BIG Five Historic Places in Highland Perthshire

NTS Killiecrankie

On 27 July 1689 the peace and tranquility of this beautiful gorge was shattered when the first shots in the Jacobite cause were fired.

One soldier escaped by making a spectacular jump across the River Garry at the spot now known as Soldier's Leap.

The Visitor Centre features 'hands-on' natural history exhibits, models and maps of the battle. Also, see nesting birds at close range.A starting point for walks through the Pass, the Centre features a souvenir book shop, historical and natural history exhibitions and a Ranger Service.

Take a short stroll through attractive woodland, with stunning views of the Pass, down to the historic Soldier's Leap. Enjoy a longer walk along the river through the magnificent wooded gorge of the Pass of Killiecrankie.

Killiecrankie through the seasons...
Spring generates a floral extravaganza at Killiecrankie. The plants on the woodland floor feast on the sunlight to grow and flower before the blue sky is replaced by the chlorophyll green canopy of tree leaves. White wood anemones carpet the woods on the way down to the Soldier's Leap, interspersed with primroses and violets. The air resonates with bird song as the season progresses, with males showing off and establishing breeding territories. Most notable are the resident tits, finches, blackbirds, wrens and robins.

Summer sees migrant birds such as pied and spotted flycatchers, wood and willow wablers arriving to join the residents. In the evenings both pipistrelle and Daubenton's bats are on the wing, each bat munching its way through 3,000 midges a night! While the best of the woodland flowers are over, the verges beside the Visitor Centre come alive with grassland flowers, bees and butterflies. The bird feeding station helps bring the woodland birds close to the Visitor Centre's balcony, where red squirrels are also regular visitors.

During Autumn the Pass of Killiecrankie is renowned for its splendid autumn colours, each tree species makes its own particular contribution to a mesmerising blend of gold, burgundy, saffron, amber, russet, umber and many other colours. It's a good time to spot red squirrels as they search for nuts and seeds to store away for the winter - they regularly come to the feeding station below the Visitor Centre. During periods of rain you can look for the spectacular sight of leaping salmon at the falls in the River Garry beneath the famous Soldier's Leap.

Often the overwhelming sensation of winter in the Pass is that of silence and solitude. Trees stand tall, no longer burdened by their life-giving foliage, bare spars of branches supporting an ever-interlocking network of naked twigs.
Robins and wrens may be heard singing, but the undoubted star performer of winter is the dumpy, brown, white-bibbed dipper. Its beautiful long warble of liquid and grating notes can be heard above the rushing River Garry. Snow may be deep at the Pass of Killiecrankie in a hard winter. Tracks from deer or squirrels and the runs of small mammals are common, but perhaps the most exciting discovery is the five-toed webbed print of the secretive otter.

Blair Castle

For over 700 years, Blair Castle has acted as gatekeeper to the Scottish Highlands. Today, its turbulent history and its strategic role is in the past - yet, as one of Scotland's best-known visitor attractions, it still introduces many thousands of visitors to the Highlands each year.

Its setting in the Strath of Garry remains magnificent and its white, turreted facade seems to sum up all that people expect of a traditional Scottish castle.

Castle Tour and Gardens

Blair Castle is the seat of the Dukes of Atholl and home to the Atholl Highlanders, Britain's only private army. With some thirty treasure-filled rooms to see, extensive parklands - including Diana's Grove and the restored Hercules Garden - woodland and riverside walks, restaurant and gift shop, Blair Castle makes an ideal day out for all the family.

Entertaining and Activities

Blair Castle makes an ideal venue for Highland Balls, dinners and corporate entertaining. Shooting, fishing and pony trekking is available on the estate.

Activities inside Blair Castle for Children

Take part in the children's Castle Detectives Challenge, use the picture clues provided. Children have to hunt down castle treasures and work out the answers. Parents may also be allowed to join in! The activity sheet is collected in the Castle Entrance Hall and takes children around the castle room by room. There is a children's colouring area in our Treasure Room where children can get creative and their parents can concentrate on the vast array of exhibits.

Click here for a list of Blair Castle events

Click here for a list of Atholl Estates Rangers events

Dunkeld Cathedral

The church in Dunkeld has been around a very long time – over 1400 years – dating from the time when Celtic monks set up a base for mission where the River Braan joins the River Tay. Since then it has seen many changes and turbulent times, eventually becoming the beautiful, peaceful place of worship it is today.

Chapter House Museum
is a permanent local history exhibition telling the history of the town and the redevelopment of the reformed church.

Opening Hours:

October to March 9.30am - 4.00pm
April -September 9.30am - 6.30pm

Archives
These are now held in the purpose built Community Archive, the Cross, Dunkeld. Click here for full details.

The Scottish Crannog Centre

Let us introduce you to the pride and passion behind a living experiment, now a 5 star visitor and educational centre with a Gold award for best practice in environmental management. Take a look at some of our underwater discoveries in the exhibition; walk over water into the Iron Age on your crannog tour; and test your skills at ancient crafts and technology.

Special events run regularly featuring artists, musicians, skilled craft workers and other specialists who, together with our own team of Iron Age guides, actively bring the past to life. Also at our Centre, why not browse in our giftshop offering an excellent selection of books, crafts, and related items. Or enjoy light and healthy refreshments from our snackbar. Click here for a list of events.

2017 Opening Times:
Saturday 1st April to Sunday 30th October 2017: 10:00am to 5:30pm
Tuesday 31st October 2017: 10:00am – 4:00pm.

Please allow 1-2 hours for your visit. In all cases, last full tours are one hour before closing.
Other off-season group bookings welcome by appointment.

Entrance fees apply – please contact The Scottish Crannog Centre for further details.

Schools and Groups are welcome by advance booking.

Castle Menzies

Castle Menzies is a spectacular sixteenth century Scottish castle, restored during the twentieth century by the Menzies Clan Society. Architecturally fascinating, it is a splendid Renaissance example of the transition in Scottish castles from earlier rugged Highland fortresses to later mansion houses.
The Castle was the seat of the Chiefs of Clan Menzies for over 400 years. Situated in a strategic location, it was involved in much of the turbulent history of the Highlands. During the second Jacobite rising the Castle hosted both Bonnie Prince Charlie, who rested on his way to Culloden in 1746 and, just four days later, the Duke of Cumberland, son of the British Monarch and commander of the Government forces.
Rescued as a ruin in 1957 by the then recently re-formed Menzies Clan Society, the Castle has been lovingly restored by generations of Society members and was placed into a charitable trust in 1993. It is open to all as a visitor attraction, museum, Clan centre for the Menzies Clan and venue for weddings, concerts and other hire. All proceeds are exclusively used for the continued restoration and maintenance of the Castle, its Walled Garden and the Old Kirk of Weem.