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Scottish Highlands & Cairngorms National Park

Highland Perthshire – mountains, lochs & world-class whisky
Highland views | Lochs, glens and striking Scottish peaks.
The Cairngorms National Park | Where you’ll find stunning Blair Castle.
The Rob Roy Way | Take in stretches of this iconic long-distance footpath.
Dewar’s | Visit one of the oldest Scottish whisky distilleries.
Falls of Bruar | Hike the beautiful trail that inspired Robert Burns.
What is included
  • 6 nights
  • 6 breakfasts
    (& 3 dinners on upgrade version)
  • luggage transported
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • taxi to collect car
  • Scottish Highlands & Cairngorms National Park
    Highland Perthshire – mountains, lochs & world-class whisky
  • Vist ancient Blair Castle
  • The impressive Falls of Bruar
  • World-famous whiskies
  • Enjoy a breakfast of delicious local produce
  • Black Spout waterfall
  • Kenmore, on Loch Tay
  • The dinners at our upgrade hotels are exceptional
  • Walk the landscapes that inspired Robert Burns
  • Rivers are a frequent companion
What is included
  • 6 nights
  • 6 breakfasts
    (& 3 dinners on upgrade version)
  • luggage transported
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • taxi to collect car

Holiday information

A walking holiday in Highland Perthshire

Experience spectacular Highland scenery as you walk self-guided from one welcoming guesthouse to the next, with your luggage transported ahead. As well as taking in the views, our beautiful routes lead you to the region’s proud castles, picturesque towns and world-class whisky distilleries.
Just about everything that makes Scotland such superb walking country can be found in Highland Perthshire: deep glens surrounded by mountains and riven by glistening streams; expansive lochs; tumbling falls; and a not insignificant scattering of burns, birks and braes.

On this holiday, you discover the very best of the region – not only the beauty of its heather-clad peaks and rolling, lowland pastures, but also what lies between: from illustrious castles – 750-year-old Blair being a particular highlight – to fantastic local produce, including Scotland’s biggest export, silky-smooth, single-malt whisky.

There is a real variety of walking to enjoy as you make your way north from Aberfeldy via Pitlochry to the lower reaches of the Cairngorms National Park, with easy riverside strolls along stretches of the iconic Rob Roy Way complemented by thrilling ascents of such emblematic peaks as Ben Vrackie.

And our selection of accommodation is similarly diverse, from friendly, family-run guesthouses to – in Pitlochry and Blair Atholl – the choice to upgrade to high-quality hotels with outstanding cuisine. Wherever you stay, thanks to Pitlochry's long association with rail travel this is an area that is extremely well connected – giving you the option to access your holiday easily and exclusively by train.

Top pick for 2025


We've picked the Scottish Highlands as one of our top 10 for 2025 as our updgrade hotel option in Blair Atholl, The Old Manse of Blair, has earned a spot in the Michelin Guide 2025! Feast on dishes made from locally foraged ingredients in what the Michelin Guide describes as "Scottish to the core".
See our top 10 for 2025


Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.

    You should always be prepared for wet weather, whichever month you are travelling.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 5 6 7 10 13 16 18 17 15 11 8 6
    mm 120 86 82 73 73 77 86 98 74 114 110 100
  • Arrival in Aberfeldy
    Night 1: at Balnearn House or the Townhouse (the first of two nights here).
    As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of walking.
  • Choice of routes from Aberfeldy: 4, 9 or 16km (2.5, 5.5 or 10 miles)
    Whichever route you choose today, take time to discover Aberfeldy itself: this up-and-coming town may be much less known than neighbouring Pitlochry, but it is home to some wonderful independent businesses – from coffee roasters to kiltmakers to an Art Deco cinema. It is also where you will find Dewar’s, one of the oldest whisky distilleries in Scotland and where you can enjoy a range of popular tour and tasting experiences (pre-booking essential; click here for details).

