Vacations in Pitlochry, Scotland – Places worth a visit
December 12th, 2008 at 08:34am Under Attractions+ Short breaks
Scottish vacations are amazingly popular at the moment due, probably, to the strength of the dollar against the pound making vacations to Scotland, England and Wales very cheap, especially if travelling from the US.
If you’re planning a visit to Scotland, don’t miss these three superb Pitlochry attractions: Blair Castle, the Scottish Hydro Electric Visitor Centre and the Killiecrankie Visitor Centre.
Scottish Hydro Electric Visitor Centre
A power station is a pretty strange location for a visitor attraction, but this is exactly where you can discover the Scottish Hydro Electric Visitor Centre. The hydro center is found within the splendid Pitlochry Power Station, and includes interactive exhibits which describe the history of hydro power in Scotland, dating from the 1940′s to the present day.
The Pitlochry Dam(constructed 1947-1951) gives tourists the interesting ability to observe the incredible salmon ladder through three viewing chambers. You will also discover interactive audio-visual presentations explaining this naturally occurring display. The turbine hall of Pitlochry Power Station can also be viewed.
Blair Castle
Blair Castle dates back to the thirteenth century, and is the ancestral seat of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl.
The construction of Blair Castle started in the year 1269, under the command of John I Comyn, Lord of Badenoch, a northern neighbor of the Earl of Atholl. The Earl was away from home, fighting in the Crusades, when his neighbor began to build the castle on his land. Upon his return, the Earl angrily complained to the King of Scotland (Alexander III) about the interloper, and won back his lands.
Rather than demolishing the tower that John I Comyn had erected, the Earl decided to merge the tower into his own castle. A Great Hall and a series of vaulted chambers were incorporated into the castle over the centuries, by subsequent Earls. It was the 2nd Duke of Atholl who, in 1740, decided to renovate the castle as a Georgian Mansion.
Killiecrankie Visitor Centre
During the Jacobite period Killiecrankie, not too far from Pitlochry, was virtually destroyed by the Jacobites, under the leadership of Bonnie Dundee. During the bloodthirsty battle an escaping soldier leapt over the River Garry, which became known as Soldier’s Leap. The area around the Pass and gorge were a popular haunt of Queen Victoria.
To discover more about the infamous battle you can pay a visit to the Killiecrankie Visitor Centre. The Killiecrankie Visitor Centre has a selection of other displays and services, which include guided walks, Ranger services and a natural history of the area, as well as many others.
With the currently favorable exchange rate, a Scottish vacation based in Pitlochry is well worth your consideration.
Follow these links for more information: tourist attractions in Pitlochry, hotels in Pitlochry, hotel accommodation in Pitlochry.
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