AROUND THE AREA
Explore Highland Perthshire by car (or bicycle)
From Kinnaird Garden Cottage you can take a half day tours or a full day out within Highland Perthshire.
You can travel in several different directions from Pitlochry and these are the trips that we would recommend that you take whist staying at Kinnaird.
Pitlochry – Killiecrankie – BlairAtholl - Bruar
Pitlochry – Killiecrankie – Queen’s View – Loch Rannoch – Rannoch Station
Pitlochry – Killiecrankie – Queen’s View – Loch Tummel – Kenmore and LochTay – Aberfeldy
Pitlochry – The Hermatage – Dunkeld
Pitlochry – Killiecrankie – BlairAtholl - Bruar (distance approximately 10 miles)
Pitlochry to Killiecrankie
From the centre of Pitlochry take the old A9 North to Killiecrankie. Stop at the Visitor Centre (National Trust) and Café which is open Easter to end of October (Rey and Patricia will serve you with lots of home made things – from scones and tray bakes to home made soup and heartier snacks). The walk at the Pass of Killiecrankie is always open whatever the time of year. Take in the history of the area and find out about the Battle of Killiecrankie where a soldier, being chased by the Red Coat’s, made a monumental jump across the river. The point in the river is known as the Soldier’s Leap.
It is worth taking a stroll down to the riverbed and further along the river if you have time.
Killiecrankie to BlairAtholl
From Killiecrankie continue along the road towards BlairAtholl to BlairCastle. With 32 rooms, and now the attic, open to the public you are sure to spend a couple of hours or more here. As the magnificent former home of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl, Blair Castle is one of the best known Scottish castles. With a comprehensive castle tour, treasure-filled rooms, and vast gardens and grounds, no visitor can fail to be impressed. There is a café at the Castle and you can buy a ticket to take in the Castle Gardens and Grounds.
In Blair Atholl you will find a working water mill – great cakes and home baking served here. You can buy traditionally ground flour and oatmeal from the café too.
In the village of Blair Atholl there is also the Atholl Country Life Museum. A lively but down to earth local museum that covers the social history of the people of Atholl with a series of interesting displays and reconstructions, all brought together by local farmer, John Cameron.
BlairAtholl to Bruar
From Blair Atholl continue along the old A9 (just head north from the centre of the village) and in a few miles you will reach Bruar on the left hand side of the road, just before you reach the main A9. Park in the House of Bruar car park. If you are ready to spend some money then visit the many shops there. The food in the restaurant is self service but is excellent.
One of our favourite short walks is the Falls of Bruar with its amazingly clear waters and series of waterfalls. As a minimum, make sure that you walk up to the first bridge. We would recommend that you continue along one side of the river and return along the other side after crossing the second bridge.
Pitlochry – Killiecrankie – Queen’s View – Loch Rannoch – Rannoch Station
Pitlochry to Killiecrankie
From the centre of Pitlochry take the old A9 North towards Killiecrankie. Take the road signposted to Tummel Bridge and Kinloch Rannoch on your left (approximately 3 miles from the centre of Pitlochry). This turning is onto Garry Bridge which is a very high structure across a deep ravine. There is a car park on your right, just over the bridge. We would recommend that you stop here walk onto the bridge for a look at the view. In autumn it is particularly spectacular. You can also take a walk along the river at this point.
Killiecrankie to Queen’s View
From the car park turn right along the road to Tummel Bridge. About 5 miles along this beautiful road you will come across a view point called the Queen’s View. This is one of Scotland’s most photographed views and is simply stunning, no matter what the weather. The viewpoint is a short walk from the parking area which is on the left hand side of the road. Again you will have the chance to have a coffee or light lunch, if the time is right, at the café.
Queens View to Rannoch Station
Continue along the road and enjoy the views down the loch. You will pass the Tay Forrest Walks on your right if you are ready for a stretch of the legs or you can have a picnic. Further down Loch Tummel you will come to Tummel Bridge and this is where you can go in one of two directions – to Kinloch Rannoch and Rannoch Station (which I will describe for this day out tour) or over the moor to Kenmore and Loch Tay.
Rannoch Station is basically the end of the road. It is just 12 miles across the moor to the west coast but unfortunately there is not a road. At the end of the road is the railway where you can catch a train up to Malaig and Fort William. Again this will form part of our Ideas for a Full Day Out. There is a little café on the station that serves home made food and again is excellent.
You can simply trace back your steps for home or drive back to Tummel Bridge and join up with the Pitlochry – Killiecrankie – Queen’s View – Loch Tummel – Kenmore and Loch Tay – Aberfeldy route.
Pitlochry – Killiecrankie – Queen’s View – Loch Tummel – Kenmore and LochTay – Aberfeldy
Travel out of town towards the north and keep to the old road, signed to Killiecrankie and Kinloch Rannoch. Turn left onto the B8019 and travel to Tummel Bridge (further detail of this part of the trip can be found duplicated above). At Tummel Bridge take a left turn signposted to Aberfeldy. Continue along this route until you reach a cluster of properties know as Coshieville. Turn right at the sign to Kenmore and continue along this road. You will pass through the tiny village of Fortingall, home of the famous Fortingall Yew Tree, located in the churchyard. Next door is the Fortingall Hotel, where a lovely lunch or dinner is served – probably the place for adults only or for families with older children.
Continue along to Kenmore which is at the end of Loch Tay. On your left you will see The Courtyard Shop and Restaurant a good place to stop for interesting deli produce and gifts of all shapes and sizes. There is also a restaurant here that we would recommend.
Kenmore is a pretty little village so get out and stretch your legs for a while. You can walk along the shores of Loch Tay and have a paddle in the very shallow waters there.
Along the south shore of the loch (left as you look down it) there is a watersports centre called Croft-na-Caber and lots of different water sports can be enjoyed there.
