In 1863 the Perth to Inverness railway was opened and Pitlochry became accessible for visitors from the South who wanted a taste of the newly discovered romanticism of the Scottish Highlands. This fashionable appreciation for the wilds of the north was the result of many writers and artists publishing enthusiastic reports of their itineraries, culminating in the visits of Queen Victoria which began in 1842.

Since Victorian times the town has grown hotels, guest houses, and bed and breakfasts like mushrooms in the rainy season, and today there is a great choice.

Pitlochry is surrounded by hills with heathery tops and woodland slopes. Below the town runs the River Tummel which today is regulated by a hydro-electric scheme. Consequently there is a "fish ladder" to help migratory salmon and sea trout reach Lochs Tummel and Rannoch. You can go inside a special observation chamber to watch them underwater through glass windows as they climb from section to section.

Since 1951 the Pitlochry Festival popularity and is now a magnate for Theatre has grown in theatre goers far afield, regularly staging acclaimed productions, both traditional and more from avant-garde. The season is from Easter to early October (Box office tel: 01796 472680.

This deep forested gorge used to be one of the only ways north and south. During the Jacobite uprising of 1698 government forces led by General Mackay were defeated, and one retreating soldier, Donald MacBean, bravely leaped to safety across the gorge at "Soldier's Leap", an 18 foot jump with the river Garry far below.

Photograph at right: The pass of Killiecrankie

One of the finest castles in Scotland, you can see it from the road; painted white and clearly visible agianst a backdrop of woodland and parkland extending to the hills of the vast Atholl Estate beyond.
It is open from Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm. Enquiries: Tel:01796 481 207, Fax: 01796 481 487.

One place that Queen Victoria saw early on in her first trip to Scotland with her husband Prince Albert, then just 25 years old, was this view down Loch Tummel. Its now known as the Queen's view. For an example of a perfectly composed picturesque prospect in 18th and 19th Landscape Tradition it is exemplary.

Further on down Loch Tummel you come to Loch Rannoch; at the far end of which is one of the most remote moors in Scotland, Rannoch Moor. The South side has quite extensive remnants of old-growth Caledonian Pines (Pinus Sylvestris), including surviving examples of its original eco-system such as red ants, cross-bills, pine marten, blaeberries, heather and ferns.

(pronounced "Scoon"). Built around the 16th century core, this is the family home of the Earl and Countess of Mansfield who have owned it for over four centuries, and is open to the public between April and October. (tel: 01738 552300, fax:01738 552588)
In the grounds of the abey which stood here until destroyed in the 16th century, is Moot Hill, once the site of the Stone of Destiny (the coronation stone of Scottish Kings and Queens) now in Edinburgh Castle.


National Trust for Scotland Woodland walks


A small town set amongst woodland covered hills (a favourite haunt for wild mushroom gatherers).
The town and old cathedral (mostly ruined) is well worth a visit; its just below the A9 to the east. Dunkeld was declared the ecclesiastical capital of Scotland by Kenneth MacAlpine in 850.

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