"The Atholl Palace is one of my favourite places where each year we meet up with good friends and have fun. It's the perfect place to stay in a perfect setting with lovely people looking after us. What more could a person want?"
Here is our A - Z of suggested activities and places to visit, which will suit a variety of ages and groups.
Suggestions from easy walks to getting "wet 'n' wilde"!
All suggested activities are based either on our doorstep or a maximum of approximately 1 - 1 1/2 hours from the Atholl Palace.
If you require any further information, or wish to book some of our suggested activities, please contact our Activities Desk on 01796 473777 or email activities@athollpalace.com
Atholl Palace - We have so much to offer within our grounds you may never leave. We have everything from woodlands walks to wildlife spotting (look out for the rare red squirrels) and Pitch 'n' Putt to a game of tennis on one of our 4 Highland Tennis Championship Courts.
Aviemore - only 56 miles north of Pitlochry in the heart of the Cairngorm National Park, Aviemore and the surrounding area offers everthing from castles and mountain bothies to cultural landscapes and the language and folklore - a must for anyone visiting Perthshire - "the gateway to the Highlands"
Blair Castle - located only 8 miles north of Pitlochry this magnificent ancient seat of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl is Scotland’s most visited historic house and the home of the Atholl Highlanders, Europe’s only remaining private army.
Visit their website for details of their special interest tours such as "Behind Closed Doors" or "Bug World" with one of the castles' Rangers.
Cycling - Why not get "dropped at the top" by Highland Adventure Safaris and enjoy a 2 - 4 hour bike ride through spectacular scenery? About 100 yards from the Atholl Palace entrance is Perthshire's most dynamic bike shop, where you can hire bikes, tandems, tag-along's and any required equipment. Kevin or Malcolm will also be able to give you route maps and suggest a route which suits your abilities.
A Bike Storage facility is also availabile in the centre of Pitlochry.
Canyoning - for the really adventurous! Nae Limits a local company who we recommend, pride themselves at being top of the canyonning game, it is NOT GORGE WALKING, their canyons involve ropes, harnesses and jumps !
Churches - there are churches in Pitlochry and the service/mass times are as follows:-
Dam and Fishladder - Pitlochry Dam is home to the famous Salmon Ladder where the fish may be seen in the viewing chamber during their ascent past Pitlochry Dam
Dunkeld - just over 13 miles south of Pitlochry, you will find a variety of walks, namely the Hermitage, and the river walk by the Cathedral where you will be see an abundance of flora and flauna.
The Beatrix Potter garden and museum in Birnam, Dunkeld with a trail of hidden sculptures and a small but charming museum where you can hang up Mrs. Tiggy Winkles washing and hide Peter Rabbit from Mr. MacGregor.
Edradour Distillery - take a leisurely walk through the hotel grounds to the smallest working distillery in Scotland "Edradour". Once you have enjoyed the free tour, why not sample the water of life?
Fishing - fish in the little-known hidden gem, the River Tummel, for the elusive Scottish Spring Salmon, or in a loch nearby for wild brown trout.
We are delighted to announce that we work closely with Jock Monteith, a very experienced professional Scottish game fishing guide. One of our guests recently caught a 25lb salmon at a local beat with the expert guidance of Jock!
Funicular Railway and Cairngorm National Park - is located approximately 56 miles north of Pitlochry and is a must for anyone looking for a taste of mountains, wildlife and scenery in Scotland. Take a trip on the Funicular Railway for fantastic views over the Cairngorm National Park - you might be lucky and have some snow!
Funicular Railway
Golf - with Pitlochry being the geographical centre of Scotland, where better to stay to have access to many of the fantastic golf courses in Scotland, and we have around 17 courses all within 1 hour of the Atholl Palace.
House of Bruar - is Scotland’s most prestigious country store and, for many, no trip to Scotland is complete without a visit to ‘The Home of Country Clothing’. The annual November sale is a must for that great bargain!
Highland Adventure Safaris
- Operating within 250,000 acres of Highland Perthshire Estate, Highland Safaris offer a unique range of Safari products combining breathtaking scenery, Scottish heritage and inspirational adventure. Let us pre-book your activity with HAS to avoid disappointment as availability becomes very limited
Horse Riding and Pony Trekking Can either be booked with Blair Castle or Loch Tay Equestrian Centre where you can enjoy everything from pony rides for small children, to exhilarating rides into the hills or splashing through the shallows of Loch Tay.
