Things To Do In Pitlochry – Complete Guide To A Scenic Highland Town

Pitlochry is one of the “Gateways to the Highlands”, beautifully nestled in between Ben Vrackie and the River Tummel. It’s a busy spot, popular for weekend breaks in Scotland and somewhere that I stay at some point every, single year. In and around this wee Highland town, you can find fascinating stories set in some of the most picturesque settings.

While there are some things to do in Pitlochry itself, it’s real draw is as a fantastic base to explore Highland Perthshire! Whether you’re looking for an adrenaline-fuelled adventure, a relaxing night away in nature or somewhere in between, you’ll find it here.

Let me share with you how I would spend the perfect weekend in Pitlochry, starting with the town and then where to head in the surrounding area.

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How To Get To Pitlochry

Pitlochry sits on the main road into the Scottish Highlands, the A9 stretching from Perth up to the fantastic city of Inverness. Expect it to take just under 2 hours to drive here from Edinburgh or a little less from Glasgow. There is some on street parking, but also a large car park here which has public toilets.

Here’s the best place to find car hire in Scotland and if you’re nervous about driving here, this article might help you!

If you’re relying on public transport to get to Pitlochry, there is a train station with regular arrivals from Inverness, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Book your train tickets through Trailine here!

The Megabus also stops here, along with several local buses and the town is easy to navigate by foot!

Quick History Of Pitlochry

It’s a bustling town today, but that hasn’t always been the case. The Pitlochry we know today began to form when General Wade’s military road passed through here in the 1700s and coaching houses popped up along the route. Its importance was solidified with the arrival of the railway over 100 years later.

After Queen Victoria enjoyed her stay at nearby Blair Castle in the 1840s, she set a trend that would transform Pitlochry. The great and good of society descended on the Highlands and they needed somewhere to sleep, eat and drink. Walking the main street of Pitlochry today, it still has a very strong Victorian tourist town feel.

Shop For Local Crafts & Produce

If there’s one thing that Pitlochry is known for, it’s the shopping. The main street is lined with loads of independent, Scottish stores where you can pick up souvenirs or useful items. Every December, I make a pilgrimage here to get most of my family’s Christmas presents! As a side note, the Christmas Emporium shop is worth stopping in at any time of year.

There are a few of the typical tourist tat stores to avoid, but you won’t be short of places to browse. Honest Thistle is a great one, full of wee gifts from Scottish craftspeople. It’s one of those places where it just feels good to be! For soaps, creams and candles, The Highland Soap Co are fantastic and I can highly recommend the Lemongrass & Ginger!

If you’re planning on heading off hiking, then stop into the Mountain Warehouse. If you’d rather try some Scottish spirits then pop into Drinkmonger! Whatever you do, don’t miss the whisky ice cream that’s on sale at Scotch Corner!

Lastly, on the 3rd Saturday of the month between April & October, there’s a Local Market in the town. It’s a must-do if you happen to be spending that weekend in Pitlochry!

Watch The Production At Heathergems

I was going to include this in the shops section, but a visit to Heathergems during a trip to Pitlochry deserves its own space. This is an icon of the town and somewhere I vividly remember being dragged to as a child (that was before I had an appreciation for all things heather).

You can find these small pieces of jewellery and other gifts in lots of giftshops around Scotland, but this is where it’s all produced. They even have a viewing gallery to watch as stems of heather from the surrounding hills are cleaned, dyed, pressed and then transformed into all manner of items!

If you’re looking to take home a wee piece of Scotland, I think something crafted from heather is perfect!

Visit The Fish Ladder & Dam

One of the more unusual, but still popular things to do in Pitlochry is a visit to the hydro-electric Dam. It’s a marvel of engineering from the mid-20^th century, built to create hydro-electric power from the River Tummel. The construction of this huge project wasn’t without its local opposition though.

One of the big problems was that the dam blocked salmon from swimming upriver each year to spawn. The solution was the creation of the Pitlochry fish ladder and its 34 stepped pools. Visit around April-July or September/October to watch the salmon swim through chambers all the way to the top. If you’re very lucky then you might even catch them leaping right out of the water!

See A Show At The Pitlochry Festival Theatre

Labelled as Scotland’s Theatre in the Hills, if you’re spending a night or weekend in Pitlochry, then it’s worth trying to see a show at the Festival Theatre! This is an important creative hub for the area, but it’s far more than your usual local playhouse.

The Pitlochry Festival Theatre attracts over 100,000 visitors every year, with internationally renowned performers and an incredible range of plays and musicals. As well as these large-scale shows, they have the small Studio space to host up and coming artists or intimate performances.

Explore The Explorers Garden

Behind the Festival Theatre, spread over six acres of woodland, the Explorers or Plant Hunters Garden is one of the less well-known things to do in Pitlochry. That makes it the perfect quiet place to escape from the hustle and bustle of the main street!

