Blair
Castle lies at the southern end of the Drumochter Pass and,
together with Ruthven Castle at the north end, was built
by the Comyn family to secure their power right across the
Scottish Highlands.
Blair
Castle was first built around Comyn's Tower in 1269,
and by the time of Mary Queen of Scots' visit in 1564,
the castle had been extended southwards to include the
Great Hall. Cromwell's troops captured the castle
during the Civil War, and in 1703 Queen Anne rewarded
the family's loyalty to the crown by creating the
second Marquess as Duke of Atholl. During the Jacobite
rebellion in the eighteenth century, the castle was held
by the Hanoverians when it became the last private castle
beseiged in Britain, and General Lord George Murray, who
had forfeited his inheritance by supporting Bonnie Prince
Charlie, laid siege to what had been his own house.
The castle is the traditional home of the Dukes of Atholl.
The present Duke, who lives in South Africa, remains head
of the famous Atholl Highlanders, Britain's only private
army. The castle itself stands in impressive scenery and
was restyled as a Georgian mansion in the middle of the
eighteenth century. In 1868 the architect Sir David Bryce
carried out further work when he remodelled the castle
to reinstate its earlier appearance.
Aberfeldy
General
Wade's fine five-arched bridge, built 1733, still spans
River Tay, overlooked by kilted figure on monument commemorating
Black Watch regiment. Dewar family's distillery open to
visitors.
Balquhidder
The
Kirkton or village of Balquhidder is situated in the parish
of Balquhidder at the east end of Loch Voil, but the name
is also applied to the Braes of Balquhidder, an area,
celebrated in a song by Robert Tannahill, that extends
along the lochside. Once the home of the Clan MacLaren,
it came to be more closely associated with the MacGregors,
especially Rob Roy MacGregor (1671-1734) who lies buried
adjacent to the roofless old church of the parish along
with his wife and two sons.
Ben
Lawers
Rising
3984ft over Loch Tay's north shore, entire mountain is
national nature reserve. Visitor centre, 1400ft up southern
slope, is start of 1'/2 hour nature trail.
Birks
of Aberfeldy
Network
of burns cascades over stepped rocks, below Falls of Moness.
Footpaths weave their way through birch-clad sides of ravine,
and nature trail leads to footbridge above falls.
Blair
Atholl
Pepper-pot
turrets and castellated towers adorn granite buildings
of village, which stands at meeting point of several highland
glens. Mill dating from 17th century is still in operation
on River Carry --its products can be sampled.
Blair
Castle
Turreted
baronial castle, home to Dukes of Atholl. Restored to Gothic
style in 1868. Rooms filled with fine furniture, paintings,
tapestries, arms, clothes telling story of Highland life
from 1500.
Braes
of Balquhidder
Steep
glens and windswept hills, framed by mountain peaks to north-west.
Outlaw Rob Roy lived his last years here; he and other MacGregors
are buried in Balquhidder churchyard, his grave marked by
slate slab carved with kilted figure.
Castle
Menzies
Castle
built 1488 with later additions, seat of Clan Menzies
chief. Two towers and central block with four storeys.
Copper cast of Bonnie Prince Charlie's death mask on display.
Castle also houses Clan Menzies museum.
Clan
Donnachaidh Museum
Purpose-built
museum housing memorabilia of Donnachaidh clan, which
included several families. Relics from Jacobite uprisings
of 1715 and 1745, tartans, glass, silver and books. Starting
point for walk to Falls of Bruar.
Comrie
Resort
town at meeting point of two glens. Museum of Scottish
Tartans includes reconstructed weaver's cottage and plant
dyes. Path up Glen Lednock leads to Deil's Caldron, where
river disappears through hole in rock.
Craigower
Marked
trail, north of Pitlochry, leads through woods to 1,300ft
summit of beacon hill. Views from summit across water
meadows to Schiehallion's peak.
Crieff
Visitor's
centre has two walk-around craft factories, allowing visitors
to see pottery and paper-weights being made. Octagonal
mercat cross stands within iron railing. Old stocks stand
near the 17th-century tolbooth.
Drummond
Castle Gardens
Originally
laid out in 1600s the gardens were Italianised about 1830.
Terraces with geometrically shaped beds, lawns and hedges
slope away from medieval keep. John Mylne, Charles I's
master mason, created obelisk sundial furnished with 50
different faces.
Glengoulandie
Deer Park
Red
deer, Highland cattle and rare breeds of sheep roam free
at foot of Schiehallion peak.
