Version B itinerary: -
 Day 1. Arrive in Blair Atholl, and depending on time you could visit the famous Blair Castle, home of the Duke of Atholl, and the last remaining private army in Europe. The castle played an important part in the 1715 Jacobite Rising. You can also visit the village folk museum to see how life used to be in the old days for the local people. (Extra night in Blair Atholl is highly recommended, if you want to have more time to explore local walks in Glen Tilt. Pony-trekking and cycle hire also available in the village).
 Day 2. Today you can start with an easy riverside walk to Killiecrankie, scene of the famous battle in 1689 and the Soldier's Leap over the River Garry. Then continue on river-side and forest trails to Pitlochry. (8 miles). If you prefer, it is also possible to take a more challenging route over the hills (12 miles). On arrival in Pitlochry you can visit one of the local malt whisky distilleries, or see a play at the local Festival Theatre. If you choose to have an extra day in Pitlochry you could climb Ben Vrackie (2757ft./841m) the mountain which overlooks the town, and has great views of the southern Highlands.
 Day 3. A gentle climb over the hill between Pitlochry and Strathtay in the morning, then you can continue to walk on the very scenic and quiet back road to Aberfeldy by the banks of the River Tay. (10 miles, or 5 miles if you take a local bus from Strathtay). On approaching Aberfeldy, you can take a small detour to visit Menzies Castle, before entering the town by General Wade's Bridge over the River Tay. If you have an extra day, you can visit the local malt whisky distillery, a working water mill, or try some white water rafting on the Tay.
 Day 4. An opportunity to explore the Birks o' Aberfeldy, an impressive woodland gorge & waterfall made famous by the poet Robert Burns. The historic theme continues, as you soon pass a Neolithic stone circle 4000 years old; and then Taymouth Castle, where Queen Victoria spent her honeymoon. The day finishes in the 'model' village of Kenmore, at the mouth of Loch Tay. (8 miles, or 12 miles if you take an optional detour).
 Day 5. Start the day with a visit to the recently re-constructed crannog (an iron-age house built on an artificial island on Loch Tay). This is a fascinating opportunity to see how the ancient Celts lived 2500 years ago. The walk continues with an ascent up Drummond Hill, to a viewpoint overlooking Loch Tay and Priory island, where Queen Sybilla of Scotland was buried in the 13th Century. The trail continues above Loch Tay, ending at the peaceful village of Fortingall. (6 miles). This was an important area in Neolithic times and many stone circles and standing stones can still be seen around the village. Fortingall is best known for its ancient yew tree which is estimated to be at least 3000 years old, which makes it the oldest living tree in Europe.
 Day 6. Today's walk (12 miles) is the most challenging walk on the route and takes you by remote Glen Mor, (the great valley) overlooked by Schiehallion. There is also an easier alternative from further up Glen Lyon taking you to the shores of Loch Rannoch. The walk finishes at the quiet village of Kinloch Rannoch in the heart of the Highlands, where you have your last overnight stop. Again we recommend an extra night to allow more time to explore the area - options include a half-day walk to see the ruins of a deserted Highland village; or hire a bike and cycle around the loch (24 miles - 38 kms). The latter allows you to explore one of the few remaining parts of the Caledonian pine forest. If weather is favourable, it is also possible to climb Schiehallion (3553 ft - 1083m).
Version A. (9 nights). This version is as detailed above but you have extra nights in Blair Atholl, Aberfeldy and Kinloch Rannoch. If you prefer to climb Ben Vrackie (2757 feet, 841m) you can have an extra night in Pitlochry instead of Blair Atholl. These extra nights give more time to explore the many attractions in each village.
Accommodation is based in friendly B&B's and guest houses, in ensuite rooms where possible (usually on all the nights). If you wish to stay in the 16th Century Inn in Kenmore, or in the recently renovated (and award winning) Fortingall Hotel, the supplements are £35 and £45-75 per person respectively.
Fewer nights if you only have a few days, it is also possible to start this walk in Pitlochry, or finish in Fortingall.
Notes: We highly recommend you have extra nights in Blair Atholl, Pitlochry, Aberfeldy and Kinloch Rannoch. On most days you have options to take longer walks if you wish. The walk from Fortingall to Kinloch Rannoch involves an ascent of about 2000 feet (600m) and may not be possible during the deer stalking season (early September to late October). If stalking is planned on this day you can still take an alternative footpath to Kinloch Rannoch from further up Glen Lyon. Alternatively, always choose a start date which means you arrive in Kinloch Rannoch on a Sunday as there is never any stalking on Sundays.
Travel Information:
Start: Blair Atholl is 75 miles north of Edinburgh/Glasgow and can be reached by bus or train or taxi. Journey takes less than 2 hours. We can also arrange airport transfers from Edinburgh to Blair Atholl for £125 (for up to 4 people) and from Glasgow (£155 for up to 4 people).
Finish: The local bus service from Kinloch Rannoch to Pitlochry (for bus or train to Inverness or Edinburgh) or to Rannoch Station (for West Highland Line to Glasgow / Fort William) does not operate on a Sunday but taxis are available (cost is about £30). So if you do not want to pay extra for the taxi, choose a start date/itinerary which means your last night in Kinloch Rannoch is not on a Saturday. Journey to Edinburgh takes 3 to 4 hours, so the earliest arrival time by public transport is around 1300 hrs. Taxi takes about 2 hours, cost about £120.
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Historic walks and the beautiful Perthshire scenery make this a great choice for people who would like a more gentle introduction to walking in Scotland. As the daily walking distances are shorter than our other routes, you have more time for exploring local towns and villages, and visiting the many castles and historic attractions in the 'Heart of Scotland'. It is also possible to visit a choice of distilleries, or play a round of golf at one of the many local courses in the area, or try salmon fishing on the River Tay. The standard itinerary is 6 nights, but as there are many things to see and do, if possible we recommend you take 9 nights so you can have more time in a few of the villages.