pitlochry Festival has been held each summer since 1951 - for its first 30 years in a marquee, now in this theatre. The summer programme runs June-Sept each year.

Edradour Distillery

  • Edradour Distillery, Pitlochry, PH16 5JP (Off A934, 2 miles up hill east of town, +44 1796 472002. Tours mid-April - Oct M-Sa 10:00-16:00, Nov - mid-Apr M-F 10:00-15:00. Edradour, founded in 1825, produces a range of single malt Scotch whiskies: expert tasters use descriptions like rum, caramel, fruity, sweet. It's said to be the smallest legal whisky distillery in Scotland. The minimum used to be 1800 litres still capacity - anything smaller was likely to be producing moonshine - but a 2009 legal case threw out the minimum and opened the way to micro- or "craft / boutique" distilleries. Adults £10.
  • Blair Athol Distillery, Perth Road, PH16 5LY (On A924 half a mile east of town, +44 1796 482003. Daily Oct-Jun 10:00-17:00, July-Sept 10:00-18:30. It's owned by Diageo and most of the product is blended, but they do issue a single malt, the 12 year old Blair Athol. The pricier the tour, the more whisky you sample, from the standard at £9.50 up to the "Experience" at £250. As they sagely point out, "please ensure you make suitable transport arrangements." Standard tour £9.50. Ben Vrackie
  • Walk: lots of routes nearby. The signature hike in Pitlochry is up Ben Vrackie (841 m, a Corbett). The hike starts close to the Moulin Brewery and Hotel, taking 4 hours return through woodland and open heath to the last steep scramble. Easy in summer, in winter it's icy; see Walkhighlands for a route description.
  • Cycle or drive the scenic old road through the Pass of Killiecrankie, B8019. It's especially attractive in autumn.
  • March into Pitlochry is a live music festival for charity in late March. The next event is probably 21-22 March 2020 but tbc.
  • Pitlochry Highland Games are held early Sept in the Recreation Park. The next event is Sat 12 Sept 2020.
    There's also Strathardle Highland Gathering, held late August at Bannerfield Strathardle, six miles east of Pitlochry towards Bridge of Cally. The next event is Sat 24 Aug 2019.
  • Enchanted Forest is a sound & light show held in autumn in Faskally Forest, a mile north of Pitlochry on B8019. The next event is 3 Oct - 3 Nov 2019.

Festival Theatre, Port Na Craig, PH16 5DR, +44 1796 484626. There's a programme of theatre year-round, and Pitlochry Festival has been held each summer since 1951 - for its first 30 years in a marquee, now in this theatre. The summer programme runs June-Sept each year.

Edradour Distillery, Pitlochry, PH16 5JP (Off A934, 2 miles up hill east of town, +44 1796 472002. Tours mid-April - Oct M-Sa 10:00-16:00, Nov - mid-Apr M-F 10:00-15:00. Edradour, founded in 1825, produces a range of single malt Scotch whiskies: expert tasters use descriptions like rum, caramel, fruity, sweet. It's said to be the smallest legal whisky distillery in Scotland. The minimum used to be 1800 litres still capacity - anything smaller was likely to be producing moonshine - but a 2009 legal case threw out the minimum and opened the way to micro- or "craft / boutique" distilleries. Adults £10.

Blair Athol Distillery, Perth Road, PH16 5LY (On A924 half a mile east of town, +44 1796 482003. Daily Oct-Jun 10:00-17:00, July-Sept 10:00-18:30. It's owned by Diageo and most of the product is blended, but they do issue a single malt, the 12 year old Blair Athol. The pricier the tour, the more whisky you sample, from the standard at £9.50 up to the "Experience" at £250. As they sagely point out, "please ensure you make suitable transport arrangements." Standard tour £9.50.

Walk: lots of routes nearby. The signature hike in Pitlochry is up Ben Vrackie (841 m, a Corbett). The hike starts close to the Moulin Brewery and Hotel, taking 4 hours return through woodland and open heath to the last steep scramble. Easy in summer, in winter it's icy; see Walkhighlands for a route description.

Cycle or drive the scenic old road through the Pass of Killiecrankie, B8019. It's especially attractive in autumn.

March into Pitlochry is a live music festival for charity in late March. The next event is probably 21-22 March 2020 but tbc.

Pitlochry Highland Games are held early Sept in the Recreation Park. The next event is Sat 12 Sept 2020.

There's also Strathardle Highland Gathering, held late August at Bannerfield Strathardle, six miles east of Pitlochry towards Bridge of Cally. The next event is Sat 24 Aug 2019.

Enchanted Forest is a sound & light show held in autumn in Faskally Forest, a mile north of Pitlochry on B8019. The next event is 3 Oct - 3 Nov 2019.

  • Moulin Brewery, PH16 5EW, +44 1796 472196. A small local brewery adjacent to the Moulin Hotel.
  • There is a larger Co-operative supermarket in the town centre at the beginning of West Moulin Road (A924).

Moulin Brewery, PH16 5EW, +44 1796 472196. A small local brewery adjacent to the Moulin Hotel.

  • Cafe Biba, 40 Atholl Road, PH16 5BX, +44 1796 473294. Daily 09:30-20:30. Traditional fare.
  • McKays, 138 Atholl Road, PH16 5AG, +44 1796 473888. McKays has a restaurant, pub with bar food & live music and TV sport, fish & chips takeaway. It's also a 3-star hotel, doubles from £60 pn. They own Caffe Scozia opposite.
  • Caffe Scozia, 113 Atholl Road, +44 1796 472469. M-Th 10:00-21:00, F-Su 12:00-21:00. Pizzeria in the former Strathgarry Hotel, now run by McKays. Pizza & pasta dishes £12.
  • The Auld Smiddy, 154 Atholl Road, PH16 5AG, +44 1796 472356. From 11:00, bar from 12:00. An old forge that has been refurbished and is now a cafe. Sandwiches and traditional fare. Wheelchair accessible.
  • For Asian food, there's Prince of India at 5 Station Rd (daily 12:00-23:00), and Bamboo House takeaway at 48 Atholl Rd (Su M W Th 15:30-23:00, F Sa 12:30-23:00).

Cafe Biba, 40 Atholl Road, PH16 5BX, +44 1796 473294. Daily 09:30-20:30. Traditional fare.

McKays, 138 Atholl Road, PH16 5AG, +44 1796 473888. McKays has a restaurant, pub with bar food & live music and TV sport, fish & chips takeaway. It's also a 3-star hotel, doubles from £60 pn. They own Caffe Scozia opposite.

Caffe Scozia, 113 Atholl Road, +44 1796 472469. M-Th 10:00-21:00, F-Su 12:00-21:00. Pizzeria in the former Strathgarry Hotel, now run by McKays. Pizza & pasta dishes £12.

The Auld Smiddy, 154 Atholl Road, PH16 5AG, +44 1796 472356. From 11:00, bar from 12:00. An old forge that has been refurbished and is now a cafe. Sandwiches and traditional fare. Wheelchair accessible.

  • The Old Mill Inn (see "sleep") usually has live music Fridays and Saturdays.

The Old Mill Inn (see "sleep") usually has live music Fridays and Saturdays.

  • Dunkeld and Birnam — to see a tree from Shakespeare's Birnam Wood
  • Blair Atholl — for the Falls of Bruar