Beach and dog-friendly campsites near Killiecrankie

Bordered by gorge and lush forest, Killiecrankie is a secret garden perfect for a day’s exploration.

Popular camping styles for Killiecrankie

2 top beach and dog-friendly campsites near Killiecrankie

The Charcoal Huts - Isle of Bute

Our Huts are located within the Moss Wood area of Bute Forest - a mixed birch and alder wood that extends up the hillside to the west of the A886 that connects the Rhubodach Ferry to Port Bannatyne and Rothesay. Moss Wood has a range of facilities. Park on the shore-side where the coast can be enjoyed or at the main entrance, and take a walk up through Moss Wood along the Poetry Trail. A steep walk in places, the Poetry Trail is a loop punctuated with places to stop and read, to stop and think. Read nature poetry from throughout the ages, stop at the Blether Stane, or taking the spur to the Viewing Point back south across the Kyles. Moss Wood connects to the West Island Way – take the Poetry Trail and the spur to the Viewing Point – and then take the Stag’s Trod further up (steeply) till you reach the West Island Way. From there, head south towards Port Bannatyne or north along the boundary of the Community Forest. From the viewing point, you can also explore interesting heritage features such as the old WW2 bunker, kayak shelter, Balnakailly settlement, and the SSSI oak woodland.

Mongolian Yurt in Stunning Highland

1 unit · Glamping1 acre · Lochearnhead, England

When travelling in Scotland, you will want to have the confidence in the quality of your accommodation, knowing that it will play a big part in the whole pleasurable experience of your holiday. Our location in Lochearnhead provides an ideal base for walking, water-sports, cycling, with flora & fauna and wild life in abundance. There are many local historic places to inspire you and bring the history of the highlands to life. Or perhaps you'd simply choose to curl up with a good book and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of a slower pace of life. Wester Auchraw is located on the A84, Cycle Route 7 and the much loved walk 'Rob Roy Way'. It sits amongst spectacular scenery in Highland Perthshire yet is only 1 hour's drive from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Beach and dog-friendly campsites near Killiecrankie guide

Overview

The hamlet of Killiecrankie is easy to miss if you’re flying up the A9 from Pitlochry bound for the Cairngorms, but it’s worth the detour. Six kilometres north of Pitlochry and 5 km south of Blair Atholl, it’s a wooded wonderland with abundant wildlife famed for the Battle of Killiecrankie, where the Jacobites defeated the redcoats during the first rising of 1689. The town features a visitor centre and its National Trust-protected gorge.

Where to go

River Garry and the Pitlochry Path Network

Parts of the Pitlochry Path Network stretch north to encompass Killiecrankie and the surrounding country. Follow the 18-km Bealach Loop to the Pass of Killiecrankie then the Soldier’s Leap, where legend has it a redcoat jumped 5.5 metres across the River Garry to escape the Jacobite army. Nearby at the Garry Bridge, daredevils can fling themselves into the gorge by bungee. Campsites can be found further south at the confluence of the River Garry and Tummel in Faskally Forest.

Atholl Estates and Glen Tilt

Just north of Killiecrankie, the 60,000 hectares Blair Castle and Atholl Estates are at campers’ disposal. A network of paths criss-cross the land and the 16-km Glen Tilt trail is one not to be missed. You could spend several days exploring the beauty of the farthest reaches of Perthshire. Just five km north of Pitlochry, Blair Atholl is also home to riverside campgrounds and caravan parks.

Cairngorms

Killiecrankie and Blair Atholl are considered the gateway to the Cairngorms National Park, an area of stark, untamed beauty where meandering burns cut across the bases of heather-covered mountains, peaked in snow. The scenery change inspires adventure, and hillwalkers and climbers who come to the region find solitude amongst the large scale of the park. The tourist resort of Aviemore is a hub for outdoor activity, especially in winter, servicing the ski area of the same name. Primitive campsites to caravan parks, glamping and eco-huts abound in the region.

When to go

Summer in Perthshire is hard to beat, but everyone knows it. Tours cruise through neighbouring Pitlochry, but Killiecrankie is decidedly off the map. Still, timing your visit in late September or early October will mean fewer crowds and the benefit of beautiful autumn foliage in Scotland’s “Big Tree Country.” Throughout October, Faskally Wood between Killiecrankie and Pitlochry transforms for the Enchanted Forest, a spectacular display of lights that draws visitors from far and wide.

Know before you go

The train runs straight from Waverley Station in the centre of Edinburgh to Blair Atholl and Pitlochry.
Leaflets with maps and details of all area walks can be found in the Pitlochry visitor centre.