Glen Tilt

Overview

The hinterland behind Blair Atholl is a paradise for walkers, mountain bikers and those simply wishing to escape for a while into lovely Highland scenery.

Glen Tilt is a long glen, extending some 11 miles/18km north east from the village of Blair Atholl to the remote Falls of Tarf in the foothills of the Cairngorms.
The main route through the glen is on good tracks and passes through woodland and farmland before opening out into typical upland scenery with steep heathery hills on either side. There is plenty of interest along the way, not least the delightful River Tilt, with its charming pools and waterfalls and constant presence close to the path.

In the early 1800s small scale marble extraction was carried out in the glen and items made of Glen Tilt marble can be seen in nearby Blair Castle. Linen production was another early form of industry in the area. Shallow depressions close to the path indicate the location of lint pools - here the flax would be soaked to help separate the fibres so they could be spun.

Glen Tilt is part of the 140,000 acres that make up Atholl Estates. A network of 30 miles/48km of way-marked walking trails and 40 miles/65km of cycle routes has been developed to help visitors discover the fascinating history and wildlife of this working landscape. The trails cover a variety of distances by rivers and burns, through woodlands and into wild moorland and upland areas.
A superb booklet detailing the trails on the estate is available from Pitlochry Tourist Information Centre or the Atholl Estates Information Centre.