Blair Atholl

Blair Atholl is a small village a few miles north-west of Pitlochry, built around the estate village model that grew up alongside its castle, and it remains dominated by that castle to this day.

Blair Castle, whitewashed and turreted, has been the seat of the Dukes of Atholl for centuries, with parts of the building dating back to the 13th century, though its current appearance owes much to later remodelling. It sits within extensive grounds and parkland on the edge of the village, at the point where routes from the south meet the entrance to Glen Tilt, one of the long glens running up into the Grampian mountains. The Atholl Highlanders, based at the castle, are a ceremonial regiment retained by the Duke of Atholl and are recognised as the only remaining private army in Europe permitted under UK law, a legacy of the historic Highland regiment tradition rather than an active military unit.

The village and surrounding glens

Blair Atholl village itself is small, with a working water mill and a station on the Highland Main Line, and it functions largely as the gateway to the castle and to the hill country beyond. Glen Tilt runs north-east from the village into remote upland terrain, while Glen Garry and Glen Bruar offer further routes into the hills to the west, all popular with walkers using the village as a starting point. The setting is noticeably wilder and quieter than Pitlochry itself, a few miles down the glen.

Where to Stay in Blair Atholl

Blair Atholl itself is small, so options right in the village are limited. We've listed the genuine hotels in the village first, and added a few in Pitlochry, a few miles down the glen, for those who want more choice.

• 
  Atholl Arms Hotel — 19th-century hotel in the village, opposite Blair Castle
• 
  The Old Manse of Blair — boutique hotel just outside the village
• 
  Atholl Palace Hotel — in Pitlochry, a few miles down the glen
• 
  Fisher's Hotel — in Pitlochry, on the main street
• 
  The Green Park Hotel — in Pitlochry, on Loch Faskally

Getting around

Blair Atholl has its own request stop on the Highland Main Line, and the village lies just off the A9 a short drive north of Pitlochry, making it an easy half-day trip or a quieter alternative base for those planning to walk in the surrounding glens.