PITLOCHRY - a local's guide

Julia
PITLOCHRY - a local's guide

City/town information

Pitlochry has been attracting tourists for generations for its clean air, access to brilliant walks, fishing, canoeing, hiking, camping and now there is paddleboarding and caneoing for hire too. Amongst the tourist shops, there are some real hidden gems, but the best thing about Pitlochry is all the amazing countryside and rivers and lochs and wildlife all around with hardly a soul. It is very easy to get to, with a train station linking Pitlochry directly to London!
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Pitlochry
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Pitlochry has been attracting tourists for generations for its clean air, access to brilliant walks, fishing, canoeing, hiking, camping and now there is paddleboarding and caneoing for hire too. Amongst the tourist shops, there are some real hidden gems, but the best thing about Pitlochry is all the amazing countryside and rivers and lochs and wildlife all around with hardly a soul. It is very easy to get to, with a train station linking Pitlochry directly to London!

Local Adventures

Places to do watersports, bungee jumping, walks and more
This is a really beautiful spot! Hire a boat, canoe, pedalo or paddleboard by the hour, feed the ducks (you can buy duck food there), eat a massive homemade scone or cake and watch the beautiful water and scenery. Still feels like a local secret. good for dog walking (dogs welcome) and is the start of lots of great walks.
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Pitlochry Boating Station & Adventure Hire
Clunie Bridge Road
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This is a really beautiful spot! Hire a boat, canoe, pedalo or paddleboard by the hour, feed the ducks (you can buy duck food there), eat a massive homemade scone or cake and watch the beautiful water and scenery. Still feels like a local secret. good for dog walking (dogs welcome) and is the start of lots of great walks.
Magical woodlands with spectacular waterfall, feels like a secret gem only known to local dogwalkers!
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Black Spout Wood
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Magical woodlands with spectacular waterfall, feels like a secret gem only known to local dogwalkers!
Home of The Enchanted Forest each October, Dunmore Loch and the surrrounding Faskally Woods are truly magical and a great place to wander
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Faskally Forest
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Home of The Enchanted Forest each October, Dunmore Loch and the surrrounding Faskally Woods are truly magical and a great place to wander
Fun little course at a reasonable price - great way to spend an afternoon!
Pitlochry Putting Green
3 Rie-Achan Rd
Fun little course at a reasonable price - great way to spend an afternoon!
Fantastic hike which takes between 1-3 hours. There is a lovely loch half way up - great for a picnic spot. The last part of the hike is quite strenuous.
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Ben Vrackie
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Fantastic hike which takes between 1-3 hours. There is a lovely loch half way up - great for a picnic spot. The last part of the hike is quite strenuous.
Lovely, fairly gentle walk up this local hill, with great views at the top.
Craigower
Lovely, fairly gentle walk up this local hill, with great views at the top.

Sightseeing

Fun walk through fields to reach this ruined castle, just 20 mins walk from The Paddle Nook. Steeped in history, which you can read about on the info board at the field entrance at Moulin Hall
Black Castle Ruins
Fun walk through fields to reach this ruined castle, just 20 mins walk from The Paddle Nook. Steeped in history, which you can read about on the info board at the field entrance at Moulin Hall
Fun, informative tours - easily walkable from The Paddle Nook
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Blair Athol Distillery
Perth Road
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Fun, informative tours - easily walkable from The Paddle Nook
Interesting free exhibition and great cafe - perfect for a rainy day!
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I-Centre ye-Visitor ye-Dam ye-Pitlochry
Armoury Road
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Interesting free exhibition and great cafe - perfect for a rainy day!

Cultural places

Famous theatre, with some outdoor events.
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Pitlochry Festival Theatre
Port-Na-Craig Road
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Famous theatre, with some outdoor events.
An old church in Moulin that now hosts a heritage collection - fascinating graveyard with Moulin pub/restaurant just across the road!
Heritage Centre
18 A924
An old church in Moulin that now hosts a heritage collection - fascinating graveyard with Moulin pub/restaurant just across the road!

My favourite shops

Great selection of dried goods, fresh bread and local veggies, ethical and zero waste products, information about going green, a seed swap and more! Please support this important new enterprise while you are here!
Handam Refill Station CIC
69 Burnside Rd
Great selection of dried goods, fresh bread and local veggies, ethical and zero waste products, information about going green, a seed swap and more! Please support this important new enterprise while you are here!
This place sells EVERYTHING you need to fix, grow, make, all under one store. A local family owned business .
The Hardware Centre
36 Atholl Rd
This place sells EVERYTHING you need to fix, grow, make, all under one store. A local family owned business .
Nice wee interactive exhibitions, local art and a great selection of books focusing on outdoor learning, nature and the environment
John Muir Trust
Station Road
Nice wee interactive exhibitions, local art and a great selection of books focusing on outdoor learning, nature and the environment

