Pitlochry

 

Blair Castle

Pitlochry is in the Cairngorms National Park and is an area of Scotland that Queen Victoria enjoyed.  It is also a tourist town.  First one we had seen since leaving Oban.  There was a little shop on the corner that sold trinkets and stuff plus ice cream.  I think every time we went past that corner there was a line out the door for ice cream and no it was not particularly hot there.  We enquired and no there was nothing special about the ice cream either; just people enjoying it while on holiday.

Many people go there to hike/walk or bike the paths in the park.  So many that we saw a backpackers hostel, a UK version of a MegaBus (one of those super big, super cheap double decker bus services) and lots of people walking around with backpacks on.  We also realized too late that there was a golf course very close to our hotel.  In addition to walking in the park, there is a castle nearby, a dam in the town, a well known festival, some good shopping, theater and a former battle field near by.

We stayed at Craigatin House which was  a very nice Victorian house on some well manicured grounds and a nice A Frame addition.  Our host said there were red squirrels in the garden and could be seem from the A Frame lounge room but we unfortunately never did see them.  We had made dinner reservations for the first night and took his recommendation for the second night. We walked around town the first day and stopped at a pastry shop for scones and happily we were seated in the front window so we could watch people go by.  I should add there is a main street with streets coming off of it and one street parallel to it.  Pretty much that is town.  We saw what we thought was an old church that is now a fitness facility.  Nearby is a  neat old primary school and a Pitlochry unique place:  a field for a sport which combines rugby and I thought lacrosse but now can't find it listed anywhere.  When we finished wandering around for awhile, we headed back to our hotel to get ready for dinner.  

We had made reservations ahead of time since we had been warned they get booked.  What was not said is they are right next door to the festival theater building so when there is anything open to the public they sell out.  The building looked like a private party was going on so no crowd tonight.  We had a nice walk getting there and back though and the place was unique.  To get there we walked through town and hung a right heading for the river - um Jeff you sure we are going right?  Then there was a sign for it so yes heading to the middle of nowhere was correct.  We ended up down by the river where there was a pedestrian  suspension bridge to cross - kind of a Victorian looking thing.  So we crossed it and found our restaurant.  It is right on the edge of the river so it has nice views and much of it is outdoors.  Happily our reservations were for the conservatory which was a glass roofed area connecting the outdoor walls of an area with wooden wall on the fourth wall so we were comfortable there.  It was a small menu and later I noticed the write up said:  lovely little restaurant on the river... food is simple but well prepared.  Very accurate I think I had a fried chicken sandwich with chips (UK variation of french fries) best yet (not saying much there) followed by sticky toffee pudding shared with Jeff which was very good.  Since we are so far north, it stays light late already here so we walked back to our hotel a different way then when we came.  The return route took us to the small hydroelectric dam which we crossed, their salmon ladder and then much quicker back to our hotel for the night.

Our plan for our main day was to visit the nearby Blair Castle and to visit the House of Bruar.  Jeff would have probably skipped the latter but was agreeable to visit it.  If you are ever in the area, visit Blair Castle.  We enjoyed it immensely.  From the bagpiper out front to the incredible arms display in the front door to the gorgeous rooms in the upstairs it was worth every minute of our time.  

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert not only visited, but the Queen was on such good relations that she left her friend a lock of Prince Albert's hair after he died.   

This is a fraction of the armament collection

The halls are lined with antlers and they probably had a full time taxidermist

The walls are adorned with weapons and dress from Africa

The stairways were lined wall to wall with portraits 

Mother of pearl inlay

Outside there are a couple of gardens to visit too.  One was a woodland area with unique trees and the other was a traditional English Garden on steroids.  I think I saw it was 3 acres which are walled in and have a small pond in the middle.  We saw a variety of plants, had a mallard duck try to mooch off of us and just enjoyed exploring it.  

Then it was time to go to the House of Bruar a shopping landmark.   We had taken a taxi to get to the castle and had been surprised at the cost.  We tried to catch a bus or the train but since it was Sunday our options were limited.  After a little hemming and hawing, we agreed to do the 3.2 mile walk to House of Bruar.  Much of the walk was on an old dirt road running through the castle estate so we had nice views.  On our walk we went past domesticated deer in a pasture, we saw sheep, couple of horses through some woods and were past by a sled dog van (huh?? - our thoughts too).  Anyway that part of the walk was nice.  We walked out under the western gate and then the walk went downhill.  We had to walk along a 2 lane road with next to no shoulder.  Luckily for the most part the road was pretty quiet.  

The front gate was even more impressive then this back entry.  

Then we were there- the House of Bruar.  For anyone who has ever been to Rockport Maine and visited all of the Lands End stores you have a feel for this place.  Not as many buildings and only their stuff but multiple buildings to shop in.  From the knitted ware building to the country living to a food hall to the sales building, the plant nursery and a couple more they had it for you.  After a short break, I started hitting the shops.  Started with the knit hall hoping for a short sleeve cashmere sweater (some of the sheep are good for cashmere here).  No luck only a couple and not colors for  me.  Looked for a couple of present ideas but no luck so off to the ladies wear building which was full of summer clothes which was not one of my goals.  Asked about a Harris Tweed purse and was sent to the Country Living building and along the way saw a leather suitcase I liked but my pocketbook said keep moving Carol.  After several attempts and still not in the Country Living area a salesperson literally walked me to the tweed purses - good man.  Hemed and hawed some over the tweeds, but ended up with a smallish purse that says made in Scotland on it (even the leather part).  You may notice it on my shoulder in some upcoming photos.  We also found a hairy coo coaster in the gift building (like I said a ton of buildings).  Final stop was the sales building thinking I might find a couple of scarves for presents.  Prices were nice some patterns were nice, but I noticed they were made in Asia so I said no and we called the cab.  Oops we are in the middle of nowhere cabs aren't fast here.  He said sure but it would be an hour plus wait.  We said okay and went to wait at the Fish and Chips Shop remember I said there was everything here.  It was closing time so all the stores but the Fish and Chips closed.  So to us at least we are in the middle of nowhere and thinking it is going to start getting quiet here.  Um no.  This place is popular - lines out the door at times. Mothers with young kids came by, families from events came by and just random people stopped for the fish and chips.  We started to consider eating there till we read the write up for restaurant that night and decided to wait.

Our taxi driver showed up and off we went to our restaurant in town.  It was a very good meal and one we were glad we waited for.  It is a restaurant that is a mixture of Mediterranean and Scottish food so I had a chicken kebab with a nice glass of wine and a shared dessert with Jeff.  A nice meal to end our train trip.  

Next morning I had porridge instead of an egg breakfast.  I had eaten porridge once before on this trip that time with nuts, seeds, honey and a little whisky in it.  Jeff had tried this porridge the day before and said it was good so porridge with cream and whiskey for me. Yeah I know whisky in the  morning?  But just a little of the smooth type (not peaty or smoky) is a nice kind of sweet addition to porridge.  Then we sat in the lounge for awhile before we caught our last train to Edinburgh and onto Falkirk to rest!

Church located on the estate