History

For centuries, Pitlochry was little more than a small farming settlement on the old military road. Its transformation began in the 19th century, thanks to two key events. First, Queen Victoria’s enthusiasm for the Highlands made the region fashionable with wealthy travellers. Second, the arrival of the railway in 1863 made it accessible. A town of grand hotels and handsome villas quickly grew to cater for the new influx of visitors seeking clean air and dramatic scenery.

A second wave of change arrived in the mid-20th century. The post-war drive to power the Highlands with hydro-electric schemes led to the construction of the Pitlochry Dam on the River Tummel. This ambitious engineering project created the beautiful Loch Faskally and included the famous Pitlochry Fish Ladder, a clever device allowing Atlantic salmon to bypass the dam on their journey upstream. This mix of Victorian foresight and 20th-century engineering made the town that visitors enjoy today.