Pitlochry has been a tourist resort for the Southern Highlands since the railway was built in 1863, and still retains the atmosphere of a Victorian spa town. Tourists are still attracted to it by its invigorating Highland air, its summer drama festival, distilleries, shopping and most of all, its dramatic surroundings.
The Pitlochry Festival Theatre lies on the bank of the River Tummel and has a great reputation for all year round comedy and drama. Visitors can have a tour and a tasting session at Edradour, Scotland’s smallest distillery, or watch salmon negotiating the artificial ladder to swim upstream to Loch Faskally.
There are many gentle walks in and around Pitlochry, particularly along the banks of Loch Faskally and as far as the pass at Killiecrankie. The town is also an excellent base to explore the valleys of the Tay and the Tummel. The view across Loch Tummel, known as the Queen’s View, to the mountain of Schiehallion and beyond to the summits of Glen Coe is one of the finest in Scotland. Here, the visitor centre at Strathtummel has an exhibition and audio-visual presentation, with nearby forest walks and picnic areas. The outstanding Pass of Killiecrankie is now run by the National Trust for Scotland and the visitor centre close by tells the story of the famous battle in this tree-lined gorge.
In May each year, visitors can see the Athol Highlanders Parade at the magnificent Blair Castle, ancient home of the Dukes of Athol.