While this web site is intended primarily for visitors planning to visit the Blair Atholl area, we will post information here of interest to the local community.

 If you have an item or an event that might be appropriately displayed here, please forward details to James Stewart, Allt Na Fearn, Killiecrankie, PH16 5LN. Telephone 01796 473553 or send an e-mail to :- BAATA@james-stewart.co.uk

Blair Atholl Gateway Project

 For the last few years the Blair Atholl Gateway Committee has been working to establish how the area should respond to its position at the A9 south entrance to the Cairngorms National Park. This has been put in sharper focus recently given the very likely prospect of the Park’s boundary being revised to include Blair Atholl and Struan next year.

 These developments create a new expectation on our communities from visitors traveling north on the A9, both in terms of information and services. Within these expectations are also a range of valuable opportunities. The Committee have commissioned research, with funding from Perth and Kinross Council, and this has culminated in a report issued in September which provides a concept of how services could be developed in Blair Atholl. To open a 14 Page PDF Copy of the report and detailed Plans of what is proposed as a Phased Project, please click on this link.

 Details of these proposals have been widely circulated to the community for feedback. Further progress on this project can be obtained by contacting the Blair Atholl Gateway Committee Chairman, James Rattray on 01796 473335, or email James at :- james@explorescotland.net

PHOTO: Alan and Shelia Draper on the weekend of September 9th/10th were the winners of the 2006 Skills Trail competition. The Drapers from Wolsingham, County Durham have been regular visitors to the Blair Atholl area for over twenty years and made a special return journey from County Durham to collect their prize which was presented by BAATA Chairperson Lin Muirhead.

Peter Barr, Skills Trail Convener

PHOTO: Mrs Linda Millar of Duns was the winner of the Prize Draw at the 2007 Local Skills Trail which took place in the Killiecrankie/Blair Atholl area on the weekend of August 11th/12th. A framed photo of Blair Castle was presented to Linda by Peter Barr of the Blair Atholl Area Tourism Association (BAATA).

 Taking into consideration that this was the Pitlocry and Blair Atholl Pipe Band’s first season competing in Grade 3a, the final position of 3rd in the Champions Table for 2007 was certainly quite an achievement. Their position could have been further enhanced if they had not missed the European Championships in July. However the alternative was too tempting - twelve days at the Inter-Celtic Festival in northern Spain. Based in the town of Aviles the band performed on stage there most evenings but they also carried out street performances in several towns in the area. The band was delighted with the reception they received on each occasion and were quite overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of their Asturian hosts.

 Back on the home front, the band took 1st place at Innerleithen, Pitlochry and Crieff Games and at the latter Games, came away with no fewer than four trophies. At the Pitlochry Games, the Band won a rather useful £500.00 in the street competition for marching and smartness (picture below illustrates).



 However, when it comes to Solo Piping Competitions there was one outstanding achievement by a young Band member this season.  Hayley Walker, in taking 1st place in the Novice Piping at Brechin, won a set of Niall Bag Pipes worth over £1000!  Well done Hayley.

 The Band’s new DVDs are now on sale from the following local outlets:- Blair Castle, Blair Atholl Garage, Blair Atholl Post Office. The Gem Box, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Hydro Hotel, Pitlochry Post Office, and
Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre.  For access to Internet Sales please contact Jill by email for details at :- jill@bploffice.co.uk


    If you wish further information about the Band or require the services of a piper or the full band for your special occasion, please visit the bands web site at www.pbapb.com




Our picture shows a jubilant Band, led by Pipe Major Christy Kelly (left) before leaving Ballymena in Northern Ireland with their well won cup having come 2nd in the 2007 British Championships out of a total of twenty-five bands