Scotland has produced some of the world’s most important explorers and plant hunters, who travelled the world to bring new species to the public back home. Split into different regions of the world, this garden celebrates the impact these figures had. As well as impressive trees, you’ll stumble upon exotic plants and maybe even spot a red squirrel or two!

Be aware that the garden is only open between 1 April – 31 October.

Head Uphill To Moulin

Before we had Pitlochry, the main settlement in this area was Moulin. When the road and then railway bypassed this for flatter ground, the older village began to fade in importance. It’s a bit of a hike uphill to reach Moulin during your trip to Pitlochry, but you’ll be well rewarded!

The current church dates to the 1800s, but the site dates back centuries earlier than that. Originally founded in the 7th century, this was once the heart of the local community. One burial in particular draws a lot of attention, known as “The Crusaders Grave” and said to date from the 12th century. The church is no longer used for worship, but you’ll usually find the local heritage centre inside! (Currently relocated to the Fishers Hotel due to church restoration work)

Next to the church is the 300 year old Moulin Hotel, a brilliant place to stay in Pitlochry, but it’s got something else up its sleeve! This is where the Moulin Brewery is located and you can get a free tour Monday to Friday. Of course a tasting in the Inn afterwards is absolutely essential…

From here, it’s a short walk out to the ruins of Black Castle. Built by the Earl of Atholl in the 1300s, it’s name hints to a dark past rather than the colour of the stonework. It’s said that the castle inhabitants succumbed to the Black Death and the locals were so scared to go inside, they destroyed it with cannons!

Admire The Dunfallandy Pictish Stone

About a mile to the south of Pitlochry, hidden away from most visitors, is the Dunfallandy Stone. Carved around 600AD, this is a brilliant example of a Pictish Stone. We don’t know what many of the symbols on these stones mean, but they show the long history of settlement in this area!

Today, the stone is protected from the weather by a glass & stone box, which does make taking pictures a little difficult. On one side, a Celtic Cross is carved while the other contains mysterious Pictish symbols. A crescent and double disc stand above a rider with a set of tools. Once known as the Priest’s stone, who the figures might be is left to your imagination.

Hike Up Ben Vrackie

When you spend a weekend or even just a day in Pitlochry, it’s worth getting out to experience the natural beauty that surrounds the town. If you’re feeling energetic, then lace up your hiking boots and head up Ben Vrackie! Translated as the Mountain of the Speckles, it’s a real icon of the town below.

It’s not quite a Munro, but this circuit will still take you around 5-6 hours to complete. Trust me, the views are absolutely worth the effort! If that seems a little too daunting then stick with this shorter 2 hour trip up wee Craigower and back instead.

Try Some Scottish Extreme Sports!

To me, Perthshire is one of the homes of Scotland’s extreme outdoor sports. There are loads of adventurous things to do in Pitlochry and I’ve personally experienced both this White Water Rafting and this Canyoning. Both were incredible days out and it’s always fun doing something out of the norm!

Most of the extreme sports operate in the summer months only which is understandable when you feel the temperature of Scottish rivers. We rafted in March and believe me, it was freezing! You also have the option of River Tubing, which is a little less extreme than the rafting but still not something for kids!

If you don’t want to get wet but you’re still seeking a thrill, try the Highland Fling Bungee Jump. Leap over the River Garry with either the bungee or the swing, during the day or even at night! You won’t catch me doing this one…

Have A Dram Or Two!

After all of those activities, you’re going to need a stiff drink to calm the nerves. Fortunately, Pitlochry has two distilleries to get you through! The bad news is that Edradour, one of Scotland’s smallest distilleries, is closed to visitors for 2025. It’s one of my favourite drams though, so if you’re spending the weekend in Pitlochry, make sure to sample some from a local pub!

Fortunately, Blair Athol Distillery in the south of the town is still open for tours. It’s one of the most picturesque distilleries to visit, with ivy crawling all over the stone buildings. Built in 1798, they turn the water flowing from Ben Vrackie into a delicious Highland malt. Choose from a short distillery tour or the longer “Cask & Cocktail” option!

Head To Blair Castle

The bright, white Blair Castle isn’t far away and if you have transport, then it’s an essential thing to do in Pitlochry! Once home to the Earls and later Dukes of Atholl, the castle dates back to the 13th century. The oldest section is called the Comyn Tower which is odd since this was never part of the Comyn family’s territory.

Back in the 13th century, the Earl of Atholl was away on a Crusade and John Comyn saw that as an opportunity to extend his land. He built a small castle here in the hope that nobody would notice but he wasn’t that lucky. The Earl of Atholl returned and quickly kicked Comyn out, using his tower as the basis for Blair Castle.

Guarding the only easy passage through the mountains to Inverness, Blair Castle became a crucial stronghold. It was caught up in several of the Jacobite risings but thankfully survived unscathed. While no longer home to the Duke of Atholl, it does happen to be home to Europe’s only legal private army – the Atholl Highlanders.

