Pitlochry

Pitlochry is a town in Perth and Kinross with a population in 2021 of 2950. It's 27 miles north of Perth in the valley of the River Tummel, long a major route between the Lowlands and the central Highlands. It grew up as a tourist resort in the Victorian era, especially after the coming of the railway in 1863. Later developments largely passed it by, so it retains its Victorian centre, which is all the more pleasant since the main road A9 was diverted onto a bypass in 1981.

Visitor information

 * Visit Scotland page for Pitlochry

By train
Pitlochry is on the main line from Edinburgh and Glasgow via Perth and Birnam, with trains every hour or two, which continue north to Blair Atholl, Kingussie, Aviemore and Inverness. Getting here from England usually means changing in Edinburgh, but one direct daytime train from London Kings Cross takes 6 hr 30 min via York, Newcastle and Edinburgh.

Nightly except Saturday, the Highland Sleeper leaves London Euston around 9PM to reach Pitlochry by 6AM on its way to Inverness. The southbound sleeper picks up around 10:45PM, reaching Euston by 8AM. You might prefer to take the Lowland Sleeper towards midnight and change in Edinburgh for a daytime train. Returning south, you need to leave Pitlochry around 8:30PM to pick up the Lowland Sleeper from Edinburgh around 11:30PM.

is in village centre. It has a ticket office but no machines. There are toilets and a waiting room, no cafe or dispenser. There is ramp access to the only platform in routine use.

By bus
Inter-city buses along the A9 mostly bypass Pitlochry. Citylink Bus M90 from Edinburgh takes 2 hours via Perth Broxden P&R (where you may have to change) and continues from Pitlochry to Aviemore and Inverness; there are five daily. M91 is a slower bus once daily from Edinburgh via Halbeath (for Fife), Kinross, Broxden P&R,  Perth and Birnam, taking 2 hr 15 min to Pitlochry and continuing to Blair Atholl, Newtonmore, Kingussie, Aviemore and Inverness.

From Glasgow there are six services a day, often with a change at Broxden P & R, taking 2 hours.

Stagecoach Bus 27 runs from Perth once M-Sa via Birnam, Dunkeld and Ballinluig, taking an hour.

Elizabeth Yule Bus 87 runs from Calvine via Blair Atholl, Killiecrankie and Faskally, taking 40 min to Pitlochry, with 5 daily.

The main bus stop in Pitlochry is by Fishers Hotel and the Bank of Scotland.

Get around
The best way to get around the local area is by car.

Taxis are Pitlochry Taxi (+44 7849 044319) and Elizabeth Yule (+44 1796 472290).

See

 * Sunnybrae Cottage on the main road through town was built in the 1700s, a traditional Highland "black house" with its folk living in its west side and their cattle in its east. It used to have turf walls, and no proper windows or chimney; it nowadays has a corrugated metal roof. You can only view the exterior.
 * is a carved Pictish cross-slab from the 8th century. It's been put in a glass box for protection, which makes the inscriptions harder to see. It's a mile south of town up the lane across the Tummel Bridge - there's no access from A9 rushing overhead. Several Victorian graves are nearby, the most imposing being that of Lieutenant-General Archibald Fergusson (1755-1834), who distinguished himself in Bengal.
 * is just a few crumbling walls along A924 towards Edradour Distillery. It was built in 1326 on an islet in a loch which has since been drained. The design was enceinte — a rectangular curtain wall and four corner towers but no central keep. It was abandoned in the 16th century and torched, as it was feared it harboured plague or Black Death, hence the castle name.
 * Pitlochry Standing Stone is seen from Craiglunie Rd in Moulin 100 yards north of the Kirk and museum. Local lore is that it was once part of a ritual circle, but if so the other stones have all been lost.
 * Pitlochry Standing Stone is seen from Craiglunie Rd in Moulin 100 yards north of the Kirk and museum. Local lore is that it was once part of a ritual circle, but if so the other stones have all been lost.
 * Pitlochry Standing Stone is seen from Craiglunie Rd in Moulin 100 yards north of the Kirk and museum. Local lore is that it was once part of a ritual circle, but if so the other stones have all been lost.

Do

 * Live Active Atholl is the leisure centre, at the foot of West Moulin Rd.
 * Live Active Atholl is the leisure centre, at the foot of West Moulin Rd.
 * Ben Vrackie is the signature hike - at 841 m it's a Corbett. The hike starts by the Moulin Brewery and Hotel, taking 4 hours return through woodland and open heath to the last steep scramble. Easy in summer, in winter it's icy; see Walkhighlands for a route description.
 * Cycle or drive the scenic old road through the Pass of Killiecrankie, B8019. It's especially attractive in autumn.
 * Golf: Pitlochry GC is 18 holes, white tees 5692 yards, par 69. Other nearby courses are at Blair Atholl and Strathtay.
 * March into Pitlochry is a live music festival for charity in May. The next is 17-18 May 2024.
 * Pitlochry Highland Games are held in September in the Recreation Park on Ferry Road, with the next on Sa 14 Sept 2024.
 * Strathardle Highland Gathering is in late Aug at Bannerfield Strathardle, six miles east of Pitlochry towards Bridge of Cally, see Blairgowrie & Rattray.


 * Enchanted Forest is a sound & light show held in October in Faskally Forest, a mile north of Pitlochry on B8019. The next is 3 Oct - 3 Nov 2024.

Buy

 * Co-op Food is in town centre at the foot of West Moulin Road (A924). It's open daily 6AM-10PM.
 * The market is held April-Nov on the third Saturday of the month. It's by the Business Centre on Armoury Rd west of the station.

Eat

 * Prince of India at 5 Station Rd is open daily 2-10:30PM
 * Chinese Village (formerly Bamboo House) is a takeaway at 48 Atholl Rd, open Th-Tu 4-11PM.
 * Prince of India at 5 Station Rd is open daily 2-10:30PM
 * Chinese Village (formerly Bamboo House) is a takeaway at 48 Atholl Rd, open Th-Tu 4-11PM.
 * Chinese Village (formerly Bamboo House) is a takeaway at 48 Atholl Rd, open Th-Tu 4-11PM.

Drink

 * Old Mill Inn (see Sleep) has live music Fridays and Saturdays.

Connect
As of March 2024, Pitlochry and the A9 has 4G from O2, Three and Vodafone, and 5G from EE. There is poor coverage on side roads such as A924 to Glenshee.

Go next

 * Blair Atholl north has a castle and Falls of Bruar. Then the road climbs over bleak Drumochter Pass to Aviemore in the Spey valley.
 * Branch off A9 up the Tummel valley to lonely Rannoch Moor.
 * Dunkeld and Birnam south have scenic woodlands, with spectacular autumn colours.