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