Things to do in Pitlochry and surrounding area

[PitlochryAdvice]

We’re going to Pitlochry camping soon and I’m wondering if anyone had some tips on what to do there and surrounding area. We’ve got a few walks planned and I’ve noticed a few river beaches on the satellite but not sure how we’d get there. Also, what’s open at the moment for cafes, etc? And can anyone recommend good local shops like the butchers etc. Kids are P1 & P2 so we’ll not be going up Schiehallion but 5 mile walks are fine.

I don't know if it's open or not, but a walk across the dam and the dam visitor centre might be good (esp if wet) There's lots of hands on stuff in the visitor centre.

Beautiful views up at Queens view

Have you got lots of insect repellent?!!! If not, stock up 🤣

Lots of nice river beaches accessible from nearby Blair Atholl especially via the caravan park. The Watermill in Blair Atholl is well worth popping into for brunch and to buy some of their shortbread - the best I have ever tasted.

There's a lovely walk from the Bruar car park up by the falls and perfect excuse for ice cream at the end.

The walk round the dam and the park are both fab for primary age dc

Faskally Wood is nice or the Black Spout Waterfall on the edge of town. Very good fish and chips at Dunkeld and nice walks there too. Have a look at walkhighlands website. We enjoyed the Birnam Oak and River Tay walk. The recreation ground/park in Pitlochry is good too with plenty of space for kicking a ball, frisbee etc.

Birnam Arts Centre has a lovely cafe which seems to have reopened and a Beatrix Potter exhibition.

Active Kids park at Stanley is good for a day out.

Pitlochry Dam and Fish Ladder circular walk Is about a mile or so. From Pitlochry main street to Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre, over Pitlochry Dam wall, down past the Pitlochry Fish Ladder. Through Port na Craig hamlet and over the River Tummel via pedestrian foot bridge. This takes you past the Pitlochry Recreation Ground with its play area, and back up on to Pitlochry main street. (My guesstimate is if you walk it slowly with kids with no stops allow up to an hour. Then factor in the stop at the play area.)
The Steading Spa complex is open to families. It has the main pool, atoddler’s pool,sauna and jacuzzi. Open daily from 10am to 8pm to the public. The Steading Spa is at the entrance to the River Tilt Holiday Park, next to the Loft Restaurant. Why not have a swim and a bite to eat.
The Beatrix Potter garden and museum in Birnam, Dunkeld has a trail of hidden sculptures and a small but charming museum with a few hands on activities.
Highland Safaris is an excellent place to spend a lot of time with kids. There are so many activities including gold and gem panning. The bike skills cycle track is good safe fun (away from traffic), you can take your own bikes or hire them. The track is an off road loop. Also a nature trail, at the visitor centre is free. Follow the clues round a loop that overlooks a herd of red deer.

Bungee jumping off the Garry Bridge!

Birks of Aberfeldy walk.

Drive A822 throught Sma' Glen to Crieff and if you like onwards to the A9 at Greenloaning.

Imagine House of Bruar will have a limited cafe opening, but it's huge so they can have plenty of people in, combined with the falls walk mentioned previously.

Drive to Kinloch Rannoch is a nice one, too, or South Loch Tay to Killin.

We're just back from a week in the area. Walk across the dam and visitors centre were both closed. We did a lot of walking. You can pick up a map of Tay forest walks which we found helpful. The map lets you know how long each walk takes and how strenuous it is. A lot of the public toilets at the walk car parks were closed. Queen's View was good and toilets, cafe and shop were all open there. Pitlochry itself has a good range of shops and cafes which were nearly all open. House of Bruar was fully open but was pretty crowded. Blair Castle gardens were open but not the castle itself, we spent half a day there. We were self catering and cooked/ate in the house every night although there did seem to be plenty of restaurants open.
We were pretty lucky with the weather thankfully. Hope you have a lovely holiday.

Thanks everyone. We've got a dog so we do go on quite a lot of walks but really good to hear other people have gone on them and if they're ok for kids.

@Ricekrispie22 @SteamPudding good to know about Dunkeld and we went to the Birnam arts centre cafe for lunch last year after a trip to Loch of the Lowes and it was really nice so good to hear it's open again.

@NeutralJanet I'd never hear of that park but I mentioned it to a friend who's been too and said it's good.

@EnjoyingTheSilence my husband did that the last time we were in Pitlochry!!

@NoahsDove good to hear there's quite a few places open now. We'll pick up a map and I love the Walk the Highlands website so get a few ideas from there.

Also, I realised the oldest tree in Europe isn't too far away but not sure anyone else in interested in seeing that!

Also recommend the Bothy Bar at the Atholl Arms Hotel - good for dogs and kids, lovely garden if good weather

Thanks everyone. We've got a dog so we do go on quite a lot of walks but really good to hear other people have gone on them and if they're ok for kids.

@Ricekrispie22 @SteamPudding good to know about Dunkeld and we went to the Birnam arts centre cafe for lunch last year after a trip to Loch of the Lowes and it was really nice so good to hear it's open again.

@NeutralJanet I'd never hear of that park but I mentioned it to a friend who's been too and said it's good.

@EnjoyingTheSilence my husband did that the last time we were in Pitlochry!!

@NoahsDove good to hear there's quite a few places open now. We'll pick up a map and I love the Walk the Highlands website so get a few ideas from there.

Also, I realised the oldest tree in Europe isn't too far away but not sure anyone else in interested in seeing that!

The Fortingall Yew tree?

We popped along to look at that when we were staying in Kenmore a couple of years ago. Our boys were at a Scout camp somewhere in the area. It doesn't look far but it was not a fast road though DH quite likes those types of drives. When we went there was a wee cafe near the tree but not a lot else. Beautiful area and nice ice-cream at Kenmore.

Hi, I'm from the area, my Granny was from Glen Lyon.

Let's face it, the main draw of Highland Perthshire is the scenery, at least you know that will be open.

Great walks, up to the Falls of Bruar from House of Bruar.

Blair Castle,
Salmon Ladder & Dam
Queen's view
Killiecrankie Battle Site (NTS),
Moulin Brewery,
Black Castle of Moulin (ruin)
Edradour Distillary
Pitlochry pitch & putt
Pitlochry "shows" (funfair, may not be open)

Around Aberfeldy:
Dewars World of Whisky
Aberfeldy Cinema (The Birks Picture Hoose)
Birks of Aberfeldy walk
Highland Wildlife Safari
White water rafting
Castle Menzies (rhymes with mingers)
Loch Tay & Kenmore Beach (yes, we have beaches in Perthshire)
Scottish Crannog Centre
Ben Lawers Visitor Centre
Fortingall Yew

(The road through Glen Lyon above the Pass is very narrow and twisty and there are LOTS of cyclists so drive carefully. Having said that also please be aware that the vehicle behind you may be a local so be prepared to pull over and let them past).

Loads of other walks for all abilities, my DM's hobby was dragging me up hills on a Sunday and I think I first went up Schiehallion when I was about 8. It's not a hard climb, just long.

I wish I was there now, enjoy. If you visit Aberfeldy have a drink in The Blackie for me.