Graeme from Scotland’s Stories: A Scotland Travel Blog With Great Stories (scotlands-stories.com)

Helen from Wheely Braw

Monique from Home – The Enchanted Forest

Pitlochry – SCOTLAND UNWRAPPED

In the Heart of Scotland – Pitlochry

Pitlochry – Wikipedia

12 Incredible Things To Do in Pitlochry | VisitScotland

Pitlochry | VisitScotland

34 Things to do in Pitlochry Scotland – Our Complete Guide

Explore Pitlochry and Highland Perthshire – Pitlochry Scotland

Gateway to the Highlands | VisitScotland

Queen’s View Visitor Centre – Forestry and Land Scotland

Perthshire – Wikipedia

Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre | Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre

Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre | Pitlochry Scotland

Pitlochry, Blair Atholl and Rannoch walks (Walkhighlands)

Accessible Holiday Accommodation Scotland

Handmade Jewellery Made In Scotland | Scottish gifts | Discover Heathergems

Moulin Hotel Pitlochry – Highland Perthshire Hotel

Home (pitlochryandmoulinheritagecentre.co.uk)

Edradour Distillery

Scotch Corner of Pitlochry Ice Cream Sweet shop

Blair Castle, Pitlochry | 5 Star Visitor Attraction in Perthshire (atholl-estates.co.uk)

www.fieldfare.org.uk

Mains of Taymouth Courtyard – Kenmore Delicatessen & Gifts

Highland Safaris & Red Deer Centre – Aberfeldy Safaris

Fishershotelpitlochry.com

File:Pitlochry Hydro-electric dam – geograph.org.uk – 2422561.jpg – Wikimedia Commons

File:Pitlochry dam and power station (2) – geograph.org.uk – 3221568.jpg – Wikimedia Commons

File:The Enchanted Forest, Pitlochry – geograph.org.uk – 4721620.jpg – Wikimedia Commons

File:Shops on Atholl Road, Pitlochry – geograph.org.uk – 5113729.jpg – Wikimedia Commons

File:Pitlochry and Ben Vrackie – geograph.org.uk – 5184466.jpg – Wikimedia Commons

File:84-104 Atholl Road, Pitlochry (geograph 6570515).jpg – Wikimedia Commons

File:Pitlochry – panoramio (4).jpg – Wikimedia Commons

File:Welcome to Pitlochry – geograph.org.uk – 170713.jpg – Wikimedia Commons

File:Power Station at River Tummel (49005660133).jpg – Wikimedia Commons

File:River Tummel, Pitlochry – geograph.org.uk – 2279092.jpg – Wikimedia Commons

File:Footbridge over the River Tummel at Pitlochry – geograph.org.uk – 4078333.jpg – Wikimedia Commons

File:Pitlochry, Perthshire (50248088648).jpg – Wikimedia Commons

Scottish Digest Podcast is a production of cluarantonn.com

Hosted by Dawn

Written and Produced by Dawn Young

Map courtesy of openstreetmap

Images courtesty of commons.wikimedia.org/

Music:

Epidemic by ES_The Celtic Flavour – Alysha Sheldon & ES_A Sound Foundation – Airae

 

Production Company Name by Granny Robertson

Hosted by Dawn Young

Welcome to Episode 7 of Scottish Digest, where we will be telling you all about Aberfoyle.

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In today’s episode we will be hearing from Graeme from Scotland’s Stories who is never happier than when he is donning his Kilt and exploring Scotland with Molly the Labrador, and his stories from his exploring are truly engaging. We’ll also hear from Helen who is a disability travel blogger who runs the website Wheely Braw, whose aim is to help wheelchair users and other disabled people get the most out of their visit to Scotland. And will also hear from Monique who will tell us all about The Enchanted Forest, an event that takes place every year near Pitlochry, and in 2023 will take place from the 5th of October to the 5th of November. So we’ve got quite an episode for you.

But first, where is Pitlochry? Well, Pitlochry is a picturesque largely Victorian town in Perthshire, situated almost halfway between Edinburgh and Inverness, being about 71.4 miles or 115 kilometres northwest of Edinburgh and 85.9 miles and 138 kilometres southeast of Inverness, and it lies on the River Tummel. According to Scotland Unwrapped, Pitlochry is often referred to as the Gateway to the Highlands and is one of the jewels in the crown of Scotland. According to Wikipedia, in 2011 Pitlochry had a population of 2,776, but, due to not only the charm of Pitlochry but also its perfect placement to explore Perthshire, visitors from all over the world return to Pitlochry year after year. Pitlochry is also known for the Pitlochry Dam and Fish Ladder Visitor Centre, which, according to pitlochry-scotland, is cantilevered eight metres out from the banks of the River Tummel
and gives excellent views of the dam. According to Brendan from scotland-unwrapped.com, the dam being constructed where it was, in the late 1940s and early 50s, would have prevented the huge amount of salmon and sea trout that migrated annually from reaching their spawning beds upstream, and so a salmon ladder of 310 metres was also created, allowing the fish to reach the waters above the dam. You can read more about this and about Brendan’s numerous visits to Pitlochry, which is one of his favourite places to visit in the world, at scotland-unwrapped.com.