Innes' Gardening skills can be viewed all around the hotel's 48 acres. Visit the Japanese Garden, the specimen trees planted over 120 years ago or the herb garden to admire the constant work which takes place in the estate
Jogging - We have a variety of jogging routes around our gardens and estate - you can download a pdf version of our route map here or request a copy from the hotel reception or the Activities Desk.
Kincraig Wildlife Park - a great place to visit for both the young and old alike. This park situated at Kincraig, Kingussie is a real experience of Scottish wildlife as well as international endangered animals of mountains and tundra in the spectacular setting of the Highland Wildlife Park. Only a 50 mile drive from the hotel.
Lavender Spa - A perfect retreat, the Lavender Spa located on the garden level combines hands on treatments and relaxation in our thermal rooms and spa pools. It is advisable to pre-book your treatment prior to your stay as availability can become very limited.
Lochs - whether it be a leisurely drive to a loch for peace and tranquility, fishing or water sports you have an abundance to choose from, and all within an easy drive of Pitlochry. Why not organise a packed lunch with reception and make a day of it?
Loch Tummel - The B8019 turns off the B8079 road from Pitlochry to Blair Atholl and runs west along the shores of beautiful lochs Tummel and Rannoch, best seen in the autumn when the trees change their colours. At the eastern end of Loch Tummel is Queen's View, a spectacular viewpoint which looks down the loch and across to Schiehallion. There's a visitor centre here, with displays and audio-visual programmes about the area. Apr-Oct daily 1000-1730. Free, but £1 parking charge.
Loch Tay - the largest loch in Perthshire and the start of the River Tay. Visit the Loch Tay Boating Centre on your trip for a variety of activities including motor boat hire, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, mountain biking and power boat sports
www.loch-tay.co.uk
Munroes - why not bag a munro or two whilst staying at the Atholl Palace? Organise a packed lunch to see you through the day. Return to the hotel and enjoy a soak in the jacuzzi in the Lavender Spa
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Nae Limits - Nae Limits offer over 12 adventure activities on land and water. These include white water rafting, canyoning, adventure tubing and other adventure sports. Many of these exhilarating adventure activities are unique to Nae Limits, such as sphereing and adventure tubing.
Contact the Activities Desk who will be happy to book your white knuckle adventure. It is advised to book prior to your stay as availability can become very limited.
Off Road Driving - can be arranged with the experienced Highland Adventure Safaris team. Take the controls with a friendly experienced Instructor at your side and find out what these Land Rovers can really do on our hill top off road driving course. Forge your way along Forest Tracks, through mountain burns and up slippery slopes. Challenge yourself with this thrilling adventure.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre - Pitlochry's renowned Festival Theatre has plays, music, talks and courses running throughout the year. The range courses they offer grows each year and currently includes writing, painting, photography, theatre skills and drystone walling.
Come and see "Whisky Galore" this season's most talked about play!
Queens View - One of the outstanding beauty spots in all of Scotland is the Queen’s View where a panorama of lake and mountain scenery stretches westwards as far as the Glen Coe hills, on clear days. Sure to take your breath away with this stunning beautiful scenery and only around 10 miles from the Atholl Palace
Rambling - a perfect base for rambling, the Atholl Palace offers access to many walks for various levels of experience. Maps can be printed off at the Activities Desk
Schiehallion - The "fairy hill of the Caledonians" is a munro which lies between Loch Tay and Loch Tummel, 10 miles north of Aberfeldy. Grab a packed lunch and bag a munro!
Sailing - Legend SailingSailing, Downhill Cycle Rides, Kayak Fun, Canoe Trips, Archery, Canyoning, Quad Biking, River Rafting, Clay Pigeon Shooting and Activity Gift Vouchers. www.legendsailing.co.uk
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Tennis - enjoy a game or two of tennis on our all weather "Highland Tennis Championship" courts. The tournament takes place each year in September, so why not join in?
Unique - our fresh Highland air
Enjoy a variety of activities in our great outdoors in our fresh Highland air and have a great nights sleep.
Variety
As we have such a large suggestion of activities and things to see in the local area, you will never have a day with nothing to do!
Walks - Pitlochry has walks to suit every walker with a choice of pasture or highland, riverside, woodland and open moorland. There are walks to suit all abilities from gentle walks, hill walks and munro's. A map of local walks can be purchases at either the hotel reception or activities desk.
Explorers Garden - You don’t have to be a budding botanist to really appreciate the beauty of this unique Garden. Not only is it packed with amazing and rare plants, you’ll also discover the fantastic stories behind the men who risked death to bring them back. And to bring those stories to life, there is some stunning architecture, art and outdoor performances too.
ZZZZzzzzzz - We hope that you will have a great nights sleep after any of your chosen activities. Sleep tight!
