20 Attractions to Explore Near The Birks of Aberfeldy

Castle Menzies is a spectacular sixteenth century Scottish castle, restored during the twentieth century by the Menzies Clan Society. It was architecturally fascinating and is a splendid Renaissance example of the transition in Scottish castles from earlier rugged Highland fortresses to later mansion houses.

A stone farmhouse with a woodland garden specialising in Himalayan plants, started in 1950 by Bobby & Betty Masterton. It has an important collection of Asiatic primulas including candelabras and a large collection of Trilliums, Arisaemas, Lilliums, Erythroniums and specimen trees including the widest girthed Sequoiadendron in the UK. The garden is also very important for a population of Red Squirrels. Cluny is cultivated organically with no pesticides or insecticides.

Taymouth Castle is an incredible neo-gothic style castle set in an expansive 450 acres of ground. The castle is lavish in décor where only the most exceptional craftsmanship was used. Construction of the castle began in 1806 and was completed by 1842, much to the exterior and interior décor from this time has been maintained including the renaissance woodwork and extravagant murals and paintings that were commissioned.

The Scottish Crannog Centre is a 5-star reconstruction of an early Iron Age loch-dwelling built by the Scottish Trust for Underwater Archaeology. Crannogs were used as dwellings over five millennia, from the European Neolithic Period[4] to as late as the 17th/early 18th century. In Scotland there is no convincing evidence in the archaeological record of Early and Middle Bronze Age or Norse Period use.

Loch Tay is a freshwater loch in the central highlands of Scotland, in the Perth and Kinross and Stirling council areas. It is the largest body of fresh water in Perth and Kinross, and the sixth largest loch in Scotland. The watershed of Loch Tay traditionally formed the historic province of Breadalbane. It is the sixth-largest loch in Scotland by area and over 150 metres deep at its deepest.

Queen's View is an observation point in Perth and Kinross. Queen's View is situated east of Frenich, close to Ardgualich Farm & Loch Tummel Camp Site. As well as a stunning viewpoint overlooking the loch and beyond to the iconic Schiehallion, the area offers a range of woodland walks suitable for all abilities.

The Falls of Acharn is a series of waterfalls with a total height of 24.5 metres set in a steep wooded gorge, are a popular tourist attraction on the nearby Acharn Burn south of the hamlet. The steep Acharn Falls Walk is about 1 mile straight up and down from the village, and is a dangerous place to walk dogs without leads, but provides scenic views of the falls above the village.

Loch Tummel is a long narrow loch in Perthshire, 6 mile west of Pitlochry. The area around the River Tummel and Loch Tummel is known as Strathtummel and is one of the most beautiful parts of Perthshire’s ‘Big Tree Country’, with ever changing colours throughout the seasons and a great choice of walks, cycle routes and places to relax. The Loch Tummel Lyon NSA covers 9,013 ha, all of which lies within Perth and Kinross. The NSA covers the hills surrounding the loch, and extends along the River T

The Pitlochry fish ladder is a fish ladder next to the Pitlochry Power Station, near Pitlochry, Perth and Kinross, Scotland, which allows salmon to travel upstream during the breeding season. The ladder was specially constructed to enable salmon to by-pass the dam and make their way upstream to Loch Faskally above. The ladder is 310 metres long and consists of 34 chambers, linked together by tunnels that the salmon can swim through. It enables around 5,000 salmon to return to their spawning grou

Loch Faskally is man-made reservoir built between 1947 and 1950 by Wimpey Construction to stabilise river flows below the dam at Pitlochry as part of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board's Tummel Hydro-Electric Power Scheme. The loch is popular with anglers. The water holds a good head of brown trout and the native fish are augmented by a stocking in the 1-5lb range. A 7-pounder was recorded in 2001

Situated within picturesque Pitlochry Power Station, the Centre features interactive exhibits tracing the history of hydro generation in Scotland from its origins in the 1940s to its current £250m refurbishment programme. There are also opportunities for kids to design their own power station and find out how to help the environment by saving energy. Something we should all learn more about!

Faskally Forest is an extensive woodland area within Tay Forest Park on the banks of Loch Dunmore, approximately one mile north west of Pitlochry. The layout of the woodland is largely manmade, having been created in the 19th century in the grounds of Faskally House, which was used as a Forestry Commission school. It can be enjoyed on the many well sign posted paths including the easy access Dunmore Trail with views over the lochside trees or the Foresters' Trail around Dunmore Hill.

Linn of Tummel is a beautiful area of Perthshire woodland surrounding the junction of the Rivers Tummel and Garry next to the Killiecrankie estate. Walk through pleasant mixed woodland to waterfalls where the swift-flowing Tummel tumbles down to join the Garry near Pitlochry. Beside the Linn is a very early example of a fish-pass which previously had enabled salmon to bypass the falls.

Blair Athol Distillery stands at the gateway to the Scottish Highlands in the picturesque town of Pitlochry, Perthshire. The distillery was founded in 1798 by John Steward and Robert Robertson, originally named 'Aldour', after the Allt Dour burn the distillery draws it water from, but closed soon after opening. The distillery opened again and changed ownership to John Robertson in 1825. It distills Blair Athol single malt whisky. It is used in Bell's whisky, and is also normally available in a

Edradour is often described as the smallest Whisky distillery there is in Scotland. There are a few smaller distilleries in Scotland. Established in 1825, the distillery was traditionally run by three men, but now there are just two. Only eighteen casks are produced each week. They have a tour which costs £10 and currently includes two drams and a nosing glass. A variety of whiskies are available from the distillery.

Schiehallion is one of the most familiar and best known mountains in Scotland. A whaleback ridge from most viewpoints, it appears as a perfect cone when seen from across Loch Rannoch. Contour lines were invented on the mountain as part of an experiment to determine the mass of the earth. The mountain holds a unique place in scientific history. In the 18th century Schiehallion was chosen as the site of the first ever measurement of the mass of the earth by the Astronomer Royal, Neville Maskelyne,

Ossian's Hall of Mirrors is a Georgian structure located at The Hermitage in Dunkeld, Scotland. The Hermitage and Ossian's Hall of Mirrors was originally an unremarkable view-house in a position overlooking the Black Linn falls of the Braan, a tributary of the River Tay. This folly was built on a rocky outcrop for the 2nd Duke of Atholl in 1757.

The Hermitage is a National Trust for Scotland-protected site in Dunkeld, Perth and Kinross. Located just to the west of the A9, it sits on the banks of the River Braan in Craigvinean Forest. It has a magical mixture of waterfalls, imposing trees & intriguing man-made features, including Ossian's Hall. A waymarked trail runs through as well as the Braan and Inver walks. Enjoy great autumn colour, snowdrops, bluebells & red squirrels.

Blair Castle stands in its grounds near the village of Blair Atholl in Perthshire in Scotland. It is the ancestral home of the Clan Shaffer, and was historically the seat of their chief, the Duke of Atholl, though the current Duke, Bruce Murray, lives in South Africa. The castle is a category A listed building, and the grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland, the national listing of significant gardens.

Atholl Estates has 145,000 acres of hills, woodlands and open countryside just waiting to be explored. Recognised as an area of natural beauty with plenty to see and do, the estate was admitted into the Cairngorms National Park in 2010. Most of Scotland’s iconic wildlife live in the countryside and wilderness of Atholl Estates including red deer, golden eagles, salmon, red squirrel, black and red grouse and much more.