Up at 4.30am today to prep a vat of porridge for our many Etape Caledonia 2012 competitors. I managed to get down to the start line to see them off at 6.30am. 5000 riders cover 80 miles around Pitlochry and Highland Perthshire. The winner should be back in Pitlochry around 10am! I’ll let you do the maths, but that seems quite quick. Rather them than me….

The start of the big race - 6.30 am

Watch a short video of the Etape Caledonia 2012 start on ourTorrdarach Facebook Page

As well as the main event there is loads of great cycling related stuff going on in Pitlochry and all over Highland Perthshire. For information on the very successful Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival which runs alongside the Etape please click here.

The 2013 Etape Caledonia entries will well out fast when the race is officially announced in a few days. If you are interested in slogging your guts on a bike around Pitlochry next year, get your application in fast. Here is the website you need – Etape Caledonia

Torrdarach House, Pitlochry Etape accommodation  http://www.torrdarach.co.uk/
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The blossoms and tulips are looking good down at the Pitlochry war memorial gardens.

Blossom on the trees at the war memorial

Pitlochry war memorial gardens in Spring colours

Tulips in full bloom

Torrdarach House, Pitlochry Hotel  http://www.torrdarach.co.uk/
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Entrance

This self-styled ‘home of country clothing’ is often referred to as the ‘Harrods of the North’. If you want an over-the-top retail experience during your stay in Pitlochry, The House of Bruar should definitely be on your list of things to do. Huge country clothing halls, an art gallery, a homewares shop, large restaurant and an excellent deli and butchery.

Check out their website http://www.houseofbruar.com/ and have a look at some of our own photos below.

The House of Bruar is just 10 miles north of Pitlochry and a visit, combined with a tour of Blair Castle and a walk up the Falls of Bruar, makes for an excellent day out.

Mens' clothing hall

Mens' clothing hall

The Courtyard

Outside fruit and veg stall

Carvery style restaurant

Large sweets shop

Fudgetastic!

The deli

The deli again...I love it

The entrance

Torrdarach House, Pitlochry Hotel  http://www.torrdarach.co.uk/
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Lower bridge

Hidden behind the outrageous shopping experience that is The House of Bruar, is the start of a 2.5km circular walk up the Falls of Bruar.

Big waterfalls, super clear pools, ancient bridges and steep sides (hold on the the kids!) make this short walk very enjoyable.

If you fancy a more refreshing trip to the Falls of Bruar why not try canyoning organised by Pitlochry Outdoor Activities – chilly stuff!

For some excellent detailed notes on the walk check out this Walkhighlands page.

Combine this walk with a tour of Blair Castle and a posh retail experience at the House of Bruar for an excellent day out.

Have a look at some of our own photos of the walk below.

Information board at the start of the walk

The walk in.

The lower bridge

Canyoners below the lower bridge

Canyoners below the lower bridge

Steep sides - hold on to the kids!

The upper bridge and falls

Resting half way down

The walk back down

Torrdarach House, Pitlochry Hotel  http://www.torrdarach.co.uk/
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We were driving down the A9 yesterday towards Pitlochry and stopped in a layby to take a couple of photos of the stunning Blair Castle.

A visit to Blair Castle and the wider Atholl Estates is definitely to be recommended.   The Castle is the ancient seat of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl and enjoys one of Scotland’s finest settings in the heart of Highland Perthshire. You can tour over 30 rooms and the extensive grounds. It’s quite a place.

Blair Castle is only 10 minutes North of Pitlochry and a visit, combined with a visit to The House of Bruar and a walk up the Falls of Bruar, makes for an excellent day out.

Have a look at their website for further information. http://www.blair-castle.co.uk/

Pitlochry accommodation Torrdarach website - http://www.torrdarach.co.uk/
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One of our favourite art galleries, The Aberfeldy Gallery, is getting ready for the Spring exhibition. George Grant, Rowena Laing and Lin Pattullo will be displaying work between May 5th and June 20th. There should be some interesting paintings to see.

The Aberfeldy Gallery is about 25 minutes from Pitlochry, heading towards Loch Tay.

www.aberfeldygallery.co.uk

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The Queen’s View.  Wow!  What a place.

Only a few miles from Pitlochry down the stunning Loch Tummel road is an incredible viewpoint known as the Queen’s View. Apparently named after Queen Isabella, the wife of Robert the Bruce over 700 years ago.

A short path leads from the carpark to the viewpoint. The path has recently undergone extensive renovation and is now considered wheelchair accessible.

The view itself is extensive, taking in the whole of Loch Tummel, Schiehallion (3553ft) and at a distance of about 50 miles the mountains of Glencoe.

We had a cracking day for our visit and the snow caps on Schiehallion and in Glencoe really made the view. Well worth a visit on a clear day.

The Queen's View, Loch Tummel

The new all-abilities path to the viewpoint

Schiehallion with a snow cap

The mountians of Glencoe in the distance

The Queens View

Further info on the Queens View can be found at Pitlochry.org

There is also some great walking to be done in the surrounding Aillean Forest. A good starting point for info is the superb Walkhighlands website and http://www.perthshirebigtreecountry.co.uk/

Pitlochry accommodation Torrdarach website - http://www.torrdarach.co.uk/
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The rather fantastic Pitlochry Festival Theatre has just published its brochure for the 2012 summer season.  There seems to be a huge variety of shows and concerts and it all looks great!

From the PTF website  -  ”The 2012 Summer Season celebrates the extraordinary flights of creative fancy that are the distinguishing feature of certain plays – so you’ll have no option but to let your imaginations soar…….”

Will post more detail in due course but in the meantime……..

Click here for the full
Pitlochry Festival Theatre
2012 Summer Season Brochure

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We went to the Pitlochry Festival Theatre last week to see this season’s pantomime, Sleeping Beauty.  An excellent show.  Well acted with great sets.  Book your tickets here -

http://www.pitlochry.org.uk/ - The Pitlochry Festival Theatre website.

At least one show a day until the 7th of January. Tickets still available for most performances.

Press reviews are also positive:

http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/34750/sleeping-beauty

http://www.perthshireadvertiser.co.uk/lifestyle/arts-perthshire/2011/12/20/review-of-sleeping-beauty-at-pitlochry-festival-theatre-73103-29979297/

Our Pitlochry Accommodation Torrdarach website - http://www.torrdarach.co.uk/
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Heavy rain over the last 48 hours in Pitlochry and Highland Perthshire meant the Pitlochry Hydro Power Station had to fully open the dam gates today.  What a noise!

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