Explore
Highland Perthshire
The
glens and hills near Balquhidder, where the notorious outlaw
Rob
Roy spent his last days, mark the beginning of the Highlands
proper. Walkers and climbers have a large choice of mountain
peaks, from Ben Lawers in the south to snow-capped cone of Schiehallion
in the centre. Here, too, is a pocket of Scotland's ancient
Caledonian
forest, and beautiful Loch
Tummel so admired by Queen Victoria.
Aberfeldy
General Wade's fine five-arched bridge, built 1733, still spans
River Tay, overlooked by kilted figure on monument commemorating
Black
Watch regiment. Dewar
family's distillery open to visitors. In 1787 Robert
Burns penned his famous invitation to " Come let us
spend the lichtsome days in the Birks of Aberfeldie."
Ben
Lawers
Rising 3984ft over Loch Tay's north shore, entire mountain is
national nature reserve. Visitor centre, 1,400ft up southern
slope, is start of nature trail.
Birks
of Aberfeldy
Network of burns cascades over stepped rocks, below Falls of
Moness. Footpaths weave their way through birch-clad sides of
ravine, and nature
trail leads to footbridge above falls.
Blair
Atholl
Pepper-pot turrets and castellated towers adorn granite buildings
of village, which stands at meeting point of several highland
glens. Mill dating from 17th century is still in operation on
River Garry its products can be sampled.
Blair
Castle
Turreted baronial castle, home to Dukes of Atholl. Restored
to Gothic style in 1868. Rooms filled with fine furniture, paintings,
tapestries, arms, clothes telling story of Highland life from
1500.
Braes
of Balquhidder
Steep glens and windswept hills, framed by mountain peaks to
north-west. Outlaw Rob Roy lived his last years here; he and
other MacGregors are buried in Balquhidder churchyard, his grave
marked by slate slab carved with kilted figure.
Castle
Menzies
Castle built 1488 with later additions, seat of Clan Menzies
chief. Two towers and central block with four storeys. Copper
cast of Bonnie
Prince Charlie's death mask on display. Castle also houses
Clan Menzies museum.
Clan
Donnachaidh Museum
Mmuseum housing memorabilia of Clan
Donnachaidh, which included several families. Relics from
Jacobite uprisings of 1715 and 1745, tartans, glass, silver
and books. Starting point for walk to Falls
of Bruar.
Comrie
Resort town at meeting point of two glens. Museum of Scottish
Tartans includes reconstructed weaver's cottage and plant dyes.
Path up Glen
Lednock leads to Deil's Caldron, where river disappears
through hole in rock.
Craigower
Marked trail, north of Pitlochry, leads through woods to 1,300ft
summit of beacon hill. Views from summit across water meadows
to Schiehallion's peak.
Crieff
Visitor's centre has two walk-around craft factories, allowing
visitors to see pottery and paper-weights being made. Octagonal
mercat cross stands within iron railing. Old stocks stand near
the 17th-century tolbooth.
Drummond
Castle Gardens
Originally laid out in 1600s the gardens were Italianised about
1830. Terraces with geometrically shaped beds, lawns and hedges
slope away from medieval keep. John Mylne, Charles I's master
mason, created obelisk sundial furnished with 50 different faces.
Glengoulandie
Deer Park
Red deer, Highland cattle and rare breeds of sheep roam free
at foot of Schiehallion peak.
Glen
Lyon
Castle ruins and standing stones dot steep slopes of Scotland's
longest glen. MacGregor's Leap marks spot where ancestor of
Rob Roy bounded to safety across ravine. Fortingall
is legendary birthplace of Pontius Pilate.
Glenturret
Distillery
Whisky distillery, established 1775, where traditional methods
are on display. Samplings of whiskies up to 21 years old are
offered. Restaurant and audio-visual theatre.
Innerpeffray
Scotland's first public library still exists. Founded 1691,
library now housed in 18th century building. Rare Scottish books
displayed, including pocket Bible taken into battle by Montrose,
general who won brilliant victories in Scotland for Charles
I. Church nearby dates from 1508.
Kenmore
Village on eastern shore of Loch Tay, noted for salmon fishing.
