Welcome to Highland Gateway - Old Mill Inn

For visitors from overseas, especially those coming from countries where vast distances are taken for granted, the rapidity with which the Scottish Lowlands change into the spectacular landscape of the Highlands is always a surprise. Within an hour's drive of Edinburgh, with the backcloth of the Grampian mountains appearing already in the far distance, visitors enter the foothills of Highland Perthshire just a few miles north of Perth.

Located in the beautiful Tummel Valley, twenty miles from Perth, Pitlochry has been famed as a holiday destination since Victorian times, when the introduction of the railway and Queen Victoria's love of the Highlands combined to create this distinctively Scottish resort town.

We hope you will enjoy the brief tour of Pitlochry offered by this web site and look forward to welcoming you when you visit in person.

A whole host of organisations run a variety of events in Highland Perthshire, covering the towns of Aberfeldy, Blair Atholl, Dunkeld, Kenmore, Pitlochry, and Kinloch Rannoch.

Here we have listed all the events as supplied to us by the different organisations in date order, so you can check out what is happening when you are in the area.

What's On in Highland Perthshire in 2005.

Activities in Pitlochry

One of the attractions of the Pitlochry area is the wide range of activities available to visitors. From sporting activities to pub entertainment and theatre ... Pitlochry has it all.
The wildlife of the area is diverse and can often be glimpsed by chance. Both Glengoulandie Deer Park and the Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre, famous for its osprey, offer the opportunity to witness the wildlife a little closer.

In the evenings, after a day's sightseeing or walking, the area's wide choice of hotels, restaurants and pubs vie for your attention. Whether you are looking for fine food, a lively ceilidh, folk music, or simply peace and quiet in which to relax over a dram, you will find it here

Sightseeing in Pitlochry and Highland Perthshire

Pitlochry has much to offer the visitor within the town itself, including Pitlochry Dam and Fishladder, and Loch Faskally, which was created by the construction of the dam.

While many visitors come to Pitlochry simply to browse in the shops and linger in the restaurants and cafés, the town's greatest asset is undeniably its idyllic setting among the wooded hills of the Tummel Valley. Whether undertaking a climb to the top of heathered Ben Vrackie or a leisurely circuit of Loch Faskally, the immediate area offers wonderful walking country. Slightly farther afield, lovers of the countryside can explore the scenic splendour of Loch Tummel, the Queen's View, Loch Tay, Kinloch Rannoch and Schiehallion.

Pitlochry's near neighbours - among them Dunkeld, Aberfeldy and Blair Atholl - offer days out packed with interest. Like Pitlochry, these are typical of the towns and villages of Highland Perthshire and possess a distinctive charm all of their own. History buffs are catered for too, with Blair Castle, the traditional home of the Dukes of Atholl, and Scone Palace, the original home of the Stone of Destiny, both within easy reach.

Shopping in and around Pitlochry

Shopping is a favourite pastime of visitors to Pitlochry. The town centre is compact and easily explored on foot, with the shops mainly located along Atholl Road. Having won many awards in recent years for its floral displays, including Scotland In Bloom, the town centre is colourfully bedecked with floral sculptures, summer bedding and hanging baskets, all of which add to the enjoyment of shoppers.

The absence of large national chains is another reason for shopping here. Pitlochry is largely a town of small, independent shops, with the emphasis on gifts, crafts, tartans and woolens. You will find souvenirs here, but you will also discover genuine quality and shops a little out of the ordinary, such as the Heathergems factory showroom. And when you need a break from shopping, there are lots of restaurants, pubs and cafés where you can relax over a meal or refreshments.