WHAT TO DO – OUT AND ABOUT
From Kinnaird Garden Cottage & Kinnaird Woodland Lodges, Pitlochry.
If you want to explore the Pitlochry area on foot then just leave your car at Kinnaird and do just that! We are on the edge of the 40 mile network of local walks, all of which are well sign posted. Whether it is low level easy walking to hills or mountain ranges, Pitlochry has it all. You will find a map of all the walks in your holiday property.
You can start your walks and exploring from the front door.
Turn left at the bottom of the drive and you can walk in an easterly direction for about one mile to the Edradour Distillery, this is the smallest Distillery in Scotland and is a quaint whitewashed set of cottages nestled in a valley. Here you can enjoy a free guided tour of the Distillery and partake in a small sample of the excellent whisky at the end. There is a super shop with a wide range of whisky tasting stock as well as bottles of the pure stuff!
Carry on down the side of the burn (river) from which the whisky is made and you will find yourselves in the Black Spout Woods. Follow the trails down and you will come across the beautiful waterfall that these woods take their name from. From here you can link back up to Kinnaird, via Moulin (and the famous Moulin Inn with its own Brewery) or you can continue down through the woods to Pitlochry.
If you have not had your fill of Whisky yet then there is yet another famous Whisky Distillery in Pitlochry. Bells whisky is manufactured here and you can also take a tour (a small charge is made) and have a sample. Again you can purchase whisky products at the shop here.
Taking the road to the right at the bottom of our drive you will find your way down to Pitlochry, its about 2 miles to the centre of town. This again will take you past the famous award winning Moulin Pub with its own Brewery and is an excellent place to stop off for a drink on the way back up the hill to Kinnaird. From Moulin you can go in two directions – straight down to Pitlochry or if you take the road that goes behind the Inn it will take you to the start of the walks to Ben-y-Vrackie and Craigower. You can also get to the Golf Pitlochry Golf Course and Restaurant along this road. Non-members are most welcome at the course and you can enjoy good food in the restaurant.
If you continue down the hill from the golf course you will find yourself at the westerly end of the main street, Atholl Road. Turn right and you can link in with the beautiful walk that goes around Loch Faskally. The Boating Station serves a range of home made light snacks, home baking, ice creams and hot drinks. You can also hire fishing rods and get a permit to fish on the loch.
Continue around the loch and you can visit the Pitlochry Hydro Electric Dam and Fish Ladder. There is an excellent exhibition which will answer all your queries about how electricity is made from running water. You will also be able to view under the water and might just see one of our beautiful Salmon. The best time to see salmon jumping is in on a warm summers evening.
Just along from the Dam is the world famous Pitlochry Festival Theatre. The Theatre has productions and musical events going on all year round and the summer slogan is “stay six days and see six plays”.
Below the Festival Theatre, right next to the river, you will find one of our favourite restaurants – The Port-na-Craig Inn. Angela will serve you superb food in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. Open for coffee at 11am, followed by lunch and evening dinner until late. You can also eat al fresco should the weather permit. They serve pre-Theatre suppers during the Summer Season Programme.
After having stopped for refreshments, continue along the riverbank and across the green suspension bridge back round into the centre of Pitlochry.
When you reach the main street turn right and you will find Victoria’s Restaurant, another one that we would recommend. They are open all day and evenings (may be restricted in the off season). If you turn right at this junction you will find the Tourist Information Centre just along a bit and across the road. Behind the Centre is Heathergems. This little company manufacture jewellery and other gifts from heather and you can see the workforce hard at their craft.
Walk back towards the centre of town and you will find a fine selection of restaurants and different shops to browse.
Remember all roads that lead up off Atholl road (heading up hill) will take you to Kinnaird. Some roads are direct, others will eventually meander up to Moulin and beyond to Kinnaird.
If you are tired and need a taxi then call 01796 470123 and Jimmy the Taxi driver will take you home.