Today it’s more like a lavish mansion than a medieval castle, but the tour through the rooms is fascinating!

Admire The Queen’s View

If you’re taking a daytrip from Pitlochry, then head to Queen’s View next. It can be a busy stop for bus tours, but the view is absolutely spectacular. From this vantage point, you can see right Loch Tummel, past Schiehallion and on a really clear day you can see all the way to Glencoe!

Queen’s View was made famous by Queen Victoria stopping here who assumed it was named after her. Local tradition claims that it was named for one of Robert the Bruce’s wives over 500 years earlier! However it got its name, it’s easy to see why its such a popular spot.

Leap Into Killiecrankie

Nearby you’ll find somewhere that’s been one of my favourite places since I was a kid and not just because it’s a fun word to say – Killiecrankie. As well as being a beautiful woodland walk, this wee gorge was the setting for the first real battle of the Jacobite risings in 1689 which would dominate Scottish history for the next 60 years.

The Jacobites won that clash, although their leader Bonnie Dundee would be killed. If you keep your ears open as you wander above the river, you might still hear the ghostly sound of clashing swords and firing muskets of a battle long over.

An easy walk will take you to Soldier’s Leap where the river churns in a tumbling waterfall. That’s where a government soldier Donald MacBean was trapped by a group of Jacobites and faced with what seemed like certain death. Turning, he raced towards the water and somehow managed to leap the 18ft gap to safety, although he did lose a shoe in the process.

Take a Daytrip To Dunkeld & The Hermitage

One of my favourite daytrips from Pitlochry is just 20 minutes south around the town of Dunkeld. This place might be a wee bit smaller, but it’s still packed with interesting spots. The cathedral is one of the most historic in Scotland, hiding the tomb of the Wolf of Badenoch inside. Walk along the river and find the Birnam Oak, namedropped in Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

Just outside of Dunkeld, you’ll find the outstanding Hermitage. This woodland walk alongside the river Braan is one of the best in all of Scotland. After just 10 minutes walk you’ll reach Ossian’s Hall which looks over a spectacular waterfall. Time it to visit in Spring with beautiful wildflowers or Autumn for the changing leaves!

Where To Stay In Pitlochry

To make the most of this part of Highland Perthshire, you should try and spend at least a weekend in Pitlochry. That means you’re going to need somewhere to stay and these are all places that have been tried and tested by either me or my tour guests!

Old Mill Inn – A very comfortable inn with great quality rooms and a lively pub and restaurant downstairs. Situated in an old mill right in the centre of town!

Moulin Hotel – A 300 year old inn with plenty of rooms, packed with character and amazing food on offer! This is a great quiet spot for the night but you will need to get up the hill to reach it.

Carra Beag Guest House – One of the very best guest houses in Pitlochry, situated in an old Victorian villa in a central bit of town.

Atholl Villa Guest House – Sitting right on the main street, this is a very traditional guest house, with rooms for solo travellers, couples and families!

The Claymore Guest House – Another excellent guest house in the quiet end of town with plenty of modern, comfortable rooms.

Fonab Castle – If you want somewhere luxurious to stay in Pitlochry, then it doesn’t get much better than Fonab Castle! It’s not cheap, but how often do you get the chance to stay in a castle in the Scottish Highlands?

Atholl Palace – Built as a Victorian hydro spa, Atholl Palace is another special place to spend the night. There are roaring fires in the lobby, incredible views to the hills and a relaxing pool and spa downstairs.

Pitlochry Youth Hostel – On other end of the spectrum, this is the budget option but it’s one that I have used many times! As long as you’re happy to sleep in a bunkbed, its comfortable and has great views over the town.

Where To Eat In Pitlochry

Thanks to its long history as a tourist town, there are loads of places to eat in Pitlochry!

Hettie’s Tearoom – A very popular spot for lunch or just a pot of tea in the middle of the main street.

Cafe Calluna – A brilliant space for a delicious lunch and very dog friendly!

Auld Smiddy Inn – A traditional pub with hearty food on the menu!

The Bridge Restaurant – A family run restaurant off the main street with great Scottish food.

Fern Cottage – Scottish food with a Mediterranean twist! Doesn’t get much better than that.

McKays Hotel – Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner – a good quality, family option!

Where To Head Next After Your Trip To Pitlochry

There’s no need to stop your adventure around Scotland after your weekend in Pitlochry! Here are some options for where to head next

• Head up north to Inverness – the Capital Of The Highlands!
• Head over the hills to the incredible Moray Speyside!
• Dive deeper into Perthshire and explore the abandoned village of Old Lawers.
• At the far end of Loch Tay, spend some time around Killin!

If you want to visit Pitlochry as part of a private tour around Scotland then get in touch here for Scotland’s Stories Guided Tours!