Blair Atholl (from the Scottish Gaelic: Blàr Athall) is a small town in Perthshire, Scotland, built about the confluence of the Rivers Tilt and Garry in one of the few areas of flat land in the midst of the Grampian Mountains. The Gaelic place-name Blair, from blàr, 'field, plain', refers to this location. Atholl, which may mean 'new Ireland', is the name of the surrounding district.

In March 2008, it was announced that Blair Atholl and some other Highland Perthshire villages will be in the National Park.

The town is bypassed by the A9 and has a railway station on the Highland Main Line. 

For a fully interactive map of Blair Atholl and the surrounding area, please go here.  For a scaleable road map, please go here.

Blair Castle

Blair Atholl's most famous feature is Blair Castle (NN 865 662), one of Scotland's premier stately homes, and the last castle in the British Isles to be besieged, in 1746 during the last Jacobite Rebellion. The Castle was the traditional home of the Earls (later Marquises, now Dukes) of Atholl. The Duke of Atholl is the only private person in the United Kingdom allowed to raise his own private army - the Atholl Highlanders. Its activities are social and ceremonial, and the ranks are filled mainly from workers on the extensive Atholl Estates.

The Castle sits in extensive grounds, which the Dukes of Atholl have altered and added to over several centuries. Notable among the features are Diana's Grove and the Hercules Garden, both laid out in the first half of the 18th century, and rare examples of their period. Both are adorned with lead reproductions of Classical statues. The Dukes of Atholl were early and enthusiastic tree planters, and Diana's Grove contains some of the tallest trees in Great Britain. The Hercules Garden, recently restored, is a rare survival of a walled formal garden with an artificial lake and islands, surrounded by plantations of fruit trees. There are several other follies, bridges etc of various periods.

Blair Atholl Village

Until the early 19th century the only building on the site of the present village was the Old Mill (open to the public). It began to grow around the present parish church, largely as a planned settlement, when this was moved from Old Blair. The building of the main A9 North Road and railway line to Inverness encouraged the growth of the village.

The Atholl Folk Museum in the village has displays on the social history of the area. Open in summer (entrance charge).

House of Bruar

The House of Bruar is Scotland’s most prestigious country store and, for many, no trip to Scotland is complete without a visit to ‘The Home of Country Clothing’.

Situated in rural Perthshire ten miles north of Pitlochry, The House of Bruar boasts some of Scotland’s finest produce, clothing and rural artwork. Within their walls you’ll find items ranging from traditional Scottish tweed to cashmere jumpers and food hampers.

Their range of country clothing features time-honoured classics and exciting contemporary designs. The collection includes Cashmere, Lambswool and Tweed – and is well worth a visit if you want to be sure of getting a garment that’s really something special.

If you want to admire some of the UK’s finest examples of contemporary rural art, their Gallery is your ideal destination. And if you appreciate the beauty of nature as portrayed in the Gallery, don’t forget to explore the magnificent Falls of Bruar with its spectacular tumbling waterfalls.

Pitlochry

Pitlochry is largely a Victorian town, whose success as a tourist resort was due to Queen Victoria visiting the area in 1842, and the arrival of the railway in 1863. It remains a popular tourist resort today and is particularly known as a centre for hillwalking, surrounded by mountains such as Ben Vrackie. The town has retained many stone-built Victorian buildings.

Pitlochry dates largely from Victorian times, though the area known as Moulin, once a separate village, is older. Moulin Kirk was granted by the Earl of Atholl to Dunfermline Abbey in 1180. Moulin became a burgh of barony in 1511.

In 1947 Pitlochry became a burgh. That year also saw the beginning of construction of a dam as part of the Tummel hydro-electric power scheme. The dam and its fish ladder are a popular tourist attraction today. The damming of the river created an artificial loch, Loch Faskally.

Pitlochry Festival Theatre opened in 1951, originally situated in the current location of the Curling Rink as a tent. The current building dates from 1981.

Every year in October, Pitlochry transforms into a hub of activity for some 20,000 visitors who descend upon the town to see The Enchanted Forest sound and light show and the Pitlochry Autumn Festival that runs alongside the event.

The town was the winner of the 2003 Britain in Bloom horticultural contest, in the category of Small Country Town.

Blair Atholl Area Tourism Association

A community based group dedicated to improving local tourist facilities in this historic and scenic area of Highland Perthshire - go here to visit their website.

Click here for information about fishing on the River Tilt from Fishingnet.com.

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