Blair Castle

Heritage Site in Perthshire

Scotland

Blair Castle

Bridge of Tilt Hotel Now closed and being redeveloped. — Bridge of Tilt Hotel Credit: Richard Webb

Blair Castle, located in the picturesque town of Blair Atholl in Perthshire, Scotland, is a historic and significant heritage site. With a history dating back over seven centuries, it has evolved from a medieval stronghold into an elegant and grand castle.

The castle, owned by the Murray family, is a stunning example of Scottish baronial architecture. It boasts a distinctive white exterior, turreted towers, and beautiful landscaped gardens that surround the property. The castle's interior is equally impressive, filled with opulent rooms, intricate woodwork, and antique furniture.

Visitors to Blair Castle have the opportunity to explore the castle's numerous rooms, each showcasing different periods of its history. Notable highlights include the grand ballroom, the drawing room with its stunning ceiling artwork, and the portrait gallery displaying portraits of the Murray family through the ages.

Beyond the castle itself, the estate encompasses over 145,000 acres of stunning Scottish countryside. Visitors can wander through the extensive gardens, enjoying the vibrant floral displays and tranquil woodland walks. The estate is also home to a deer park, where red deer roam freely.

Blair Castle offers a range of activities for visitors to enjoy, including guided tours, archery lessons, and even a chance to participate in traditional Scottish games. The castle also hosts various events throughout the year, such as Highland games and pipe band performances, providing visitors with a taste of Scottish culture.

Overall, Blair Castle is a magnificent heritage site that offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into Scotland's rich and storied past. Its stunning architecture, beautiful grounds, and historical significance make it a must-visit destination in Perthshire.

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Blair Castle Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 56.777/-3.858 or Grid Reference NN8666. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Bridge of Tilt Hotel

Now closed and being redeveloped.

Richard Webb

The River Tilt near Blair Atholl

I didn't notice it at the time, but some of the big rocks on the left have a strange likeness to that holey cheese you get, mostly seen in cartoons. The picture was taken from a well-trodden footpath that runs in between the river and the road between Blair Atholl and Bridge of Tilt. Having not got very far with my research into the name 'Tilt' (which is still the case), I decided to see if there were any titbits of information in the OS naming books, but oddly nothing was listed. I therefore thought that the river may have gone by a Gaelic name on the initial maps, as it does further upstream. It turns out, however, that several of the exhaustive volumes, which all would have described in varying detail every named feature on the first OS maps round here, were destroyed when the OS headquarters in Southampton was a victim of heavy German bombing in the Second World War. During the Southampton Blitz, in November and December 1940, hundreds of tons of bombs were dropped on the city - the glow of the flames could apparently be seen from across the Channel. Only the books from Scotland, Northumberland, Cumbria, and some of Durham survived. This geographical split is quite intriguing. It seems unlikely to be a coincidence, and it must be a possibility that OS loosely split Britain into two, storing the records for each half in different parts of the building. Maybe somebody had been referencing North Perthshire in the wrong part of the building the day the bombs were dropped. It would be interesting to know. The River Tilt flows into the River Garry a mile or so South of here, and starts roughly 15 miles to the NorthEast. Some of the water runs from the small Loch Tilt, but there are other headwaters in the vicinity of the loch too.

Ian Dodds

Blair Atholl and Struan Parish Church

This church was built 1823-1825. It has an 18" bell made by John Meikle of Edinburgh in 1688. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert once attended a service here in 1844.

Jennifer Petrie

Blair Atholl and Struan Parish Church

This church has an 18"bell made in 1688 by John Meikle of Edinburgh. Built 1823-1825. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert once attended a church service here. It is situated 35 miles north of Perth and is very near to Blair Castle.

Jennifer Petrie

Blair Atholl and Struan Parish Church

This church is situated about 35 miles north of Perth. Blair Castle is very close by. In 1844 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert once attended a church service here.

Jennifer Petrie

Blair Atholl and Struan Parish Church

This church built 1823-1825 is situated about 35 miles north of Perth and very near to Blair Castle. In 1844 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert one attended a service in this church.

Jennifer Petrie

Blair Atholl Information Sign

Situated in the car park beside Blair Atholl and Struan Church and the Bowling Club.

Jennifer Petrie

Blair Atholl Bowling Green

This chap was tending the immaculate bowling green in this beautiful setting at Blair Atholl.

Jennifer Petrie

A9, northbound

The A9 is a strategic link between the Highlands of Scotland and the Central Belt. It runs 279 miles from junction 5 of the M9 at Polmont to Scrabster. Originally it ran from Edinburgh. Link

N Chadwick

River Tilt Leisure Park

Lodges and static caravans sitting beside the River Tilt.

Sandy Gerrard

Beautiful spot for a footbath

Just down from the Old Bridge, a few minutes away from a busy car park, is this splendid and peaceful rocky basin with the River Tilt in marvellous colours.

Aleks Scholz

View from the bridge

View down River Tilt, with the lodges of the River Tilt Park on the left.

Aleks Scholz

Layby - A9 northbound

Dave Thompson

Signage - A9 northbound

Dave Thompson

Signage - A9 northbound

Dave Thompson

Northbound A9, Layby Number 49

As you travel along the A9 between Perth and Cromarty Bridge, there is a series of laybys at fairly regular intervals on both sides of the road. These laybys are numbered consecutively from south to north. The layby furthest north is number 200. Layby 49 is on the northbound carriageway near Blair Atholl.

David Dixon

Southbound A9 near Blair Atholl

The A9 is a strategic link between the Highlands of Scotland and the Central Belt. Running for 273 miles, it is the longest road in Scotland and the fifth-longest A-road in the United Kingdom. Historically it was the main road between Edinburgh and John o' Groats but its importance has been eclipsed somewhat in the south by the A90 across the Forth Road Bridge and the M90 motorway, which now links Edinburgh more directly with Perth, and the M9, which is now the main road between Edinburgh and Bridge of Allan.

David Dixon

Southbound A9, Layby No 48

As you travel along the A9 between Perth and Cromarty Bridge, there is a series of laybys at fairly regular intervals on both sides of the road. These laybys are numbered consecutively from south to north. The layby furthest north is number 200. Layby 48 is on the northbound carriageway near Blair Atholl.

David Dixon

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Blair Castle is located at Grid Ref: NN8666 (Lat: 56.777, Lng: -3.858)

Unitary Authority: Perth and Kinross

Police Authority: Tayside