What To Do in Blair Atholl
Holidays, lighter days and warmer weather make April an ideal month to explore Perthshire, and Blair Atholl is a great choice for a family day out, with an abundance of beautiful buildings, scenery, walks and gardens. We personally like to start off by parking at the Bridge of Tilt car park, so we can enjoy the walk to the village along the river, which to begin with you look down on over a steep gorge. A curved grotto early on makes for a particularly spectacular viewpoint from which to watch the tumbling water. One thing I really love about the River Tilt is the colours—it can be anything from a deep copper red to a cucumber green.
From the grotto, walk continues along the river and is level and reasonably easy for all types of abilities, only a little bit narrow at times. Be aware though that the wooden walk way about half way along is now closed, since the ground underneath it has eroded. It’s possible to take an alternative route through the caravan site just before coming to it, or just visit the grotto on that side, then retrace your steps back to the carpark and over the road bridge to walk along the other side of the river, which is also a nice walk with the added advantage of a bench to sit on at the highest point.
It probably takes about 20 minutes to reach the village on this walk, which will come out on the main street, whichever route you take. Blair Atholl itself is well kept and pretty, with many of the buildings larger and grander than what you might expect—no doubt the proximity of Blair Castle has something to do with this. There’s lots to do in the village—here are three ideas:
Blair Atholl Watermill
Our favourite place for coffee and cake in Blair Atholl, everything tastes so much better from being made with flour that’s ground on site using the actual watermill. You can also buy loaves of bread and bags of their own flour while there. If it’s a nice day, sitting in the adjacent garden makes for a lovely relaxed experiences, surrounded by trees, flowers and birdsong.
www.blairathollwatermill.co.uk
Atholl Country Life Museum
If you enjoy getting a glimpse into the traditional rural lives of times past, this museum is the place for you. The building was formerly the village school, so it’s fitting that there’s lots to learn inside! You can also see the reconstructed Trinafour Post Office from the 1930s here. It costs just £4 for adults, £4 for seniors and kids are free. It’s a great option for a rainy day, although it’s still worth a visit on a sunny one.
Blair Castle Gardens
There’s loads to see and do in the grounds of Blair Castle. Of course, everyone loves the walled Hercules Garden, but our personal favourite is Diana’s Grove with its collection of truly magnificent firs. Nearby is also the chapel where Bonnie Dundee was buried after the battle of Killiecrankie, which makes for a fascinating visit, and there’s red deer, a play park, tearoom and gift shop, and sculpture trail. Garden only tickets are £9 if booking online or £10 at the gate for adults, and £6 or £7 for children.
Whatever you choose to do, Blair Atholl is a great place for a day out, with fun activities for all the family. We hope this article has given you some ideas for your visit.
