Located at the junction of the Tilt and Garry rivers, Blair Atholl is a historic village in the Scottish county of Perthshire. It lies on the southern edge of Cairngorms National Park, which is renowned for its rugged scenery and upland plateaus that provide a backdrop for hiking, rock climbing and skiing.
Things to do in Blair Atholl
If you’re interested in the region’s cultural heritage, visit the Atholl Country Life Museum, which is home to a reconstructed stable, a blackhouse and a smiddy. Vintage costumes, farm implements and railway artefacts are on display, together with objects from local cobblers, veterinarians and gamekeepers. Adjacent to the museum is the Blair Atholl Visitor Information Centre and the Blair Atholl & Struan Parish Church.
Blair Atholl is home to one of Scotland’s most beautiful stately homes, Blair Castle, which has been owned by the Atholl family for over seven centuries. Step inside the Scottish Baronial-style entrance hall and the opulent drawing room, complete with Louis XVI gilded chairs and embroidered settees. In the heritage-listed gardens are a Gothic folly and a walled garden.
Golfers can hit the greens and fairways of the Blair Atholl Golf Club, an easily walkable parkland course featuring picturesque ponds framed by local stonework. After your round, you can relax over a meal at the Tulach, a family-friendly restaurant and cafe overlooking the course. On the opposite side of the River Tilt are Memorial Park and the Blair Atholl Bowling Club.
Getting around Blair Atholl
Blair Atholl is just over an hour’s drive from Dundee and 1.5 hours from Edinburgh Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular trains connect to the Blair Atholl railway station and the village is small enough to explore on foot. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting around the area.