Blair Atholl
Blàr Athall
Alert
Blair Atholl derives its name from the Gaelic word ‘blàr’ meaning ‘field’ or ‘plain’. It is in the south of the Cairngorms National Park, on flat Perthshire land among the Grampian mountains, between the River Garry and River Tilt.
It was one of the more recent villages to join the National Park following a petition from residents in 2008.
Much of the village was initially established around Blair Castle, the ancestral home of Clan Murray. For seven centuries, the Atholl family oversaw the running of the castle until the 10th Duke, George Iain Murray (1931-1996), left the property to a trust upon his death.
Unique stories weave their way into other heritage areas of the village. Blair Atholl is home to Scotland’s oldest watermill. Dating back to the 16th century, the mill was the first village building. It gained some company in the early 1800s when the local parish church was commissioned. The village has since grown to accommodate new organisations such as the Atholl Country Life Museum (the former school), which is open in the summer months.
Blair Atholl boasts large areas of greenery to be enjoyed by everyone – from golfers to caravaners. The village hosts Scotland’s largest Scout camp every two years, welcoming over 1,200 young people from all over the world.
The impressive Falls of Bruar, a series of waterfalls, is only a 10-minute drive away.
The village has a railway station and is only nine stops (1 hour 18 minutes) from Perth, the nearest city. There’s also quick access to the A9, the road linking Perth to Inverness.
Blair Atholl derives its name from the Gaelic word ‘blàr’ meaning ‘field’ or ‘plain’. It is in the south of the Cairngorms National Park, on flat Perthshire land among the Grampian mountains, between the River Garry and River Tilt.
It was one of the more recent villages to join the National Park following a petition from residents in 2008.
Much of the village was initially established around Blair Castle, the ancestral home of Clan Murray. For seven centuries, the Atholl family oversaw the running of the castle until the 10th Duke, George Iain Murray (1931-1996), left the property to a trust upon his death.
Unique stories weave their way into other heritage areas of the village. Blair Atholl is home to Scotland’s oldest watermill. Dating back to the 16th century, the mill was the first village building. It gained some company in the early 1800s when the local parish church was commissioned. The village has since grown to accommodate new organisations such as the Atholl Country Life Museum (the former school), which is open in the summer months.
Blair Atholl boasts large areas of greenery to be enjoyed by everyone – from golfers to caravaners. The village hosts Scotland’s largest Scout camp every two years, welcoming over 1,200 young people from all over the world.
The impressive Falls of Bruar, a series of waterfalls, is only a 10-minute drive away.
The village has a railway station and is only nine stops (1 hour 18 minutes) from Perth, the nearest city. There’s also quick access to the A9, the road linking Perth to Inverness.
Alert
Blair Atholl
key
facts
Elevation
130m
Location
S
Location
Relevant alerts
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The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has issued a wildfire warning impacting parts of the National Park from Wednesday 13 August until Tuesday 19 August. If you are out and about in the Cairngorms National Park please observe the following guidance:
- Do not light any fire or barbecue.
- Always ensure cigarettes are fully extinguished and take your litter (including glass) away with you.
- Enjoy the outdoors responsibly - most wildfires are caused by human activity.
- Stay alert - with dry vegetation and warm weather, fires can start easily, spread rapidly, and burn intensely.
- If you see a wildfire, dial 999.
For further updates on wildfire risk across Scotland, visit the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service website.