Bridge over River Tay here was built by Earl of Breadalbane
in 1774. In 1787, Robert
Burns wrote verse about view from bridge, copy in Kenmore
Hotel.
Killin
Fishing resort on Loch Tay with walking, climbing, skiing and
motoring in surrounding mountains. Finlarig Castle, former Campbell
seat built 1609, has beheading pit where crude guillotine, The
Maiden, was used. Falls
of Dochart rush through town.
Kingussie
Winter sports resort in Spey Valley. Highland Folk Museum complex
has Hebridean black-house, water-powered clack mill, and 18th
century shooting lodge. Inside are objects of everyday Highland
life. Free tours of nearby china factory.
Kinloch
Rannoch
Village at eastern end of Loch
Rannoch. Car parks around loch provide views of 3554ft Schiehallion
peak. Stone cottages, baronial style hotel, forge and shops.
Loch
Faskally
Reservoir created when Tummel was dammed in 1950; breeding site
for greylag geese. At southern end, salmon leap up fish pass
in season. Forest trails along east and north shores of loch.
Logierait
Tummel flows into River
Tay here in narrow gorge of historic military importance.
In local churchyard are three mortsafes (metal frames padlocked
round coffins to deter body snatchers).
Melville
Monument
Short detour off Glen
Lednock. Circular Walk leads to Dunmore Hill, 840ft, with
obelisk in memory of Lord Melville. Fine views of Highlands.
Moulin
In churchyard opposite the Moulin Inn are remains of the Old
Judging Tree, under which local justice was dispensed until
1746. Churchyard has two medieval warrior graves. An Caisteal
Dubh (black castle) of 1320, now in ruins, was inhabited until
1500 when plague wiped out garrison.
Muthill
Village has 15th century church with 12th century tower. Local
folk museum housed in c. 1760 Georgian cottage.
Newtonmore
Centre for walking, pony trekking at foot of Monadhliath Mountains
and head of Spey Valley. Clan Macpherson Museum displays historical
relics including 15th-century bagpipes. Path leads to Loch Dubh
by 3087ft Carn Ban.
Pass
of Killiecrankie
River Carry gorge where English were defeated by Jacobites under
Bonnie Dundee in 1689. Visitor centre explains battle's history.
Soldiers Leap is where English soldier sprang 18ft across ravine
to escape his pursuers.
Pitlochry
Summer festival at hillside theatre above River Tummel. Highland
games take place each September. Scotland's smallest distillery
lies north-east of town. Viewing chamber allows public to watch
salmon struggling upstream at southern end of Loch Faskally.
Queen's
View
Viewpoint of Loch Tummel's wooded valley, with Schiehallion's
peak in distance. Named after Queen Victoria's 1866 visit. Four
way marked paths through woodland; picnic spot with loch views.
Steep trail to loch shore.
Rannoch
Forest
Old and new woodlands south of Loch
Rannoch. To west are Scots pines, remnant of ancient Caledonian
Forest. To east are stands of recently planted larch, pine and
spruce. Three marked trails from Cane car park.
Rannoch
Moor
About 60 square miles of peat bog with pools, lochs and burns.
Haven for wetland birds; treacherous for walkers in places.
Surrounded by mountains.
Ruthven
Barracks
Roadside ruins of English barracks built 1718. Built for troops
brought in to control Highlanders after 1715 rebellion, Highlanders
captured it 1746 and later blew it up to stop English using
it again.
St
Mary's
Church in Grandtully dating from 16th century contains otable
17th century wooden ceiling. Its 29 painted panels portray Biblical
scenes and coats of arms. Panels separated by paintings of fruit,
vases of flowers and birds. Now restored.
Weem
Village has late 15th-century church housing Menzies family
memorials and two crosses from 8th century monastery. Take a
hike up ancient woodland covered crags with tales of hermits,
dragons and demons for company. The circular
path clings to the steep slopes and leads to St. David's
Well.
If
you would like to visit this area as part of a highly personalized
small group tour of my native Scotland please e-mail me:
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