Pitlochry is a lovely Victorian town on the banks of the River Tummel which offers plenty for all visitors whether you're here for the outdoors activities, whisky distillery, festival theatre or simply a country escape. Our pick of the best places to stay in Pitlochry includes great little B&Bs in town plus grander country house hotels slightly further afield.

Pitlochry is a bit of a mecca if you're into adventure sports or walking. There are a number of really magical walks and hikes in the area including up Ben Vrackie, which is a reasonable 841metres. The stunning views are worth the effort! For something flatter, explore the area around Loch Tummel and the Queen’s View Visitor’s Centre, which overlooks Tay Forest Park, the loch, and Schiehallion in the background. For adrenaline junkies there's bungee jumping, quad biking and plenty of water based actvitites too.

The Highlands Games are very popular (held every September) as is the annual "Enchanted Forest" sound and light show in Faskally Forest (early October to early November). This is a great time to visit the ‘fish ladder’ too. It's a 310 metre construction beside Pitlochry dam, which around 500 salmon use annually in their upstream journey. In the town centre there’s a great collection of independent shops, including an excellent bakery and a couple of high-end retailers.

During the peak summer months, the best places to stay in Pitlochry are incredibly busy. So if you want to avoid disappointment, do your homework and book well ahead.

The Best Places to Stay in Pitlochry

For the Views

• Built in the 1800s, The Inn at Loch Tummel is a stylish inn with great loch views. The bar and restaurant have lovely views, and all of the six rooms do as well — some through huge windows. They also feature cosy, rustic decor, and charming original details. The food and drink are excellent too. Ideal for walkers, or for anyone craving a sense of space.
• Knockendarroch is a luxurious hotel in an elevated spot in Pitlochry which maximises its views. Its 12 rooms are all uniquely decorated, with good solid taste, and just the right amount of tartan. The restaurant is known for its gourmet offerings made from the finest local produce.

For Couples

• Craigatin House is a chic B&B on the outskirts of town: an historic stone home, with a contemporary-built wing, and two acres of woodland. The property now has 13 guest rooms — including some in the stable courtyard. All are stylishly decorated, but number 11 is the grandest, with huge windows and a wood-burning stove. The breakfast is impressive. Ideal for explorers of all kinds.
• Cuil an Duin is a three room B&B, converted from a really charming, period house set in sprawling, mature gardens. This is an excellent pick for walkers, but also for fisherfolk. We like the elegant, traditional decor, and welcoming communal spaces, which include a lounge with a grand piano.

For a Countryside Escape

• With its hip, vegan restaurant and yoga yurt, Saorsa 1875 feels like a rather contemporary take on a country house hotel stay. Its 11 rooms and suites are individually decorated, leaving room for some sultry, grown-up designs, as well as some classic country chic. The location, on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park, invites an outdoorsy crowd, but our Gurus also recommend this hotel to folk looking for an opportunity to unwind.

Prefer a Private Apartment or Cottage?

• If you'd prefer the privacy of a self-catering option then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

• The closest airport to Pitlochry is Dundee Airport, which is about an hour away by car or taxi, or about two and a half hours by public transport. Edinburgh International Airport is about an hour and a quarter away by car or taxi, or about two and a half hours by bus — or three by train. If you’re travelling from London, or via London, it’s about six and a half hours from Kings Cross, nine hours on the night train from Euston, or around eight hours' drive.
• If you want to hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
• The busiest time to visit Pitlochry is during the second weekend of September, when Pitlochry hosts Scotland’s final Highland Games of the year. It’s also busy during the annual salmon migration. Pitlochry hosts a literary festival in February, and a year round season of theatre, and these periods are busier than average too. Scotland’s unpredictable weather is well known, and Pitlochry is subject to all the usual recommendations about packing wet weather gear whatever the season. The mildest months are April through October, some tourist businesses close between November and March, so do you research extra carefully if you want to travel during this window.

Still not sure where to stay?

• Expand your search to include all of the best places to stay in Perthshire or the best places to stay in Scotland’s Highlands and Islands
• Consider some of Pitlochry’s neighbours like the best places to stay in Dundee, St Andrews or Stirling
• Or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.