Okay, so as Pitlochry is another place I have passed by many many times but not actually visited, let’s hear what Graeme from Scotland’s Stories discovered on his trips to Pitlochry and Perthshire as a whole, and what stories he can tell us.

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Graeme – Hi there. I’m Graeme from Scotland’s Stories and I’m here to tell you why the wee Perthshire town of Pitlochry is one of my favourite destinations. Pitlochry is one of the gateways to the highlands, nestled in between Ben Vrackie and the River Tummel.

It’s a bustling town today, but that hasn’t always been the case. The town as we know it began to form when General Wade’s military road passed through here in the 1700s, and its importance was solidified with the arrival of the railway over 100 years later. It still retains much of its Victorian tourist town charm with plenty of quirky wee shops and cafes for you to choose from if you like a wee bit of shopping. But for something completely different there’s the Heathergems Visitor Centre and shop, where craftspeople make beautiful jewellery out of Highland heather stems. Now as Pitlochry increased in importance it overtook an older settlement of Moulin, which is well worth visiting. It’s just a short journey up the hill to the Moulin Hotel beside the old church, but it is like traveling back in time. You find some great walks from here as well, including hiking to the top of Ben Vrackie, or you can take things a bit easier by just visiting the Heritage Centre inside the church. You’ll learn everything you could possibly want to know about Pitlochry, Moulin, the local area, from ancient origins to more modern memories. Don’t miss the Crusader’s Grave in the kirkyard, said to date from the 12th century, or the short walk out to the Black Castle. Built in the 1300s it allegedly gained its name after an outbreak of the black death amongst the castle inhabitants in the 1500s. The locals destroyed the building to contain the disease, but I promise it is safe to visit today. If you’ve worked up a thirst by now pop into the Moulin Hotel for a tour around the brewery and sample some local ales. Or, if you’re looking for something a bit stronger, then Pitlochry has a couple of great whisky options for you. The first is the Blair Athol Distillery, found in town and available for a number of different tours to wet your whistle. But just out of town Edradour Distillery, unfortunately closed for 2023, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the taste. My top tip is to visit the Scotch Corner shop in town, order some of the Edradour whisky ice cream. Even if you’re not a big whisky drinker I challenge you not to enjoy it. One of the more unusual, but still popular attractions, is the Pitlochry Dam. Now it’s a marvel of engineering from the mid-20th century, built to create hydroelectric power from the River Tummel. But there was plenty of local opposition at the time. One of the main concerns was how salmon would manage the annual swim up river to spawn. But the problem was solved with the creation of the Pitlochry fish ladder and its 34 stepped pools, where visitors can watch the salmon swim through the chambers all the way from the bottom to the top. If you’re really lucky then it’s not unknown to spot the fish leaping in the air.

Don’t just limit yourself to the town of Pitlochry though, there is so much to see in the nearby area. The bright white Blair Castle isn’t far away, and it’s easily one of the most popular attractions in the area. Once home to the Earls and later Dukes of Atholl, the castle has a fascinating history from its 13th century origins as a sturdy tower, right up to its modern incarnation as a lavish mansion. Guarding the only easy passage through the mountains to Inverness, Blair Castle was caught up in the Jacobite risings, but thankfully survived fairly unscathed. While no longer home to the Duke of Atholl, it does happen to be home to Europe’s only legal private army, The Atholl Highlanders. Next head to Queen’s View, enjoy the view down Loch Tummel, past Schiehallion towards Loch Rannoch, and on a really clear day you can see all the way to Glencoe. Nearby you’ll find somewhere that’s been one of my favourite places since I was a kid, and not just because it’s a fun word to say, Killiecrankie. As well as being a beautiful woodland walk this wee gorge was the setting for the first real battle of the Jacobite risings in 1689, which would dominate Scottish history for the next 60 years. The Jacobites won that clash, although their leader, Bonnie Dundee, would be killed. If you keep your ears open as you wander above the river you might still hear the ghostly sound of clashing swords and firing muskets, of a battle long over. An easy walk there will take you to Soldier’s Leap, where the river churns in a tumbling waterfall. That’s where a government Soldier, Donald McBane, was trapped by a group of Jacobites and faced with what seemed like certain death. Turning around, he raced towards the water and somehow managed to leap the 18-foot gap to safety, although he did lose a shoe in the process.