 Once again Committee Members of the Association manned a display tent at the above mention 2007 Horse Trials. In connection with the illustrated display of Tourist Attractions in the area, a free competition was run asking visitors to identify eight old objects from the village's Atholl Country Life Museum. John Cameron, the Museum Curator, again set a hard task this year and no one from a very good entry managed to name all eight objects.
 However there was a clear winner with 7 1/2 points, Mrs Mary Carter from Brentford in Middlesex, who named every item correctly with the exception of Item 8 but even here, was very close. The correct answers were;-

(1) Carriage Lamp Holder/Bracket;
(2) Workman's piece/sandwich tin in the shape of a slice of bread (old plain loaf);
(3) Telegram Boy's Mail Pouch;
(4) Harness Burnisher to polish metal parts;
(5) Cream Skimmer;
(6) School Slate for written work;
(7) Pencil Sharpener; and
(8) Flauchter Spade - used to remove turf to expose the peat (not cut the peat as many of you said!).

Many thanks to all of you who entered the competition, completed the form and had a bit of fun - better luck next time!

Mary Herdman, Event Convener.

Subject: Accolade to the Folks of Atholl

 The following is an extract from an email received from Martha Friedrich from Florida who. with a little help from BAATA, came to Blair Atholl in 2007 to celebrate her 70th birthday by attending the Atholl Highlanders Parade and Atholl Gathering because she "liked men in kilts"!

 "Living over there (in Scotland), I don't know if you can appreciate what a pleasure it was for us to be in the crowd gathered for the Games.  So different from over here (in the USA), where it's all commercial, often trashy (content and litter), too much careless/bad language, mothers yell at their children, etc....and cell phones are rife in the land.  Your crowd was like here in the fifties; the best word I can think of is 'wholesome.'  Children and dogs well behaved.  I walked around a lot, just enjoying the atmosphere.

 One thing I wish to make clear - it's not like complimenting organizers of an event (for example); it's a compliment to the people in general - the crowd decorum. That is, not a planned thing, but a way of life. Very lovely, a little bit longed for.  And, oh yes: one always wants to return!"

Subject: A Wonderful Holiday

 "We have just returned from a wonderful holiday in Highland Perthshire. We were staying in Blair Atholl and went along to the Gala Evening in the Park on Wednesday. What a great night we had. Many places we have visited have not especially welcomed tourists but I have to say Blair Atholl made us, as tourists, feel very welcome indeed. Even my two daughters, aged 13 and 14, were impressed. Praise indeed as teenagers are not so easy to please. Would you kindly convey our thanks to those in the community for being so friendly and welcoming.

 "We also hired bikes when we were there and spent an enjoyable afternoon discovering the area. I am now hooked on cycling and intend to treat myself to a bike and join my family when they venture off on their bikes. I am so glad we decided to holiday in Highland Perthshire."
Mrs Leslie Russell, Grangemouth.

Subject: A Great Holiday

 "I returned home yesterday with my family after the four of us spent a week at Blair Atholl. Tremendous. Peaceful. Relaxing. Beautiful. Just thought I'd let you know we all enjoyed ourselves! I'd recommend the area to anyone."
Regards Gareth Bowen & Family Caerphilly South Wales

Subject : A real Scottish welcome!

 "My wife and I recently spent a week in a rented cottage in Blair Atholl. We arrived about 4pm on the Saturday and very soon we found ourselves being greeted by the sound of your pipe band rehearsing for a future competition.

 "This initial meeting was to grow into a great friendship with your band and its members as we joined in your rehearsals during our stay. We thank you for your time in explaining the complexities of the bagpipes and giving us interesting information. We also noted the discipline that you instilled on your young members, something that seems to be generally lacking in other parts of the UK. The result is that you have a fine junior band section and we left with the feeling that the future of the Blair Atholl Pipe Band is secure.

 "We were blessed with good weather during our stay and enjoyed our short break in Scotland. Spending time with your pipe band was the icing on the cake."

Kind regards,
David & Grace Guy, Jersey

PS: If you are on holiday in the area, the Pipe Band usually practice at Blair Atholl Village Hall every Wednesday night