Cairngorms Park Highland Perthshire

The villages of Blair Atholl, Killiecrankie, Calvine & Struan, Glenshee are all to be found within the Cairngorms National Park Highland Perthshire boundary. Pitlochry boarders the gateway to the Cairngorms National Park. This part of the Cairngorms National Park is known for its wildlife and trees, home to a wide variety of bird life including the Golden Eagle, Osprey, Black Grouse and Capercaillie. Mammals include Red Deer (Britain's largest animal), Roe and Fallow deer, Badgers and Red Squirrels. Virtually every outdoor activity or pursuit imaginable - from light to serious or adventure. History and heritage trails also abound and the whole area is a nature lover's paradise too. Highland Perthshire is a walker's paradise amidst scenery to die for, with some of the finest mountains, lowland trails, unspoilt roads and paths, mixed walking and designated routes in Scotland. Without doubt the best way to enjoy Highland Perthshire and the Cairngorms Park area in particular is on foot and part of the appeal of walking here is the diversity of the seasons. Below detail some of the villages and areas found the Highland Perthshire part of the Cairngorms National Park.

Pitlochry in Cairngorms Highland Perthshire

Only an hour north of Edinburgh, Pitlochry is a beautiful Highland town enclosed by wooded hills of the Tummel Valley three miles south of Killiecrankie. The Grampian Mountains provide a stunning backdrop to this latest addition to the Cairngorms National Park just north of Perth. The town has been a popular holiday destination since Victorian times, the Queen herself spending many summers here in the Highlands thanks to the introduction of the railways. The Atholl Leisure & Fitness centre, Bowling Club and golf course are all geared up for the active sport enthusiast, and there are plenty of walks among the mountains of the Cairngorms National Park to keep you busy. But for the real adventurer, you must head for the Nae Limits Centre just south of Pitlochry for everything from bungee jumping to white water rafting, paint-balling to rock climbing and canyoning. Again, the Nae Limits Centre is the must-visit attraction for all your water sports: Rafting, canoeing, duckying, adventure tubing and cliff jumping are all on offer. For those who like to take life a little easier, its possible to sail on the lochs and fish for salmon, trout, pike and perch in the River Tummel. Its even possible to watch the salmon leap the weirs from an underground viewing chamber! The town boasts excellent tweed and cashmere shops, and a number of restaurants. It also has a festival theatre, Blair Castle and the Hercules attractions, The Black Spout Wood hiking trail, the Nae Limits adventure park, Edradour Distillery and the Pitlochry Golf Club. Pitlochry boasts one of the finest golf courses in Scotland. Set above the town centre on the slopes of Ben Vrackie, the 18-hole course has superb views along the Tummel Valley. The Highland Open Golf Championship is a highlight of a crowded golf season. Glenshee is Britain a largest ski area. Situated where Perthshire meets the Grampian mountains, it s a haven for the winter sports enthusiast. There s plenty here for downhill and slalom skiers, snowboarders, telemarkers and cross-country skiers of all ages and abilities. For more information about the Glenshee Ski centre check our winter sport sections. Victoria s coffee shop, a friendly bistro serving a variety of dishes, Fern Cottage and the Golf Bar, all offer great food at tremendous value. Built in 1832, the Atholl Arms Hotel close to Blair Castle has earned a reputation for great food and friendly service. It boasts a historic vaulted baronial dining room and three bars. Less than a mile from the town centre is the village of Moulin. The hotel here, sometimes known as the Moulin Inn, has been a traditional Highland hostelry since 1695. It has its own brewery and a self-catering annexe. Edradour is the smallest distillery in Scotland. The whisky has been produced in exactly the same way for the last 150 years ago by men devoted to the time-honoured methods of whisky making. Their equipment has remained unchanged since the day the distillery opened so it can only produce about twelve casks a week. Edradour single malt is a rare pleasure, gold, smooth and creamy with a nutty, honeyed finish. Blair Athol distillery has stood on its current site for over two hundred years. It produces magnificent twelve-year-old single Highland malts with a deep aroma and fruity finish. The town parties into the New Year with a huge street gathering, hosts its own Highland Games in September, runs the Etape Caledonia (a closed circuit cycle race for the recreational cyclist) in May over eighty miles of wonderful Highland roads, boasts an Autumn festival in the Enchanted Woods and a Winter Words festival in January. The British Pipe Band Championship is also held in Pitlochry, as is the annual Amber Music Festival in early November.