So, from leaping salmon to leaping soldiers, Pitlochry and the surrounding area has plenty of things worth experiencing, no matter what time of year you decide to visit. If you’re looking for more travel suggestions, or Scottish stories, you can find me at scotlands-stories.com or on whatever social media you use is scotlandsstories. If you see a bald guy in his Labrador, I think you’re in the right place.

Dawn – Killiecrankie is a place myself and my husband have passed so many times too when we visited my gran on Skye, and it’s a place name that always makes me smile. I absolutely love Graeme’s stories, they’re so interesting and engaging, and I love his voice. You can find so many more stories from Graeme on his website scotlands-stories.com, or follow him on social media for more interesting and funny videos. But I hope he’s given you a good wee insight into what you can do and see in and around Pitlochry.

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According to Visit Scotland, Perthshire is known as Big Tree Country due to there being more than 200,000 acres of woodlands. And with the abundance of scenic forest trails, gigantic mountains and atmospheric lochs to be explored in Perthshire, and activities such as fishing, golfing, walking, hill climbing, mountain biking and bungee jumping being aplenty, staying in Pitlochry and exploring the surrounding area really does become even more attractive. And never fear if you have a disability and think you won’t be able to enjoy or participate in activities in Perthshire, because Helen from Wheely Braw is here to tell you differently.

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Helen – As a wheelchair user I won’t pretend it’s easy to find accessible things to enjoy in Scotland, particularly if you want to get lost in nature, but there are some beautiful spots around the country to enjoy, including some in Perthshire. When you hear wheelchair accessible, mountains might not be the first thing that you think of, but Perthshire offers at least two opportunities for wheelchair users and other disabled people to explore mountains. First up is Ben Lawers, or Beinn Labhair in Gaelic, which means Speaking Mountain. Well, it certainly spoke to me, especially when I found out that there’s a National Trust for Scotland car park up at 1,400 feet with some spectacular views over Loch Tay. The ground up there is rocky and uneven but I managed a short wheel to admire the snow-capped Munro. It’s breathtaking up there. Next up is Schiehallion, which has been named Scotland’s first wheelchair-friendly Munro by the Fieldfare Trust. So the general advice here is to park in the Braes of Foss car park and take the path to the summit of East Schiehallion. You might not get to the summit as only the first third of the path is advised for wheelchair users, but you can assess the terrain and decide if it’s safe for you to complete the journey. I’m yet to visit and try this but I can’t wait. There’s something really empowering about showing up in spaces where people don’t expect to see you in a wheelchair, and mountains definitely fit that bill. If you fancy something a bit more down to earth then Kenmore is a lovely stop on the shore of Loch Tay. A while back I visited The Courtyard shop and deli in Kenmore for a browse and came out with a bag full of treats; gin, fudge, biscuits, jams. It’s such a beautiful shop. It’s accessible and represents Scottish producers really well. Just next door is The Courtyard bar that has an all-day menu with some vegan and gluten-free options too. Not far from Kenmore is Dull, which really isn’t dull it’s beautiful actually. I visited Highland Safaris there for one of their red deer feeding experiences. It was lovely to be able to get so close to these beautiful creatures. Our guide was really knowledgeable and also understanding of my accessibility requirements. It is such a family-friendly activity, and there’s a wee café on site too, because no day trip is complete without cake. I hope this has given you a couple of ideas of wheelchair accessible things to do in Perthshire. I know I’ve barely scratched the surface, so if you want to keep up with my adventures you can follow me on Instagram @wheelybraw that’s w-h-e-e-l-y-b-r-a-w.

And my wife Kirsty and I have just started a joint venture Accessible Holidays Scotland, which is a growing database of accommodation, days out, places to eat and shopping. You can follow us at accessibleholidays.scot and visit the website at

www.accessibleholidays.scot. We’d love your support.

Dawn – All the places that Helen mentioned are no more than about a 20 mile or a 32 kilometre drive from Pitlochry, with the exception of Ben Lawers, which is a 32.7 mile or 52.6 kilometre drive away.

As Helen said she has not even scratched the surface when it comes to telling you about the places she has visited and what she has done, and you can find so much more from her website wheelybraw.scot, or follow her on social media for some great videos.

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I really hope both Graeme and Helen’s stories about their visits to Pitlochry and Perthshire have tempted you to visit the area yourself. However, if you’re still on the fence, perhaps hearing all about The Enchanted Forest will entice you, which according to the website enchantedforest.org.uk will set your imagination alight with dazzling visuals and innovative design, all choreographed against an original music score, while you explore the stunning Autumn woodland setting of Faskally Wood near Pitlochry. Here’s Monique to tell you all about it.

