Pitlochry

Pitlochry is the very model of a Victorian Highland resort, a pretty town that sprang up in the 19th century when the railway brought tourists north and Queen Victoria's enthusiasm for the Highlands made Scotland fashionable. Set in the wooded valley of the River Tummel, with mountains rising on every side, it remains a perfect base for exploring Highland Perthshire—gentler than the far north, but unmistakably Highland in character.

The town centres on a handsome main street lined with independent shops, outdoor gear retailers, restaurants, and traditional pubs. But Pitlochry's most famous attraction lies just above: the fish ladder at the hydroelectric dam, where a viewing window lets you watch Atlantic salmon fighting their way upstream between April and October. It's a surprisingly compelling sight—each silver flash representing an epic journey from the open ocean to spawn in the river's upper reaches.

Culture comes to Pitlochry each summer in the form of the Festival Theatre, which presents a rotating repertoire of plays in a beautiful setting overlooking the river. The surrounding area offers walks to waterfalls, whisky at Blair Athol Distillery, and easy access to Loch Tummel, the Pass of Killiecrankie, and the Queen's View. Pitlochry proves that you don't need to travel to the remote Highlands to find Scottish beauty—sometimes the gateway is destination enough.