Spittal of Glenshee in Cairngorms Highland Perthshire

At two thousand feet above sea level, the village lies at the head of Glenshee in the Highlands north of Perth at the confluence of several small tributaries flowing south from the Grampian Mountains. There have been hostels and inns on the site for centuries but more recently a tourist industry based on the nearby ski area has sprung up. This is truly ancient country. There is a megalithic standing stone behind the old kirk hinting at Neolithic inhabitation, and the Four Poster Stone Circle lies on a nearby earthen mound. The first ski tows in Britain were installed in Glenshee in the 1950s and the slopes of Britain s largest ski area remain popular today. The village is also one of the main stopping points on the magnificent Cateran Trail, which winds through the glens of Perthshire and Angus for more than sixty miles. There is also mountain-biking, golf and hang gliding available at the Glenshee ski area.

Blair Atholl in Cairngorms Highland Perthshire

The village derives its name from the Scottish Gaelic Blàr (field plain) and Athall (new Ireland) and is a small town in Perthshire built around the confluence of the Tilt and Garry rivers. This is one of the few flatter areas in amongst the Grampian Mountains. The people of the village recently applied to become part of the Cairngorms National Park and on March 13 2008 it was announced that Blair Atholl and several other Highland villages would be inside the park s new boundaries. Six miles north of Killiecrankie stands Blair Castle , the traditional home of the Dukes of Atholl. Visitors are welcome to tour the castle and its extensive grounds during the season. Lude House, the Castle Pony Trekking Centre, the Atholl Country Life Museum, the world famous Water Mill and the distillery are all worth a visit. For fine dining, try The Loft, the Auld Smiddy Inn or Victoria s restaurant. The Bridge of Tilt Hotel is a former hunting lodge bordering the salmon-rich waters of the River Tilt. Receive a warm Highland welcome, friendly service and comfortable en suite accommodation. You won t be disappointed to start each day with a hearty Scottish breakfast. In the evenings they serve mouth-watering four-course dinners to satisfy every appetite. The hotel boasts its own bar lounge with open fire and dance floor. The Roundhouse pub is also popular. Blair Atholl s nine-hole golf course lies between the village and the River Garry and boasts splendid views along the valley. There are numerous championship courses within a short drive. Check out our Cairngorms golf page for all the details. There is usually a music festival in Blair Atholl on the second weekend in February, whereas the Atholl Highlanders mark their annual parade and the Atholl Gathering over the last weekend in May. Why not pop along to the charity day at Blair Castle in June and follow that up with a Celtic night at the castle with the Pitlochry & Blair Atholl Pipe Band? The 32nd Scottish International Patrol Jamborette will be held at Blair Castle in July, along with the summer music festival. There are two annual summer gala nights held in the Memorial Park in July and August, with the Local Skills Trail and International Horse Trials & Country Fair over the last weekend of the month. October sees the renowned Glenfiddich International Piping & Fiddle Championships. There are many pleasant walks through Glen Tilt as the river flows down to the River Garry. About a mile north of Blair Castle, the famous Falls of Bruar (immortalized in poem by Robert Burns) provide a spectacular setting for a romantic walk

