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 Pitlochry |
 Kinloch Rannoch |
 View from Schiehallion |
Pitlochry is a popular tourist destination and an excellent base from which to explore a large part of the Central Highlands. The town is set on the eastern side of the River Tummel. It is surrounded by hills, with the most striking being Ben Vrackie, to the north east. Beyond Ben Vrackie is a vast area of wilderness rising to the Cairngorms.
For much of the year the streets of Pitlochry are decorated with flowers; and the striking set pieces mark the town's success in the Britain in Bloom competition.
Pitlochry is home to two distilleries. The Edradour is Scotland's smallest, producing only twelve barrels per week, and can be found just to the east of the town. Bell's Blair Atholl Distillery, at the southern end of the town, is a very much larger operation. Both have visitor centres.
For walkers there is a useful publication called 'Pitlochry Walks'. It lists eight walks, four short, four long. The Edradour walk takes in the distillery and Black Spout waterfall and is two miles long. For the more adventurous, it includes the walk to the summit of Ben Vrackie complete with spectacular views. Pitlochry has also recently been established as the destination of the Rob Roy Way unofficial long distance path from Drymen.
Four miles north of Pitlochry is the Pass of Killiecrankie, a deep wooded gorge that was the site of the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689. The NTS Visitor Centre houses exhibits charting the battle and carries information on the geology and natural history of the area.
Three miles further on is Blair Castle in the village of Blair Atholl. It is a huge whitewashed turreted building, which has seen much alteration and extension in its 700-year history. The castle is home to the Atholl Highlanders, the only private army in Europe, and is open to the public from April to October.
Kinloch Rannoch is a little village at the eastern end of Loch Rannoch. It is a popular destination for backpackers as a base for local walks and cycling trips. There is good fishing in the rivers and lochs in the area. It is home to two attractive churches, All Saints Episcopal Church and the Old Church of Rannoch.
Eighteen miles west from the village by minor road is Rannoch Station, a remote stop on the Glasgow to Fort William line. Rannoch Station may not be the end of the line, but it is the end of the road. If you have come this far, just about the only way out is via the 38 miles back to the A9 at Pitlochry.
The scenery beyond Rannoch Station, on Rannoch Moor, is magnificent; a vast boggy plateau at an altitude of 1000ft covered with lochs and lochans, surrounded by distant mountains. A magical place in summer sunlight, brooding and moody on a dismal day and forbidding in winter.
An excellent viewpoint for the whole area is the summit of Schiehallion, the Fairy Hill of the Caledonians, a Munro at 3552ft which dominates Kinloch Rannoch's south east skyline. This is a popular mountain and its distinctive shape is visible from many far distant mountains. Access is from Braes of Foss by a well-worn path up to the summit ridge.
For those wishing to keep their heads out of the clouds, there is an interesting walk around Loch Rannoch, a clan trail with information boards on local clans. A cycle route also encircles the Loch. For those unwilling to leave their cars behind, the drive round Loch Rannoch, taking in the very minor road along its southern side, is highly recommended. Close to the west end of the loch it is worth watching out for the small Braes of Rannoch Church.
