It is indeed without a doubt that Pitlochry, in the area of Perth and Kinross council, began developing as a result of the famous Jacobite rising of 1715 CE. In response to this, General George Wade built roads running through the city to help move military equipment and men into beautiful rural Scotland.
These days, the city’s economy is stoked by tourism, resulting from several critical events in its past. The first was Queen Victoria, remarking on the stunning beauty of the city while exploring nearby Blare Castle. This gave Pitlochry notoriety, and naturally enough, sparked immense interest in it.
Constructed on this positive momentum, a station was built in 1863 CE, making the town far more accessible for everyone. Thanks to the mountains and surrounding rugged countryside, the Pitlochry’s development became a priority.
With the Highlands’ scent already in the air, Pitlochry is a favorite stop on the way north. In summer, the central street can be a conga line of international and domestic tour groups but linger just for a while, and it is still charming – on a peaceful spring evening, it’s a lovely place with salmon jumping in the Tummel and good things brewing off the streets.
Top Attractions in Pitlochry:
Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre
Launched in 2017 CE, this stunning visitor center is located above the dam on the River Tummel. It is home to an exhibition that depicts the history of hydroelectricity in Medieval Scotland, alongside the life cycle of the lovely Atlantic salmon. There is an excellent cafe at Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre as well.
Pass of Killiecrankie
The rugged, beautiful Pass of Killiecrankie, 6km north of Pitlochry, where the mighty River Garry falls through a narrow gorge, was the site of the 1689 CE Battle of Killiecrankie that started the Jacobite rebellion. The visitor center has excellent interactive displays on the Jacobite history and local vegetation and fauna. There are lots to pull, touch and open – great for children. There are some marvelous walks along the wooded gorge, too; keep an eye out for rare red squirrels.
Wild Space
This mixed interpretation center, art gallery, and large bookshop are run by environmental charity the John Muir Trust. It stages exhibitions of modern landscape art and sells maps, wildlife, walking guides, environment-related, and green-science books.
Explorers Garden
This jewel of a garden is based around flowers brought to Scotland by 18th- and 19th-century CE Scottish explorers and botanists such as David Douglas and marks 300 years of collecting and the ‘plant hunters’ who successfully tracked down these fascinating species.
Things to do in Pitlochry
- If you are a theater person, don’t forget to watch a play at the Festival Theatre. It is an experience of a lifetime.
- Go for a quick walk in the neighboring countryside. If you love hiking, then you should embark on a journey of climbing Ben Vrackie (around 841m). Bring the right shoes and safety equipment before scaling. It is hike-friendly with numerous trails and boards.
- Try single malt Scotch Whiskey in Edradour. The whiskey is from the distillery of the same name, which is famous for being the smallest in Scotland.
- Try one of the many state-of-art cafes around Pitlochry. In most restaurants across this town, veggie options are available for vegans, and special dietary requirements are catered for. So, food will not remain a problem for you here.
