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The Pass of Killiecrankie, is renowned for its outstanding beauty and natural history. It has been gouged into the landscape by successive ice ages and meltwaters. The River Garry flows at the bottom of the Pass, while ancient mixed woodlands dominate the sides. Located 3 miles north of Pitlochry the site is owned and managed by The National Trust for Scotland.
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Ancient Woods
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Killiecrankie is a remnant of semi-natural ancient woodland (i.e. there has been woodland on this site continually for almost 8000 years.) Less than 1% of Scotland’s woodlands are considered ancient and semi-natural. This wood is an example of what most of Perthshire would have looked like several thousand years ago had man not cleared the woodlands (for timber and agricultural land). The woodland at Killiecrankie is predominantly sessile oak with birch, hazel, ash, alder and wych elm present.
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In the Woods
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The woodland supports a diverse range of native wildlife including a wealth of birdlife. Notable summer migrants include the pied and spotted flycatchers and wood warbler. Look out also for resident species such as buzzard, great-spotted woodpecker (pictured) and treecreeper. Red squirrels are frequently seen and the scarcer pine marten is known to be a nocturnal visitor.
For the ornithologist the area immediately north-west of Killiecrankie village will also be of interest. It is reached by crossing the river, from the old road at the village, and going uphill to Balrobbie Farm. The route is signposted and a way-marked trail leads to higher ground.
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On the Water
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The Garry is home to a variety of birds such as the heron, dipper, goosander and kingfisher. Common otter signs; footprints on the sandy banks and spraints on rocks, can be found along the edge of the river. In the autumn salmon swim upstream, leaping clear of the water, as they return to their spawning grounds from the sea.
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Visitor Centre
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The Killiecrankie centre was the first purpose built countryside visitor centre in Scotland and provides the visitor with the opportunity to discover about the formation and history of the Pass, to experience the sights and sounds of its wildlife and to delve into the gory history of the Battle of Killiecrankie (1689). The centre holds the Green Tourism Business Scheme Gold Award for excellent environmental management.
Facilities
• Visitor Centre. Free Entry. Interactive displays about the wildlife of Killiecrankie, live CCTV pictures from our nest boxes or bird table and seasonal wildlife information.
• Shop. Good range of natural history books, walking guides and local titles, as well as gifts, souvenirs and children’s items.
• Café and picnic area.
• Toilets, including disabled facilities.
• Car & Coach parks. Parking charge of £2, (NTS/NT members free) which helps support the conservation work at Killiecrankie.
• Ranger Service. Programme of guided walks each year. See www.nts.org.uk for details.
All facilities are open from 1st April/Easter – October, daily 10am –5.30pm.
Killiecrankie Visitor Centre Tel: 01796 473233
Walking trails and car park open throughout the year.
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Walks
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From the Visitor Centre a footpath drops down through the oak woods to the Soldiers Leap viewpoint. In autumn the salmon maybe spotted leaping up the rapids in the river below. The path then descends into the Pass near the Victorian railway viaduct. Here the river widens forming a pool, an excellent spot for glimpsing bats on warm summer evenings. The shady woodland footpath then follows alongside the river, many native flowers such as primrose, wood anemone, devil’s bit scabious and bird’s nest orchid grow along this stretch. After 1 mile (1.5km) a footbridge spans the river revealing an impressive view.
The path through the Pass of Killiecrankie is part of the Pitlochry path network, and can be followed further to the Linn of Tummel and Pitlochry. Further details of these way-marked walks around Killiecrankie can be found in the leaflet “Pitlochry Walks”, available from the VisitScotland Information Centre in Pitlochry.
For the less energetic, parking is available at the Garry Bridge car park at the south end of the Pass, where picture postcard views can be obtained from the adjacent road bridge.
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Contact Us
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The National Trust for Scotland is Scotland’s leading voluntary conservation charity supported by a membership of over a quarter of a million. The Trust manages around 74,000 (183,000 acres) of countryside including farmland and forest, mountain and moor, waterfalls and islands as well as dramatic cliffs, rugged coastline and beautiful gardens.
To find out more about Killiecrankie, the work of the National Trust for Scotland, current events, other places to visit or to join us, visit www.nts.org.uk
NTS Perthshire Ranger Service 01350 728641
Killiecrankie Visitor Centre 01796 473233
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