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Heart of Scotland

Highland Perthshire – mountains, lochs & world-class whisky
 
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.
Heart of Scotland. 6 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Heart of Scotland. 6 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A walking holiday in Highland Perthshire

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.
 

 

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.
Currency converter

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  • 6 nights: 01 April 2024 - 31 October 2024 & 01 April 2025 - 31 October 2025

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

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 30 Apr 2024 £780 £425
    1 May - 31 Jul 2024 £850 £425
    1 Aug - 25 Oct 2024 £795 £425
    1 - 30 Apr 2025 £815 £445
    1 May - 31 Jul 2025 £885 £445
    1 Aug - 25 Oct 2025 £830 £445
    3rd & 4th person discount -£80 to -£83
    Single traveller supplement £80 to £83
    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

  • 6 nights, staying at Knockendarroch Hotel & The Old Manse of Blair: 01 April 2024 - 31 October 2024 & 01 April 2025 - 31 October 2025

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

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 30 Apr 2024 £1580 £750
    1 - 15 May 2024 £1655 £765
    16 May - 31 Jul 2024 £1700 £795
    1 Aug - 25 Oct 2024 £1660 £795
    1 - 30 Apr 2025 £1645 £780
    1 - 15 May 2025 £1725 £800
    16 May - 31 Jul 2025 £1770 £830
    1 Aug - 25 Oct 2025 £1730 £830
    3rd & 4th person discount -£80 to -£83
    Single traveller supplement £80 to £83
    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

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Balnearn House, Aberfeldy
    Suite: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2024 £8
    Suite: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2025 £8

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Craigatin House, Pitlochry (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 31 Oct 2024 £87 £159
    01 Apr - 31 Oct 2025 £90 £165
    Ptarmigan House, Blair Atholl (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 31 Oct 2024 £86 £172
    01 Apr - 31 Oct 2025 £89 £178

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Balnearn House, Aberfeldy
    Suite: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2024 £8
    Suite: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2025 £8
    Knockendarroch Hotel, Pitlochry
    Balcony: 01 Apr - 13 May 2024 £20
    Balcony: 14 May - 31 Oct 2024 £17
    Balcony: 01 Apr - 13 May 2025 £21
    Balcony: 14 May - 31 Oct 2025 £18
    Premier: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2024 £46
    Premier: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2025 £48

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Knockendarroch Hotel, Pitlochry (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 13 May 2024 £171 £342
    14 May - 31 Oct 2024 £195 £390
    01 Apr - 13 May 2025 £180 £360
    14 May - 31 Oct 2025 £205 £410
    The Old Manse of Blair, Blair Atholl (with dinner) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 31 Oct 2024 £256 £476
    01 Apr - 31 Oct 2025 £270 £500
  • 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) £68-£71 flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Edinburgh airport (1h30) £114-£119 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
What is included
  • 6 nights
  • 6 breakfasts
    (& 3 dinners on upgrade version)
  • luggage transported
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • taxi to collect car
 
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 >

 

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.
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from A to B, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. If/when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation, meaning that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.

    For more detailed information, see our walking holidays in Europe page.
  • 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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