Page 144 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Scotland

142  SC O TLAND REGION B Y REGION THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS  143

Blair Athol Distillery, the home
i Killiecrankie Walk of Bell’s whisky, offers guided
tours in the art of whisky
In an area famous for its scenery There are ideal picnic spots along the way, making (see pp36–7). One of
and historical connections, this circular and the shores of man-made Loch Faskally Scotland’s most famous stages,
walk offers views that are typical of the are lined with beautiful trees. Returning the Festival Theatre, is located
in Port-na-Craig. It operates a
Highlands. The route is fairly flat, though along the River Tummel, the route crosses year-round pro gramme with
ringed by mountains, and meanders one of Queen Victoria’s favourite Highland performances changing daily.
through a wooded gorge, passing the areas before it doubles back to complete
Soldier’s Leap and a Victorian viaduct. the circuit.  Blair Athol Distillery
Perth Rd. Tel (01796) 482003.
Blair Atholl 1 Killiecrankie Open Easter–Oct: daily; Nov–Easter:
A visitor centre provides Mon–Fri. & 8 7 limited.
information on the Battle of ∑ discovering-distilleries.com
Killiecrankie, fought in 1689. The distinctive white turrets and façade of the ducal Blair Castle F Festival Theatre
Port-na-Craig. Tel (01796) 484626.
o Blair Castle its owners, the Dukes of Atholl, Open mid-May–Oct: daily. & for
the distinction of being allowed plays. 7 8 - ∑ pitlochry
Blair Atholl, Perthshire. festivaltheatre.com
Tel (01796) 481207. 3 Blair Atholl. to maintain a private army. The
Atholl Highlanders are still in
Garry Open Apr–Oct: 9:30am–5:30pm daily. existence today.
& ^ exc ballroom. 8 7 limited.
0 = ∑ blair-castle.co.uk
This rambling, turreted castle p Pitlochry
has been altered and exten ded Perthshire. * 2,500. 3 @ n 22
J so often in its 700-year history Atholl Rd (01796) 472215.
7 Linn of Tummel that it now provides a unique ∑ perthshire.co.uk
The path passes a insight into the history and
pool beneath the Garry Bridge 2 Soldier’s Leap changing tastes of aristo cratic Surrounded by the beautiful
Falls of Tummel and A soldier named Donald life in the Highlands. pine-forested hills of the
continues through MacBean leapt over the The elegant 18th-century central Highlands, picturesque
a beautiful forest. wing, with its draughty pas sages Pitlochry became a famous
river here to avoid capture
by Jacobites dur ing the hung with antlers, has a display town after Queen Victoria
battle of 1689. that includes the gloves and described it as one of the The ruins of Dunkeld Cathedral
6 Coronation Tummel pipe of Bonnie Prince Charlie finest resorts in Europe.
Bridge Forest (see p157), who spent two days In early summer, wild salmon a Dunkeld
Spanning the Park here gathering sup port for a leap up the ladder built into
River Tummel, this J Faskally House 3 Killiecrankie Jacobite uprising (see p151). the Power Station Dam on Tayside. * 1,200. 3 Birnam. @
footbridge was built Pass n The Cross (01350) 727688.
in 1860 in honour This military road, Family portraits span 300 years their way to spawning grounds
of George IV. built by General and include paintings by such up the river. Above the ladder Situated by the River Tay, this
Wade in the 1600s, masters as Johann Zoffany and are fine views of the artificial ancient and charming village
follows the gorge. Sir Peter Lely. Sir Edwin Landseer’s reservoir, Loch Faskally. The loch was all but destroyed in the
Death of a Hart in Glen Tilt (1850) is popular with anglers. Walking Battle of Dunkeld, a Jacobite
hangs in the ballroom. trails from here radiate out and defeat, in 1689. The Little
Queen Victoria visited the link with the pretty gorge at Houses lining Cathedral Street
castle in 1844 and conferred on Killiecrankie (see opposite). were the first to be re built, and
5 Memorial Arch Loch Faskally J remain fine examples of an
Workers killed in imaginative restoration.
the construction The partly ruined 14th-
of the Clunie Dam are Pitlochry century cathedral enjoys an
commemorated here. idyllic setting on shady lawns
beside the Tay, against a back-
4 Clunie Foot Bridge drop of steep and wooded hills.
Tips for Walkers This bridge crosses the artificial The choir is used as the parish
Starting point: « Visitor Centre Loch Faskally, created by the church, and its north wall
Killicrankie. Tel (01796) 473233. Key damming of the River Tummel for contains a leper’s squint (a
∑ nts.org.uk hydroelectric power in the 1950s. little hole through which lepers
Getting there: Bus from Pitlochry Route could see the altar during mass).
or Aberfeldy. Major road It was while on holiday in the
Length: 13 km (8 miles). Minor road 0 kilometres 1 countryside around Dunkeld
Level: Very easy. Narrow lane 0 miles 0.5 that the children’s author Beatrix
Potter found the inspiration for
Townsfolk walking along the main street in Pitlochry her Peter Rabbit stories.
For map symbols see back flap For hotels and restaurants see pp176–7 and pp187–9

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