    Acharn to Aberfeldy: 16km (10 miles), 5.5hrs; ascent/descent 510m
    After a transfer to Acharn on the shores of Loch Tay, ascend a wooded path past waterfalls to reach the Queen's Drive, then wind across the hillsides through forest and open meadows for far-reaching vistas of both Loch Tay and Perthshire’s hallowed Munro, Schiehallions. You descend another wooded ravine through the Birks (birch trees) of Aberfeldy.

    The Birks of Aberfeldy: 4km (2.5 miles), 2hrs; ascent/descent 175m
    Enjoy a scenic short walk, which explores the beautiful wooded, watery trail that inspired Robert Burns to write The Birks of Aberfeldy (‘birks’ being the Scots for birch trees).

    Castle Menzies: 5km (3.5miles), 2hrs; ascent/descent 35m
    Stroll through Aberfeldy and across General Wade’s most impressive military bridge to reach Castle Menzies, ancestral home of Clan Menzies, before wandering back though riverside meadows. This route can easily be combined with the Birks of Aberfeldy trail.
    The Birks of Aberfeldy
    Acharn to Aberfeldy: 16km
    The Birks of Aberfeldy: 4km
    Castle Menzies: 5km
  • Aberfeldy to Pitlochry: 15km (9.5 miles), 5.5hrs; ascent 340m/descent 345m
    Leaving Aberfeldy, you pick up the Rob Roy Way and follow this iconic, long-distance trail along arguably its prettiest section – as it traces the gently flowing River Tay via flower-strewn paths and an old railway line to Grandtully. Here, we recommend paying a visit to the Highland Chocolatier, Iain Burnett, whose Velvet Truffles have twice been awarded the Best Truffle in the World. From Grandtully, forest paths wind up through broom and heather over the moorland ridge that separates the rivers Tay and Tummel to then descend through forest into Pitlochry. Here, your next two nights are spent at either Craigatin House or – if you choose to upgrade – the award-winning Knockendarroch Hotel.
    Pitlochry is surrounded by beautiful countryside
    Aberfeldy to Pitlochry: 15km
  • Choice of routes from Pitlochry: 7 or 12km (4.5 or 7.5 miles)
    Rushing waterfalls or iconic peaks? Whichever you choose, be sure to also pay a visit to Pitlochry’s famous Fish Ladder to watch the salmon leap upriver, to stop by its renowned Festival Theatre, and to call into the whisky treasure trove that is Robertson’s – please let us know at the time of booking if you would like us to arrange a tasting here for you.

    Ben Vrackie: 12km (7.5 miles), 5.5hrs; ascent/descent 715m
    Dominating the skyline above Pitlochry is Ben Vrackie, the 841-metre-high ‘speckled mountain’ named for the white quartz rocks that were once strewn across its slopes. Our ascent starts gently then steepens as you near the summit, but on a good path which explores a variety of terrain: from pretty woodland to open hillside, moorland and mountain loch. Once at the top, your exertions are soon forgotten, swept away by the magnificent views over the whole of Perthshire.

    Black Spout, Edradour and Moulin: 7km (4.5 miles), 2.5hrs; ascent/descent 160m
    Pitlochry is surrounded by picturesque woodland, and on this circular walk you explore Black Spout Wood – the lovely deciduous area to the east of the town. Concealed between its oak and ash trees are roe deer, red squirrels and colourful jays, as well as the impressive Black Spout waterfall that plunges from a height of 60 metres. From here, you continue to Edradour, home to the historic distillery (currently closed to the public) that keeps the House of Lords in fine, silky malt, before passing the romantic ruins of the Black Castle on the way to Moulin, a small hamlet with welcoming inn and its own brewery.
    Black Spout waterfall
    Loch a' Choire on Ben Vrackie
    Ben Vrackie: 12km
    Black Spout, Edradour and Moulin: 7km
  • Pitlochry to Blair Atholl: 14km (8.5 miles), 5hrs; ascent 190m/descent 170m
    Today you enter the Cairngorms National Park on a route that skirts Loch Faskally and follows the River Garry upstream to Blair Atholl. You start by crossing the dam wall and fish ladder in Pitlochry before following wooded riverside trails that traverse the Pass of Killiecrankie, a lovely wooded gorge rich in wildlife and famed for the bloody Jacobite battle that played out nearby. After this battle, a fleeing soldier is said to have made his escape by jumping the gorge at a spot now known as Soldier’s Leap. The last leg of the route follows very quiet lanes beside the river to reach Blair Atholl.