Food scene

My favourite cafe in Pitlochry. Owned by the Escape Route bike shop on the way into Pitlochry. Great food and coffee, and reasonably priced, child friendly, wood burning stove in the winter and lovely upcycled wooden tables. A good place to get some work done. https://www.facebook.com/EscapeRouteBikes
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Escape Route
3 Atholl Rd
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My favourite cafe in Pitlochry. Owned by the Escape Route bike shop on the way into Pitlochry. Great food and coffee, and reasonably priced, child friendly, wood burning stove in the winter and lovely upcycled wooden tables. A good place to get some work done. https://www.facebook.com/EscapeRouteBikes
Boutique vegan hotel in Pitlochry- the first in the UK! They do a set menu around a communal table each night - non-guests welcome. I haven't actually been yet but want to! www.saorsahotel.com/
Saorsa 1875
2 E Moulin Rd
Boutique vegan hotel in Pitlochry- the first in the UK! They do a set menu around a communal table each night - non-guests welcome. I haven't actually been yet but want to! www.saorsahotel.com/
Nice cafe in central Pitlochry selling Glen Lyon Coffee, Homemade Soups, Homemade Baking, Freshly made Panini, Baguettes, Sandwiches, Jacket Potatoes, Breakfast, Milkshakes, Ice Cream, Smoothies, Tea, Hot Chocolate, Local Honey, Snacks, Treats, Local artwork. Friendly place. https://www.facebook.com/CafeCalluna
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Cafe Calluna
90 Atholl Rd
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Nice cafe in central Pitlochry selling Glen Lyon Coffee, Homemade Soups, Homemade Baking, Freshly made Panini, Baguettes, Sandwiches, Jacket Potatoes, Breakfast, Milkshakes, Ice Cream, Smoothies, Tea, Hot Chocolate, Local Honey, Snacks, Treats, Local artwork. Friendly place. https://www.facebook.com/CafeCalluna
Amazing hotel where non-guests are also welcome. I love going for a coffee or cocktail in their gorgeous bar with a stunning view! The restaurant is very pricey.
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Fonab Castle Hotel
Foss Road
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Amazing hotel where non-guests are also welcome. I love going for a coffee or cocktail in their gorgeous bar with a stunning view! The restaurant is very pricey.
The fish here is OUTSTANDING. Fresh from Buckie, it melts in your mouth. Honestly beats any I've tasted, even by the coast! Worth phoning in advance to pre-order, otherwise there's always a long queue. Only a 5-10 min walk fro The Paddle Nook, it's a great option when you can't be bothered cooking and want to sit outside and enjoy the view.
The Plaice To Be
8 W Moulin Rd
The fish here is OUTSTANDING. Fresh from Buckie, it melts in your mouth. Honestly beats any I've tasted, even by the coast! Worth phoning in advance to pre-order, otherwise there's always a long queue. Only a 5-10 min walk fro The Paddle Nook, it's a great option when you can't be bothered cooking and want to sit outside and enjoy the view.
Good atmosphere, friendly staff, large tented outside eating area. A bit pricey but large helpings. And very close to The Paddle Nook. Sometimes they do live music.
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The Old Mill Inn
Mill Lane
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Good atmosphere, friendly staff, large tented outside eating area. A bit pricey but large helpings. And very close to The Paddle Nook. Sometimes they do live music.
Cosy wee place on the main street with good pancakes and traybakes! They also do decent meals.
Cafe Biba
40 Atholl Rd
Cosy wee place on the main street with good pancakes and traybakes! They also do decent meals.
The nearest cafe/restaurant to The Paddle Nook! Large eating area, varied menu with a view of the golf course. My mum says they do good scones!
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Pitlochry Golf
Golf Course Road
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The nearest cafe/restaurant to The Paddle Nook! Large eating area, varied menu with a view of the golf course. My mum says they do good scones!
Great wee cafe here! Good cake selection and ice creams as well as bacon sarnies and tasty soup and scones.
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Pitlochry Boating Station & Adventure Hire
Clunie Bridge Road
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Great wee cafe here! Good cake selection and ice creams as well as bacon sarnies and tasty soup and scones.

Izeluleko zedolobha

Ukuhamba nezingane

There are 3 pretty decent playgrounds in town

I can tell you where to find them!
Okufanele ukupakishe

Always bring a waterproof jacket!

It can be four seasons in one day here!
Ukuzulazula

There are buses to all the local villages

...but it may take some time to get there and there may be only one a day
Ungaphuthelwa

Monthly local producers market

Monthly Markets are on the 3rd Saturday of the month April to October. Local Traders, Produce & Crafts
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Bring midgie repellent between May-July

They can get quite back when out in the hills or by water
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Come to our wild swimming sessions

Fri and Sat mornings at 10am at Loch Faskally - ask Julia for more details!