The Central Highlands - The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands and Islands - page 145

Blair Atholl Watermill
Ford Road • April-Oct daily 9.30am-5pm; milling takes place Wed-Fri • Free • W blairathollwatermill.co.uk
Close to the River Tilt is Blair Atholl's Watermill , which dates back to 1613. During
the summertime you can wander around and witness the mill in action. Better still is
a trip to the pleasant timber-beamed tearoom (see below), where you can enjoy
home-baked scones and light lunches (many items are made with the mill's own flour).
INFORMATION AND ACTIVITIES BLAIR ATHOLL

2

Atholl Estates Information Centre Close to the
bridge over the River Tilt, a 5min walk east of the train
station (April-Oct daily 9am-4.45pm; W athollestates
rangerservice.co.uk). Modern ranger station, where you
can get details of the extensive network of local walks

and bike rides, as well as information on surrounding
flora and fauna.
Bike rental You can rent bikes (£17.50/day) from Blair
Atholl Bike Hire ( T 01796 481500, W blairathollbikehire
.co.uk), near the Atholl Country Life Museum.

ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Atholl Arms Hotel On the main road, near the train
station T 01796 481205, W athollarms.co.uk. Grand but
reasonably priced hotel, and the best place in town for a
drink or a bar meal. A tasty ham and haddie (smoked
haddock and bacon with chee se sa uce) costs £10.15. Food
served daily noon-9.30pm. £82
Ì Blair Atholl Watermill Ford Rd T 01796 481321,
W blairathollwatermill.co.uk. Blair Atholl's top spot for

tea, tray bakes, toasties (from £4.65) and bagels (from
£5.25), in a charming (and still functioning) old watermill.
April-Oct daily 9.30am-5pm.
Blair Castle Caravan Park Within the grounds of Blair
Castle T 01796 481263, W blaircastlecaravanpark.co
.uk. Busy but attractive campsite with laundry facilities, a
gam es room and a shop selling the estate's own sausages.
£18 /pitch

Loch Tummel
West of Pitlochry, the B8019/B846 makes a memorably scenic, if tortuous, traverse
of the shores of Loch Tummel and then Loch Rannoch. These two lochs and their
adjoining rivers were much changed by the massive hydroelectric schemes built in the
1940s and 1950s, yet this is still a spectacular stretch of countryside and one that
deserves leisurely exploration. Queen's View at the eastern end of Loch Tummel is an
obvious vantage point, looking down the loch to the misty peak of Schiehallion ; the
name comes from the Gaelic meaning “Fairy Mountain”.

Schiehallion
Rising cone-like southwest of Loch Tummel to a peak of 3553ft, Schiehallion is a popular,
fairly easy and inspiring mountain to climb (3-4hr), with views on a good day to the
massed ranks of Highland peaks. The path up starts at Braes of Foss, just of the B846 that
links Aberfeldy with Kinloch Rannoch. You'll get a good view of the mountain from the
cosy Loch Tummel Inn (see below), about halfway along Loch Tummel.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING LOCH TUMMEL

Loch Tummel Inn About halfway along Loch Tummel,
on the B8019 T 01882 634272, W lochtummelinn
.co.uk. Beautiful stone-built inn serving real ale and rich
meals like pan-fried red-deer venison (£15.95). The picnic

benches out the front have magnificent views over the
loch and Schiehallion. Food served Mon -Sat 12.15-
2.30pm & 5.30-8.30pm; Sun 12.15-8pm. £80

Loch Rannoch
Beyond Loch Tummel, marking the eastern end of Loch Rannoch, the small community
of KINLOCH RANNOCH doesn't see a lot of passing trade - fishermen and hillwalkers are
the most common visitors. Otherwise, the only real destination here is Rannoch Station ,
a lonely outpost on the Glasgow-Fort William West Highland train line, sixteen miles
FROM TOP RANNOCH MOOR P.150 ; SIGNPOST FOR THE SPEYSIDE WAY P.176 >