    Choose to spend your final two nights in Blair Atholl itself at Ptarmigan or Dalgreine House, or upgrade to The Old Manse, set within its own extensive grounds and reached via the Blair Castle estate.
    The Pass of Killiecrankie
    Pitlochry to Blair Atholl: 14km
  • Choice of routes from Blair Atholl: 8-17km (5-10.5 miles)
    Choose from two lovely circular walks on the fringes of the Cairngorms National Park, or visit Blair Castle, the 750-year-old ancestral home of Clan Murray and the Atholl Highlanders – Europe’s last remaining private army.

    Falls of Bruar: 17km (10.5 miles), 6hrs; ascent/descent 340m (from Ptarmigan and Dalgreine House)
    Falls of Bruar: 8km (5 miles), 3hrs; ascent/descent 195m (from the Old Manse)
    In 1787, Robert Burns wrote The Humble Petition of Bruar Water to the Noble Duke of Atholl, imploring the then Duke to plant more trees alongside Bruar’s cascading waterfalls. Although the Duke complied, most of his good work was undone during World War II; the felled trees were replaced after hostilities ended, however, and this delightful area is once again dense with Scots pine, larch, fir and spruce. Our longer route here from Blair Atholl leads via Blair Castle and its rolling parkland, while it’s a shorter walk via forest tracks from The Old Manse.

    Glen Tilt: 17km (10.5 miles), 6hrs; ascent/descent 360m (from Ptarmigan and Dalgreine House)
    Head north on a classically beautiful route from the Old Bridge of Tilt which explores both sides of Glen Tilt. This vast valley is widely regarded as one of Scotland's most striking, with its steep, heather-clad flanks and the constant, meandering presence of the River Tilt.

    Glen Banvie: 15km (9.5 miles), 5hrs; ascent/descent 290m (from the Old Manse)
    After passing through the impressive West Gate of the estate, follow woodland tracks north through forest that slowly gives way to ancient woodland and the open moors that fringe the Cairngorms National Park. Look out for deer, red squirrels and pine martin in the woods, and grouse and eagles on the moors, before descending back into the forest via a Victorian folly and Blair Castle.
    Falls of Bruar
    Glen Tilt
    Falls of Bruar (from Ptarmigan or Dalgreine House): 17km
    Falls of Bruar (from The Old Manse): 8km
    Glen Tilt (from Ptarmigan or Dalgreine House): 17km
    Glen Banvie (from The Old Manse): 15km

Accommodation

Our chosen accommodation ranges from small, privately owned guesthouses to intimate, high-quality hotels.

In some places, we work with more than one hotel, as shown below. All are hand-picked by us and, unless there is a price implication (in which case we will contact you to discuss your options), we will tell you which one we have booked for you on your booking confirmation.

We offer upgrade options in Pitlochry and Blair Atholl. Please indicate your preference at the time of booking. Wherever you stay, we recommend adding extra nights in each of these locations so that you have more time to explore.

Options to extend or shorten your stay

Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
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  • 6 nights: 01 April 2025 - 31 October 2025

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price
    23 - 31 Jul 2025 £973
    1 Aug - 30 Sep 2025 £873
    1 - 25 Oct 2025 £828
    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps, and any connecting travel detailed below.

    Included travel: transfer Blair Atholl-Aberfeldy to collect car

    Please note: dogs are not permitted on Inntravel holidays

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Where a price range is given, the price you pay depends on your date of travel.

