Route: A Walk Through Time around Pitlochry

Distance: 8.5km (14km if you include Craigower)

Ascent: 220m (450m if you include Craigower)

Grade: Moderate

Time taken: 4 hours (up to 6 hours if you include Craigower)

This is a lovely walk around Pitlochry, visiting a spectacular waterfall, a ruined castle, an old coaching inn and brewery and a bouncy bridge! The route offers super views of Pitlochry. This is usually a half-day walk but can be easily extended into a longer walk.

The walk can be done from anywhere in Pitlochry. Most of the time, the walk starts at the Pitlochry iCentre (the tourist information centre). The route walks along the main road to the junction for the Atholl Palace Hotel. Rather than going up to the hotel, the route follows Knockfarrie Road and a path then leads into the woods. Follow signs for the Black Spout, which is a spectacular 20m waterfall. The route then follows signposts for Moulin. On the way, the route passes the ruined Caisteal Dubh (the “Black Castle”) which has an interesting story to tell. Moulin is a much older village than Pitlochry, with an old coaching inn (a great place for a refreshing drink or trying out the local beer that they make just at the back of the inn).

The route then follows what was, a long time ago, the main road to the north. After reaching the golf course, the route then follows signposts back into Pitlochry (please be aware of golfers on the course and make sure you watch for golf balls if someone is playing golf!). The route then goes past The Cuilc (a large pond) and descends down a steep road to the banks of Loch Faskally. On the way, please take care when you cross over the railway line and and the main road into Pitlochry. Follow the path along the banks of the loch to Pitlochry Dam. Cross the dam and walk by the famous fish ladder and past the Pitlochry Festival Theatre to Port-na-Craig. Here, the route follows a bouncy suspension bridge! The path soon brings us back into the centre of Pitlochry.

This walk offers super views of Pitlochry, Ben Vrackie and the surrounding countryside. The walk follows mainly good paths and tracks, but with a field to cross to reach the Caisteal Dubh.

The route can be extended into a longer walk by climbing up to the scenic viewpoint of Craigower. If you're lucky with the weather, you can see the distant hills of Glencoe from the viewpoint. Another option is to walk to the Pitlochry Boating Station from Lagreach at the bottom of Cuilc Brae, then cross over Loch Faskally on the footbridge below the A9 bridge and walk along the western shoreline of Loch Faskally to the Pitlochry Dam.

The description above is not a detailed one. If you wish to try this walk, please make sure you are properly equipped and prepared, and that you have worked out the route on an OS map (the route is on the Landranger map 52 or the Explorer OL49.

Or you can book us for the day and we'll guide you along the route and tell you lots of things about the route, the area and what you're seeing. To book, please go to this page: