The hub of Highland Perthshire, Pitlochry is a buzzing town with unbeatable access to the best of the countryside.
Pitlochry has all the ingredients of a postcard-worthy Highland town: history; culture; a high street chock-full of good cafes and local artisan shops; an enviable riverside location; and prime access to all of the outdoor adventure that awaits in the Heart of Scotland. The Perthshire Gravel Trails Project gives cyclists an opportunity to village-hop that trades crowded tarmac for long-distance bike tracks and old estate roads. Walkers will find themselves at the end of the Rob Roy Way, along with a network of shorter trails. Pitlochry serves as the perfect stop-over for a trip further north into Scotland or as your short centre-based escape from Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Circling Pitlochry and its neighbouring villages, the Pitlochry Path network offers days of diverse walking trails that begin and end right in the heart of town. For a relaxed stroll, follow the Pitlochry & the Moulin walk along the hills and forest above town, passing the small ruins of Caisteal Dubh, the Black Castle. A more adventurous walk is the 18-kilometre Bealach Loop, with the option to divert to the lonely summit of Ben Vrackie, then follow the River Garry back into town.
The Rob Roy Way is a 127-km, long-distance walk stretching from Drymen next to Loch Lomond through the Trossachs, along the south shores of stunning Loch Tay and ending in Pitlochry. It traces an easy-to-moderate route through the homeland of Rob Roy Macgregor, the infamous Scottish outlaw. Along the way, walkers pass through traditional Scottish villages from Callander to Killin to Aberfeldy. Campgrounds can be found throughout the route, and transport companies can even carry your rucksack from point A to point B each day.
From the woodland walk along the Falls of Acharn to the Crannog Centre recreating an Iron Age settlement to the bookend villages of Killin and Kenmore, connected by a scenic byway and national cycle route, Loch Tay is a favoured destination for locals and tourists alike. The loch itself is the largest in area, hemmed in by the peaks of Ben Lawers and the more inaccessible stretches of Highland Perthshire to the north.
Summer in Perthshire is hard to beat, but it can also be hard to escape the crowds. Timing your visit in late September or early October will mean fewer crowds and the benefit of autumn foliage. Throughout October, the town transforms for the Enchanted Forest, a spectacular display of lights that draws visitors from far and wide.