    Connecting travel options - via Edinburgh

    Outward route Price per person Latest
    arrival time
    taxi Edinburgh airport to hotel (1h40) £115 flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Edinburgh airport (1h30) £115-£117 flexible

    Connecting travel options - via Pitlochry

    Outward route Price per person Latest
    arrival time
    taxi Pitlochry station to hotel (0h30) included flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Pitlochry station (0h15) included flexible
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 9 reviews
  • SE
    15 June 2025

    We had a lovely time walking from Aberfeldy to Blair Atholl.  We really enjoyed the walk from Acharn to Aberfeldy.  It was easy to get the bus to Acharn to start the walk.  We recommend the KB's Italian Kitchen in Aberfeldy.

     

    When we were staying in Pitlochry, we did the Ben Vrackie circular walk which goes up to the loch and then around it and back down to the town.  It was a beautiful hike and an alternative option for those less interested in doing the final hike to the top of Ben Vrackie.

     

    As other reviewers have noted, the second half of the walk to Blair Atholl is along a road - a bit less pleasant than the other walks but mostly quiet and lots of sheep on the hillside.  We recommend the Loft restaurant in Blair Atholl.

     

    All in all, we really enjoyed our walking holiday.  This is not a remote area and is not truly "Scottish Highlands" as one experiences around Fort William and Glencoe, but lovely all the same and more gentle walking.

  • Happy hiker
    02 June 2025

    Bring good rain gear as it rained every day ( in case people only see blue skies in photos of Scotland).  Get hiking poles (we left ours at Ptarmigan, and hope they lend them out).  Enjoy the full breakfast.  Oh, and if you time it right, trains do stop at Blair Atholl, only 3 mins ride from Ptarmigan, and saves the journey back to Pitlochry.

  • Ms K Schierl
    Canada
    07 October 2024

    Walking notes were perfect. the scenerary was varied and beautiful. Accommodations were lovely, all with great beds and outstanding hospitality.

    Our weather was quite good with very little rain, except for the last day. We would  suggest keeping a rain poncho  in your pack. It covers more than a coat including your pack.

  • Caroline, Surrey
    21 September 2024

    We had an excellent week walking the routes on the Heart of Scotland holiday. We were very fortunate with the weather so able to fully enjoy the fabulous Scottish countryside. The guest houses were all very welcoming and helpful. The rooms were comfortable and spacious given that moving on every couple of days meant we were living out of our suitcases.

  • Three walkers
    15 September 2024

    Inntravel has provided us with another splendid walk in Highland Perthshire, Scotland with their Heart of Scotland tour. It was easy to moderate walking with many options to choose from. We are three 70-somethings. We did not need poles, and wore short hiking shoes. The weather went from sunny to overcast, and no rain. We had great accommodations with welcoming and helpful innkeepers.

     

    We combined the Heart of Scotland with the Edinburgh add-on. We recommend opting for a couple days in Edinburgh, a very walkable and interesting city. Some of the sites to see would be the castle, Arthur's Seat, the National Museum of Scotland, and the botanical garden. We also enjoyed Dovecot Studios.

     

    We chose both option B and C walks in Aberfeldy. They can be done in one day. The Birks of Aberfeldy was a favorite walk for all of us. Castle Menzies is worth the admission and walking across one-lane Wade’s Bridge to get there was entertaining. 

     

    The walk from Aberfeldy to Pitlochry was wonderful, with the trek across the moors the best part. On your way to Pitlochry, treat yourself to some fine chocolate at the chocolatier's. As you sit and rest by the river, keep your eyes open for rafters. 

     

    We would recommend checking with Inntravel to find out if you can add an extra day in Pitlochry even though Pitlochry is crowded and touristy. That way you could choose the better of the two days to climb Ben Vrackie, and have a slow day the other day doing option B and a distillery tour. Ben Vrackie was in the clouds the day we were there, so we left with it undone. The Blair Athol Distillery tour was a favorite activity. 