Glen
Lyon
Castle
ruins and standing stones dot steep slopes of Scotland's
longest glen. MacGregor's Leap marks spot where ancestor
of Rob Roy bounded to safety across ravine. Fortingall
is legendary birthplace of Pontius Pilate.
Glenturret
Distillery
Whisky
distillery, established 1775, where traditional methods
are on display. Samplings of whiskies up to 21 years old
are offered. Restaurant and audio-visual theatre.
Innerpeffray
Scotland's
first public library still exists. Founded 1691, library
now housed in 18th-century building. Rare Scottish books
displayed, including pocket Bible taken into battle by Montrose,
general who won brilliant victories in Scotland for Charles
I. Church nearby dates from 1508.
Kenmore
Village
on eastern shore of Loch Tay, noted for salmon fishing.
Bridge over River Tay here was built by Earl of Breadalbane
in 1774. In 1787, Robert Burns wrote verse about view
from bridge, copy in Kenmore Hotel.
Killin
Fishing
resort on Loch Tay with walking, climbing, skiing and motoring
in surrounding mountains. Finlarig Castle, former Campbell
seat built 1609, has beheading pit where crude guillotine,
The Maiden, was used. Falls of Dochart rush through town.
Kingussie
Winter
sports resort in Spey Valley. Highland Folk Museum complex
has Hebridean black-house, water-powered clack mill, and
18th-century shooting lodge. Inside are objects of everyday
Highland life. Free tours of nearby china factory.
Kinloch
Rannoch
Village
at eastern end of Loch Rannoch. Car parks around loch
pro-vide views of 3554ft Schiehallion peak. Stone cottages,
forge and shops.
Loch
Faskally
Reservoir
created when Tummel was dammed in 1950; breeding site for
greylag geese. At southern end, salmon leap up fish pass
in season. Forest trails along east and north shores of
loch.
Logierait
Tummel
flows into Tay here in narrow gorge of historic military
importance. In local churchyard are three mortsafes (metal
frames padlocked round coffins to deter body snatchers).
Melville
Monument
Short
detour off Glen Lednock. Circular Walk leads to Dunmore
Hill, 840ft, with obelisk in memory of Lord Melville.
Fine views of Highlands.
Moulin
In
churchyard opposite the Moulin Inn are remains of the Old
Judging Tree, under which local justice was dispensed until
1746. Churchyard has two medieval warrior graves. An Caisteal
Dubh (black castle) of 1320, now in ruins, was inhabited
until 1500 when plague wiped out garrison.
Muthill
Village
has 15th-century church with 12th-century tower. Local
folk museum housed in c. 1760 Georgian cottage.
Newtonmore
Centre
for walking, pony trekking at foot of Monadhliath Mountains
and head of Spey Valley. Clan Macpherson Museum displays
historical relics including 15th-century bagpipes. Path
to Loch Dubh by 3087ft Carn Ban.
Pass
of Killiecrankie
River
Carry gorge where English were defeated by Jacobites under
Bonnie Dundee in 1689. Visitor centre explains battle's
history. Soldiers Leap is where English soldier sprang
18ft across ravine to escape his pursuers.
Pitlochry
Summer
festival at hillside theatre above River Tummel. Highland
games take place each September. Scotland's smallest distillery
lies north-east of town. Viewing chamber allows public
to watch salmon struggling upstream at southern end of
Loch Faskally.
Queen's
View
Viewpoint
of Loch Tummel's wooded valley, with Schiehallion's peak
in distance. Named after Queen Victoria's 1866 visit. Four
way marked paths through woodland; picnic spot with loch
views. Steep trail to loch shore.
Rannoch
Forest
Old
and new woodlands south of Loch Rannoch. To west are Scots
pines, remnant of ancient Caledonian Forest. To east are
stands of recently planted larch, pine and spruce. Three
marked trails from Cane car park.
Rannoch
Moor
About
60sq miles of peat bog with pools, lochs and burns. Haven
for wetland birds; treacherous for walkers in places.
Surrounded by mountains.
<
Ruthven
Barracks
Roadside
ruins of English barracks built 1718. Built for troops
brought in to control Highlanders after 1715 rebellion,
Highlanders captured it 1746 and later blew it up to stop
English using it again.
St
Mary's
Church
dating from 16th century contains notable 17th-century
wooden ceiling. Its 29 painted panels portray Biblical
scenes and coats of arms. Panels separated by paintings
of fruit, vases of flowers and birds.
Weem
Village
has late 15th-century church housing Menzies family memorials
and two crosses from 8th-century monastery.