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Monique – Hi, my name is Monique McArdle, and I’m the event producer at The Enchanted Forest. The Enchanted Forest is an award-winning annual sound and light show which transforms the beautiful Faskally Wood in the Scottish Highlands into a magical destination each October. A trailblazing event that is creative, energetic and entertaining, it requires a combined pool of extraordinary talent, drawing in some of the best creative minds in the UK to work together to create entrancing visuals and original music score, and stunning visual effects, which succeed in raising the artistic bar year on year to celebrate outdoors. The event showcases Scotland’s natural landscape at its Autumnal best. One of the UK’s most successful cultural events, The Enchanted Forest will take place at Faskally Wood Pitlochry from the 5th of October until the 5th of November this year, and will have an aquatic theme entitled From the Deep. This is designed to create a bigger splash than ever before. Using captivating visuals and an original music score, their year’s show will see visitors transported into the depths of an underwater world, blending light, video and sound to create a truly unique visitor experience. Faskally Wood will transform into an underwater forest with a deep watery glow of aqua blue and green. From the depths of the sea beds, visitors will make their way around the forest trail, swept along by the currents and tides, on a brightly lit journey that will span the globe, discovering the mysteries of our ocean and its inhabitants. As with previous years, this year’s show will include several impressive installations; including a spectacular light show over Loch Dunmore, which will use music, animation, projection, beams, lights and lasers, to tell the story of bioluminescent creatures that are found throughout marine habitats, from the ocean surface to the deep sea floor. There will be ample catering options on site for those visitors who are feeling a little bit peckish, from fresh pizzas, fish and chips and sweet snacks, and not to mention the legendary toasted marshmallows, there will be something for everyone. Menus will be announced on The Enchanted Forest website in August. Due to the success of our autism friendly performances at last year’s show, these will be returning for 2023. The autism friendly performances offer our autistic customers and their families the opportunity to be right at the start of the bus queues before any crowds
have built up, and be the first ones on site at the beginning of the night. For those who are unable to take the regular coaches from Fishers Hotel to reach the event in the forest, an accessible bus will also be available this year for customers with specific mobility or access needs, and will depart from the Blair Athol Distillery. This year tickets are free for the under threes and are priced at £14.50 for 3 to 15 year olds, £26 for an adult and £72.50 for a family. All tickets can be booked via the website at www.enchantedforest.org.uk. Over the 20 years The Enchanted Forest has been running it has seen significant growth, from just 1,500 people over three nights in 2002, to attracting over 83,000 visitors over five weeks in 2022. The event delivers an incredible shot in the arm to the local tourism economy in and around Pitlochry and Perthshire, with a staggering economic impact of nearly £10 million. Proceeds raised from the event are put back into local community initiatives, administered through The Enchanted Forest community fund. To-date, the fund has reinvested £320,000 back into the region, making a lasting positive impact by benefiting more than 137 local community groups, projects and charities. The unique nature of the show has gained it worldwide acclaim. To keep up-to-date with the latest news concerning the event, you can find The Enchanted Forest on Twitter, Tiktok and Instagram using the handle @enchantforest, and on Facebook using the handle @theenchantedforest. We look forward to welcoming many of you to the event this October.

Dawn – Like Monique said, you can find all information about The Enchanted Forest from the website enchantedforest.org.uk, or on social media. I’ve not been to this event myself but I watched the videos on their website and it looks amazing. I’m very very tempted to go this year. Let me know if you’ve attended before, or plan to attend this year, I’d love to know what you thought.

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So that’s almost the end of the episode, and it is the last episode of Season One of Scottish Digest. I really hope the places and events we have talked about in Scotland this season have inspired you to visit. I’ve really enjoyed season one and hearing from so many people who love traveling around Scotland, visiting beautiful and fascinating places, and telling us all about it; such as Suzanne, Helen, Kathi and Graeme. Or those who are proud of where they live and the events that take place there, and want to share with others. It’s inspiring. I hope you will join me for Season Two, where I will be finding out more about places in Scotland from people who live there or visit time and time again, having a wee chat with them and delving into what they love about that specific place. If you love a specific place in Scotland and feel it needs to be talked about, please let me know on social media or by emailing me at contact@cluarantonn.com, that’s contact@c-l-u-a-r-a-n-t-o-n-n.com. All links from today’s episode will be in the show notes or on our website cluarantonn.com.

We hope you join us next season for another wee slice of Bonnie Scotland.

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Granny Robertson – Scottish Digest is a production of Cluarantonn.