Places

Things to Do

Pitlochry has a packed events calendar across the year ranging from the New Year's Day street ceilidh to a range of events held in the Autumn.

The view from Ben Vrackie

The four day 'Winter Words' theatre held at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre in January has author talks and events as well as creative writing workshops for young and old. The theatre also acts as the cultural hub for the town with a changing programme of plays, workshops and other events taking place in the venue.

If you are after a challenge then take part in or cheer on cyclists in the Etape Caledonia Closed Road Cycle Challenge in May. The 81 mile route through Perthshire starts and finishes in Pitlochry.  It is Britain’s first and currently only closed road timed cycle event which is open to the ordinary cyclist.

The Enchanted Forest

The Pitlochry Highland Games are held annually in September and have been running since 1852.

Autumn is always a busy time in Pitlochry with the Autumn Festival. The highlight  of this is  'The Enchanted Forest', a themed extravanganza of lighting and music as you walk through Faskally Woods.

Music is on offer at 'Perthshire Amber', a week of musical performances and workshops held in the last week of October at various venues in Pitlochry, Dunkeld and beyond.

Away from it all

Pitlochry and the surrounding area offer a variety of walks from town strolls to the more gruelling Rob Roy Way at 79 miles.

Ben Vrackie overlooks the town and a strenuous walk can be taken up the hill for dramatic views of Pitlochry and the surrounding hills. Other walks of interest nearby include the Falls of Bruar and 'The Queen's View', named after Queen Victoria's visit to the area.

The Pass of Killiecrankie

The famous Pass of Killiecrankie, where the first battle of the 1689 rebellion was fought, is a stroll along the river North from Pitlochry. The history of the Jacobite Uprising and clan history can be explored at the Clan Donnachaidh Museum in nearby Bruar.

Blair Castle in Blair Atholl, historic home to the dukes and earls of Atholl is another place to explore the history of the area and has extensive grounds, function rooms and historical displays.

Quench your thirst at the smallest distillery in Scotland, the Edradour Distillery or try the ale at the Moulin Brewery. More whisky is on offer at the Blair Athol distillery in Pitlochry, not to be confused with the nearby town Blair Atholl.

Water is turned into electricity at the hydro-electric Pitlochry Dam which is also home to the famous fish ladder. Visitors can tour the dam and watch the salmon leap the ladder to spawn upstream.

Malcolm Burrell contacted us to say, 'Pitlochry has one of the best bike shops in the UK with great fresh coffee!'