     

    In Blair Atholl, Blair Castle and gardens were well worth our visit. We went through the gardens, Diana’s Grove with enormous trees, and up the hill for a nice walk through farm land with far ranging views. We were even treated to watching sheep being moved from one field to another by a farmer and his border collies. On Monday night, the Atholl Arms pub was the only place in town that we could find open to get something to eat.

     

    This week seemed as much about history and culture as walking. The Scots we met were very friendly. We were close to roads for some of the time and the road noise was unpleasant. But all in all, this was a lovely holiday. 

     

  • Ms A Pope
    Wokingham
    06 September 2024

    Really enjoyed this holiday blessed with some spectacular autumnal weather which highlighted the magnificent scenary brilliantly. We found the walks beautiful and the right distance to make the most of the day's walking without being too arduous. We enjoyed the mix of terrain (woods, waterfalls, lochs, moors and mountains), historic sites and the contrast between the peace of the trails and the warm welcome in the towns and villages we stayed in. It was the perfect combination of invigorating and restful.

  • Mr A Coulbeck
    USA
    08 August 2024

    Good value for money, and great accommodations. Good options for the walks and lots of information and maps provided.

  • Mr C Gottlieb
    USA
    11 July 2024

    We traveled as a family of 3 with different athletic abilities this type of hike and route variability worked well. The inn choices were well selected. The variability in sites to see, ranging from hiking up to highland peaks to following river valleys kept the views and scenery changing. 

  • Mr A Seaton
    Surbiton
    06 June 2024

    Very enjoyable holiday, in a beautiful part of Scotland. Accommodation was excellent. One point to note is that dinner options in Blair Atholl are very limited on Monday & Tuesday, with most options referenced in Inntravel notes closed. It would be helpful if this is highlighted when booking holiday.

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • Yes, prior to going on holiday you will be able to download GPX tracks so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. It’s entirely up to you whether or not you use them – our detailed, step-by-step route notes remain the principal means of guiding you from A to B – but we provide them as a secondary means of navigation for additional reassurance when walking.
  • Yes, absolutely. Over the years, we have arranged a great many holidays in the UK for customers living in the USA, Canada, Australia and beyond.

    If you've never travelled with us before, it's worth reading the web pages which explain how we can cater for customers who live outside the UK. The main thing to bear in mind is that our tour operator's licence doesn't allow us to book flights that originate outside the UK, and nor are we able to book rail travel in the UK, so we can't make travel arrangements for you, other than pre-arranging taxis between the local railway station and the accommodation – see the ‘prices & travel’ section for the options available.

    For practical information about travelling to the UK, see the 'what do I need to know about travelling to England, Scotland and Wales?' question.
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can incur a five or six-figure bill.

    Many insurers offer travel insurance (you can find details on our insurance page of a policy that you may like to consider if you are a UK resident), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    When you purchase a policy, be sure to check that it covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs.
  • You are the best judge of your child’s/children’s capabilities. We are happy to take bookings for families of older children/teenagers if they walk regularly, love the outdoors and are comfortable with the distances and ascent/descent involved. Please note that the bedrooms at most of the accommodation we use will normally only sleep a maximum of 3 people, and sometimes only 2.
  • Unfortunately not. The Inntravel team includes many dog owners, but the extra considerations – such as whether taxi firms accept dogs for transfers to the start of walks, whether routes cross private land on which dogs are not allowed, and proximity to a vet’s – would add another layer of complexity to what are already quite complex holidays.
  • As a minimum, you will need a passport to enter the UK; requirements vary according to your nationality. It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. You’ll need to check requirements on the website of your own country’s government or that of the British government. Our essential travel information page provides links to websites where you can find out about the applicable requirements, along with general official travel advice.
     
    English is the most widely spoken of several official languages; in Wales, for example, Welsh has equal status. The currency is the British pound (Scotland issues its own bank notes, but Bank of England notes can be used in Scotland and vice versa). The UK follows Greenwich Mean Time during autumn and winter, but switches to British Summer Time (GMT + 1) from late March until late October.
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£828pp | 6 nights
Scottish Highlands & Cairngorms National Park. 6 nights
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