Pitlochry Dam – a river walk at dusk and supper by the Tummel
A few hours, from Pitlochry station and back.
The route
As the day winds down, it's a lovely walk from the middle of Pitlochry down to the dam, over the river and back along the far bank of the Tummel.
On the way you'll pass the fish ladder that the salmon climb, with Loch Faskally stretching away behind the dam. It ends at the Port-na-Craig Inn, right on the river below the Festival Theatre, for supper.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
Book Port-na-Craig Inn & Restaurant
Book a table for supper at the Port-na-Craig Inn online, or on 01796 472777, for about 6pm: supper is from 5pm, or from 7pm on nights the Festival Theatre has a show, with a pre-theatre menu from 4.30pm, and it's busiest before a show.
The day
Pitlochry
An early evening stroll by the river as the light goes, over the dam and down the far bank. Then a long, relaxed supper at an inn on the riverbank.
About three hours
Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre
An attraction
It's a 14-minute walk from the station to Pitlochry Dam, which holds back Loch Faskally. The visitor centre closes at 4.30pm, but the dam and its fish ladder are right there. The ladder is a staircase of 34 pools that salmon climb to get past the dam, and more than 250,000 have made it up since it was built in 1952. Salmon run roughly from April to October, so look into the pools, though you may not see one. Those months also give light for the walk; in winter, walk it in the afternoon and bring a torch.
11 min on foot
Port-na-Craig Inn & Restaurant
Supper
Cross the river on the path over the dam and follow Port-na-Craig Road down the far bank, past the Festival Theatre, about 10 minutes to the Port-na-Craig Inn by the water. Supper there is from 5pm, or from 7pm on nights the theatre has a show, when an early pre-theatre menu runs from 4.30pm. It's busiest before a show, so book a table; dogs are welcome. On Sundays, ring to check its hours. Afterwards it's 11 minutes' walk back to the station over the iron suspension bridge.
If it rains
In rain it's still a short walk on paths and roads, about 35 minutes in all: wear a waterproof, or walk straight over the suspension bridge to the inn and keep the dam for a dry evening.
