This largely Victorian town has an estimated population of 2,500. Lying on the River Tummel, 24 miles north of Perth, this popular tourist resort is well known for its stone built Victorian buildings, and excellent walks in the surrounding mountains like Ben Vrackie, standing at 841m or 2759ft.
The area of Pitlochry became a popular tourist resort shortly after 1863, when the railway station was built. The town has also started to become more widely noticed in 1842, after Queen Victoria spoke fondly of her visit to the nearby Blair Castle.
1947 saw the construction of a dam as part of the Tummel hydro-electric power scheme. The dam, which created an artificial loch, Loch Faskally, and its fish ladder, is a popular tourist attraction to this day. In 2003, Pitlochry was the winner of the 'Britain in Bloom' horticultural contest in the small country town category.
There are lots to see and do here, but Pitlochry's main tourist attraction of this area is its setting. The surrounding mountains make it an ideal destination for hill walkers and climbers. It is also a great place for angling and boating. It's also home to two whisky distilleries, each with visitor centres which prove popular with visitors.
Blair Atholl Distillery dates back to 1798, and Eradour is the last survivor of farmhouse distilleries, something of long tradition. It's also the smallest distillery in Scotland. The dam is also a huge tourist attraction. There's also a working brewery in the town, at the Moulin Inn for lovers of beer rather than malt whiskey. Visitors are able to view fish leaping from weir to weir along its 310 metre salmon ladder, either from the underwater viewing station or via video from inside the visitor centre.
Pitlochry's Festival Theatre is definitely worth a visit, and is the town's cultural highlight. The theatre is famed for allowing its visitors to see as many as 8 different plays in a single week!
There is a wide range of accommodation to choose from here, ranging from B&B's and guest houses, to hotels and lodgings. Here at Pitlochry Bed and Breakfast, we feature a selection of the best.
