CATERAN COUNTRY

Set among the rolling hills of Highland Perthshire, this route starts in Braemar, before travelling over Scotland’s highest road and the ancient pass of Spittal of Glenshee to arrive in Cateran country overlooking picturesque Strathardle. The Caterans were marauding cattle rustlers who would descend from the uplands by night to raid cattle from the more prosperous glens. We then explore Killiecrankie, the scene of a famous battle, before making our way to Blair Atholl.

See overleaf for step by step route instructions. Cairngorms National Park Cateran Country

Before you set out: Killiecrankie to Blair Atholl • Book a jump with Highland Fling Bungee We take time to look round the Killiecrankie (www.bungeejumpscotland.co.uk) Centre and walk along to the Soldier’s Leap. • Book accommodation at Atholl Arms Hotel If we’re looking for a real adrenalin rush, we (www.athollarmshotel.co.uk) or at Ptarmigan shall have already booked a jump with Highland House (www.ptarmiganhouse.co.uk) Fling Bungee! After a light lunch in the Soldier’s Leap Cafe, we drive through the quiet village of • Book dinner at Atholl Arms Hotel Killiecrankie and Bridge of Tilt to Blair Atholl to (www.athollarmshotel.co.uk) spend the afternoon taking the tour around Blair Castle. We follow the tour with a walk around the Braemar to Glenshee wonderful gardens and sculpture trail and to the ruins of St Bride’s Kirk and The Whim and have tea Leaving Braemar, we head south on the Old and cakes in the Castle’s Tullibardine Restaurant. Military Road (a single track road with passing places) alongside Clunie Water. We pass Braemar Golf Club on our right and enjoy the quiet lane Blair Atholl and Bruar until, crossing Fraser’s Bridge which dates from We may be staying in the Atholl Arms Hotel in the the mid 18th century, the old road and the new village, or in Ptarmigan House, a mile outside the converge. We stop at Glenshee Ski Centre for an village; after settling in, we’ll take a look at the early lunch and, if we’re there In July or August, Blair Atholl Watermill and the Clan Donnachaidh we have an exciting ride on the Cairnwell Chairlift. Centre, after which we’ll have an excellent dinner We take a wee detour through Spittal of Glenshee, in the Atholl Arms’ glorious Baronial Dining Room. crossing Shee Water via a humpbacked bridge, After dinner we’ll stroll around the Red Squirrel before rejoining the A93. Trail from the Glen Tilt car park or just wander round this pretty Victorian village. The following Glenshee to Killiecrankie morning we visit the House of Bruar, where we happily spend time browsing the shopping Descending towards Strathardle, we fnd Glenshee halls and looking at their art and antiques. We Pottery on our right and call in to see the lovely particularly recommend their kitchen department ranges of unusual pots and other objects. We’ll – and the restaurant! also have a cup of tea (made in a teapot, with leaves and served in china cups) or cofee (made in a cafetiere and served in their own hand-thrown mugs). We leave the National Park and make our way to Killiecrankie on the B950 to Kirkmichael and the A924 to Pitlochry. We stay on the ‘old road’ and re-enter the National Park, descending to the River Garry and the Visitor Centre on the left.