Pitlochry

Pitlochry is a Town 26 miles northwest of Perth, just off the main A9 road. The Town grew from the 1840s as a tourist destination with a number of grand Hotels.

Pitlochry is popular for the Bells Distillery, Dam with a Visitor Centre, Fishing, Watersports, and Golf. The Killiecrankie Battle Site is 4 miles north, Blair Castle 7 miles north, Queens View 7 miles northwest, and Highland Safaris 17 miles southwest.

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Camping & Touring Parks in area

The image top is of the Blair Atholl Bells Whisky Distillery on the south side of Pitlochry. You can visit the Distillery for its Shop, Bar Lounge, and Tours.

The image second top is of the Atholl Palace Hotel with large Gardens and a Hotel Museum, one of many fine hotels in Pitlochry with good settings.

The Bike Shop Cafe is on the south side of Atholl Street, the main street in the Town.

The War Memorial with a scenic seating area is also on Atholl Road.

The Old Mill Restaurant with Rooms is just off Athol Road, in the centre of Town. This is a popular spot on sunny days for outdoor drinks and meals.

The River Tummel Suspension Bridge can be found by walking or driving down past the War Memorial on Ferry Road, past the Recreation Park where there is a Car Park. The Bridge is popular for Love Locks, interesting to view and read.

The Pitlochry Highland Games are held at the Recreation Park in mid September each year.

Pitlochry Dam is about half of a mile up-river from the Suspension Bridge.

On the west side of the River Tummel are the Explorers Garden, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, and Port-na-Craig Inn & Restaurant.

Pitlochry Dam has a Visitor Centre sitting high above the Dam with great views, and a Fish Ladder to allow Salmon to travel up-river. The Dam has a large Car Park also used for a Park with Woodland Walks.

Fonab Castle with a popular Restaurant is on the west side of the Dam. You can walk up to the Castle from the Dam.

Pitlochry Boating Station & Adventure Hire is one mile north of Pitlochry on Loch Faskall, part of the body of water created by the Dam.

By the Boating Station is the Green Park Hotel with scenic gardens overlooking Loch Faskall.

Pitlochry History

The area of present day Pitlochry was originally two very small villages on each side of the River Tummel, Port na Craig on the west side, and Moulin on the east side.

Moulin Church is the oldest building known in the area, with the earliest parts possibly from the 800s - 1100s. The Graveyard has stones with Winged Skulls, Death Heads, Trade Emblems, and 2 Crusaders with Medieval Swords, now a Heritage Centre. Map

1100s - Monks from Couper Angus were gifted the lands of Fonab, present day Pitlochry area.

The Monks then built a Ferry that could transport People, Cattle, and Carts across the River.

1180 - Moulin Church was granted by the Earl of Atholl to Dunfermline Abbey.

1326 - the Black Castle of Moulin was built for Sir John Campbell of Lochawe, close to Moulin Church.

1511 - Moulin became a Burgh of Barony, allowing the Landowner to hold Weekly Markets.

1512 - the Black Castle of Moulin was burned due to a fear of Plague, leading to it falling into ruin.

1700s - a Military Road was built through Pitlochry during the Jacobite Risings, allowing easier travel around the area.

1798 - the Blair Atholl Distillery was built for John Stewart.

1800s early - Moulin School was attended by Alexander MacKenzie (1822-1892) who went on to become the second Prime Minister of Canada. The Old Schoolhouse is now used for Self Catering Holidays.

1834 - the Clunnie Bridge was built over the River Tummel about 1 mile north of the Ferry. The Ferry continued operating for Foot Passengers.

1842 - Queen Victoria visited Perthshire on one of her Grand Tours. Her description of this scenic area led to an increase in Tourism.

1852 - the Pitlochry Highland Games begin, one of the first of the modern Games. Highland Gatherings began in the 1000s with Clans competing in Military Combat type events. These Gatherings became illegal after the Jacobite Rising of 1746, after Highlanders tried to overthrow the King.

1858 - Holy Trinity Episcopal Church was built.

1863 - the Railway Station opened leading to Pitlochry becoming a popular destination for Tourists with many grand Hotels being built.

1878 - Atholl Palace Hotel was opened under its original name Athole Hydropathic. The Pitlochry Hydro Hotel opened around the same time.

1873 - Moulin Church was destroyed by fire, it was rebuilt soon after to a new design.

1884 - Pitlochry Church of Scotland was completed.

1884 - Pitlochry Baptist Church was built.

1892 - Fonab Castle was built on the outskirts of Pitlochry for Sanderman, the Port and Wine Merchants.

1913 - the Suspension Footbridge was built over the River Tummel. The Ferry stopped operating on the day the Bridge was completed.

1947 - the construction of Pitlochry Dam began as part of the Tummel Hydro-Electric power scheme. The Dam at Pitlochry is claimed to produce enough power for around 15,000 homes.

The damming of the River created Loch Faskally, flooding a large area north of the town, including the old Recreation Park.

1949 - the Blair Atholl Distillery was taken over by Arthur Bell and Sons, with Bells becoming one of the top names in Scotch Whisky.

1949 - St Bride's Roman Catholic Church was built by Loch Faskally, mainly for people working on the Dam.

1951 - Pitlochry Festival Theatre was founded by John Stewart.

1960s - Sir Robert Watson-Watt, an inventor of Radar, and his wife, began living at their Summer House in Pitlochry. Both are buried in the Churchyard of the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church at Pitlochry.

1981 - the large A9 Tummel Bridge was built as part of the Pitlochry Bypass. Views from the Bridge when traveling south are amazing, looking down over Loch Faskally and the large Green Park Hotel.

1989 - Moulin Church was closed.

2002 - Fonab Castle was bought by the Clark's to be converted to a luxury Hotel with Lodges in the grounds.

2006 - Moulin Church is opened as the Pitlochry and Moulin Heritage Centre.

2009 - Pitlochry was awarded a Gold Medal from the Britain in Bloom horticultural contest.