Calvine & Struan in Cairngorms Highland Perthshire

Half a mile from where the B847 crosses the River Garry, down a small road, is the beautiful village of Old Struan. At the confluence of the Garry and Errochty rivers, Struan church with its early Christian stone and carved Pictish symbols is a must see. This is Clan Donnachaidh country, spiritual home to clan members including the Robertsons, Duncans, McConnachies, Reids and McLagans. In the field behind the church are the remains of an ancient fort and the magical well of Tobar Faolan. The adventurous traveller will enjoy the purpose-built cycle route along the river valley. Or why not take the ancient route to Badenoch through the steep Minigaig Pass from Calvine? Pitlochry and Blair Atholl are perhaps best suited for the visitor. Check our site for pages devoted to attractions throughout the Cairngorms Park and the Scottish Highlands. Blair Castle, for example, is a must-see for visitors. The Struan Inn runs on pure Scotch tradition. It s a rare and charming gem in a rustic Highland village in northern Perthshire. The town of Pitlochry boasts many fine restaurants. Check our wine and dine page on the website for more details. Calvine and Struan are quiet Highland villages and you ll have to look elsewhere for the area s many annual events. Blair Castle is home to the Atholl Highlanders, Europe s only legal private army. The Highlanders are mainly drawn from the estate workers, as well as local butchers and bakers, and they parade annually for the Duke on the last Saturday in May, which also hosts the season s first Highland Games. The annual Blair Castle International Horse Trails & Country Fair takes place on the last weekend in August. Pitlochry also hosts many major annual events. The Calvine holiday park offers beautiful surroundings for both camping and caravanning.

Bruar in Cairngorms Highland Perthshire

Bruar is a small hamlet eight miles northwest of Pitlochry. The Falls here have been a tourist attraction since the 18th century and were immortalized in the Robert Burns poem The Humble Petition of Bruar Water to the Noble Duke of Atholl , which supposedly entreats the Duke to plant some trees in the once barren landscape alongside the river. However, a hydroelectric power station built in the 1940s has dramatically reduced the its flow. Bruar boasts a small visitor centre on the magnificent Falls of Bruar walk, which starts in the car park behind the House of Bruar and takes in the astonishing Vale of Atholl. The House of Bruar shopping emporium and restaurant have been described as the Harrods of the North . There are several scenic walks, from a peaceful stroll by the Garry to strenuous hikes in the hills. Why not visit the Clan Donnachaidh Centre & Shop? Meals and accommodation are available at the Struan Inn a mile away and the area offers a number of charming B&Bs as well as plenty of self-catering accommodation. There is also the famous House of Bruar restaurant which seats 350 people and serves the finest Scottish cuisine. Why not see our Cairngorms accommodation page to find out more?

Killiecrankie in Cairngorms Highland Perthshire

Deriving from the old name Wood of the Aspen, the village is perhaps best known for its famous battle in July 1869 when Jacobite rebels under Viscount Dundee fought an army of King William s government led by General Mackay. The Jacobites won the battle but Dundee was killed and his effort to reinstate King James on the throne failed. The River Garry flows along the pass and the area is renowned for its varied wildlife and magnificent woodlands. The Killiecrankie centre was the first purpose built countryside visitor centre in Scotland. It offers visitors the opportunity to discover everything about the pass, from the sights and sounds of its wildlife to the gory history of the battle. The centre holds the Green Tourism Business Scheme Gold Award for environmental management. Fishermen may wish to try their luck in the Tay or Garry, while the walking is simply spectacular. A number of popular trails branch out from the centre along the river, from the famous Soldier s Leap (one of William s men, Donald McBean, tried to escape by jumping across the river after the battle) in particular. The four peaks of the Beinn a Ghlo s to the northeast of Killiecrankie all rise to above 3,000 feet and qualify as Munros. They are extremely popular with walkers. The salmon and trout fishing seasons run throughout the summer until October and coarse fishing for pike and perch can also be arranged. Mountain bikers can head over the hills to Braemar and Royal Deeside. For the winter sports enthusiast, the Glenshee ski area is only thirty miles away. The Killiecrankie House Hotel is a small but relaxing country hotel set in mature landscaped gardens overlooking the River Garry and the Pass of Killiecrankie. It maintains a high standard and has a sound reputation for modern Scottish cooking drawing local diners. The menu changes daily and is built around fresh local produce including from the kitchen garden. For other places to eat, check out our wine and dine page. Killiecrankie is a quiet rural village with no real amenities. The visitor centre has a snack bar but there is no petrol station or shop. If the pace of life is too slow here, why not pop into Pitlochry or Blair Atholl a few miles away.