Things To Do in Pitlochry
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Pitlochry Attractions
Pitlochry Dam was created because a power station was needed, but in effect the engineers created a new loch. The famous salmon ladder was built to help the struggling salmon upstream. An underwater portion of the ladder has been enclosed in glass to give sightseers a fascinating look. An exhibition (tel. 01796/473-152) is open from April to the last Sunday in October, daily from 10am to 5:30pm (free admission).
There are terrific scenic hikes along the Linn of Tummel, with several signposted trails going along the river and into the forest directly to the north of the center. Just north of here you come to the stunning Pass of Killiecrankie. If you're driving, follow A9 north. The National Trust has established the Killiecrankie Visitor Centre (tel. 01796/473-233; www.nts.org.uk) here, open April to October daily from 10am to 5:30pm. You can learn about a famous battle that occurred here during the 1689 Jacobite rebellion. John Graham of Cleverhouse (1649-89) rallied the mainly Highlander Jacobite army to meet government troops. Graham was killed, and the quest for Scottish independence soon fizzled.
B8019 leads to Loch Rannoch, almost 16km (10 miles) long and 1.2km (3/4 mile) wide. Many consider this to be the most beautiful lake in the Highlands. The setting so impressed Robert Louis Stevenson that he wrote about it in Kidnapped (1886): "Much of it was red with heather, much of the rest broken up with bogs and hags and peaty pools." To see this desolate but awesomely beautiful spot, follow B8019 to the Linn of Tummel north of Pitlochry, venturing onto B846 at the Bridge of Tummel.
The Wee-est of Wee Drams -- Stop in at Edradour Distillery (tel. 01796/472-095; www.edradour.co.uk), Scotland's smallest distillery, for a complimentary "wee dram" and a tour of this picturesque facility. The gift shop sells Edradour single malts, as well as various blends that contain the whisky. January 3 through February, tours are available 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday and noon to 4pm Sunday; March 1 to October 31, tours are available Monday to Saturday 9:30am to 6pm and Sunday 11:30am to 5pm; November 1 to December 31, tours are Monday to Saturday 9:30am to 5pm and Sunday 11:30am to 5pm. It is closed December 25 and 26 and January 1 and 2. Take A924 3km (1 3/4 miles) east toward Braemar.
Pitlochry Nightlife
The town is famous for its Pitlochry Festival Theatre (tel. 01796/484-626; www.pitlochry.org.uk). Founded in 1951, it draws people from all over the world to its repertory of plays, concerts, and varying art exhibits, presented from April 30 to October 9. The theater complex opened in 1981 on the banks of the River Tummel, near the dam and fish ladder; it has a restaurant serving coffee, lunch, and dinner, along with other facilities for visitors. Tickets for plays and concerts are £4 to £32.
For the area's best pub, head to the peaceful grounds of the Killiecrankie Hotel, signposted from A9 north of Pitlochry (tel. 01796/473-220). It serves 20 malt whiskies as well as great food that's reasonably priced. Upholstered chairs, wildlife paintings, and plants and flowers make for an inviting atmosphere.
