Eating in Aberfeldy The Quaich Coffee Shop Aberfeldy

Pitlochry

Pitlochry is a gloriously colourful and vibrant Victorian town surrounded by the most resplendent mountain scenery in Europe. It's fame as a holiday resort dates from the 1860s and it is an absolute must for any visitor to Perthshire touring in the Pitlochry area.

Pitlochry's growth from tiny settlement to bustling and attractive town can be traced back to a three notable visitors. The first was General Wade in the early 1700s, who ran one of his main military routes north through what is now the town. The second was Queen Victoria, who in 1842 stayed at nearby Blair Castle. Her favourable comments marked the start of Pitlochry's real growth as a popular tourist destination. The arrival of the third visitor, the railway, in 1863 confirmed it as one of the premier mountain resorts in the country.

One of the town's best-loved attractions is the Pitlochry Dam and Fish Ladder. Here salmon negotiate the specially constructed ladder allowing them to bypass Pitlochry Dam into the man-made Loch Faskally. Here the salmon don't actually jump up the ladder but swim through interconnecting pipes. An observation chamber allows visitors to watch the salmon underwater through a large plate glass window.

The Pitlochry Festival Theatre lies on the banks of the River Tummel and is internationally renowned for its fine repertoire of drama and comedy.

At Heathergems, the crafts people can be viewed turning the stems of the heather, pulled from the Perthshire hills, into attractive and unusual jewellery.

The Blair Atholl Distillery towards the southern end of the town was founded in 1798 - making it one of Scotland's oldest distilleries - and offers a visitor centre. Up on the hillside to the east of the town lies a second distillery, the Edradour, whose claim to fame is being Scotland's smallest distillery. Here, too, you will find a visitor centre.

Salmon, trout and grayling fishing is available on rivers and lochs around Pitlochry, including the River Tummel and River Garry, and Loch Bhac and Loch Kinardochy. Information on local fishing can be obtained from Pitlochry Angling Club.