Riverdell Guidebook
Neighbourhoods
Kirkmichael is our closest village: 4 miles west on the road to Pitlochry. It is a pretty little community, with some lovely riverside walks, the local primary school, 2 pubs and a village shop.
To park: Turn left over the bridge just after the Session House. The car park is immediate left on the other side of the bridge.
https://www.pkct.org/kirkmichael-walks
Kirkmichael
Kirkmichael is our closest village: 4 miles west on the road to Pitlochry. It is a pretty little community, with some lovely riverside walks, the local primary school, 2 pubs and a village shop.
To park: Turn left over the bridge just after the Session House. The car park is immediate left on the other side of the bridge.
https://www.pkct.org/kirkmichael-walks
Glenshee ski centre is a 20 minute drive north of Riverdell on the A93.
Watch out for the viewpoints and sculptures along the Snow Road. Best views are from the top of the pass, near the ski centre, when heading south again.
The ski centre is at the highest point of any A road in the UK, and the Cairnwell chairlift is often open in the summer, weather permitting. On a sunny day the views from the top of the chair lift are unforgettable.
https://www.ski-glenshee.co.uk/Summer-at-Glenshee-Ski-Centre
Glenshee
Glenshee ski centre is a 20 minute drive north of Riverdell on the A93.
Watch out for the viewpoints and sculptures along the Snow Road. Best views are from the top of the pass, near the ski centre, when heading south again.
The ski centre is at the highest point of any A road in the UK, and the Cairnwell chairlift is often open in the summer, weather permitting. On a sunny day the views from the top of the chair lift are unforgettable.
https://www.ski-glenshee.co.uk/Summer-at-Glenshee-Ski-Centre
You will probably drive through Bridge of Cally on your way to Riverdell. It's a small village with one hotel and our closest post office / newsagent.
There are some nice walks around Bridge of Cally: a steep forestry track just before the hotel takes you up to a small parking area, from where you can walk in and around Blackcraig forest.
Bridge of Cally is one of the stopping points on the Cateran Trail
Bridge of Cally
You will probably drive through Bridge of Cally on your way to Riverdell. It's a small village with one hotel and our closest post office / newsagent.
There are some nice walks around Bridge of Cally: a steep forestry track just before the hotel takes you up to a small parking area, from where you can walk in and around Blackcraig forest.
Bridge of Cally is one of the stopping points on the Cateran Trail
25 minutes drive west of Riverdell, Pitlochry is a very picturesque Victorian spa town.
Lots of tourist shops, cafes and restaurants. Also a good stopping off point on the way to places of interest in the area: distilleries, Blair Castle, the fish ladder and dam visitor centre.
54 locals recommend
Pitlochry
25 minutes drive west of Riverdell, Pitlochry is a very picturesque Victorian spa town.
Lots of tourist shops, cafes and restaurants. Also a good stopping off point on the way to places of interest in the area: distilleries, Blair Castle, the fish ladder and dam visitor centre.
Food scene
In the village of Kirkmichael: check their Facebook page for current opening times.
Excellent pub food, as well as chip shop menu - including pizzas & kebabs
Advance booking is required at the moment due to covid-19 restrictions.
They also do takeaways for either collection or delivery via the "Local" app.
The Kirky Bar & Restaurant
In the village of Kirkmichael: check their Facebook page for current opening times.
Excellent pub food, as well as chip shop menu - including pizzas & kebabs
Advance booking is required at the moment due to covid-19 restrictions.
They also do takeaways for either collection or delivery via the "Local" app.
In the village of Kirkmichael: check their Facebook page for current opening times.
Excellent pub food, with good vegetarian options
Advance booking is required at the moment due to covid-19 restrictions.
They also do takeaways for collection – phone in advance to place your order.
8 locals recommend
The Strathardle Inn
A924In the village of Kirkmichael: check their Facebook page for current opening times.
Excellent pub food, with good vegetarian options
Advance booking is required at the moment due to covid-19 restrictions.
They also do takeaways for collection – phone in advance to place your order.
High end boutique hotel - recently refurbished, stuffed with art and grand design. They do excellent bar meals in the Flying Stag bar, and there really is a flying stag in the bar.....
A must visit when in Braemar
18 locals recommend
The Fife Arms
Mar RoadHigh end boutique hotel - recently refurbished, stuffed with art and grand design. They do excellent bar meals in the Flying Stag bar, and there really is a flying stag in the bar.....
A must visit when in Braemar
Shops
Our closest grocery shop: in the summer it's open all day Monday to Saturday and Sunday mornings. Check their Facebook page for current opening hours.
It stocks the usual basic foods, and you will also find produce from Glenkilrie Larder (based just a couple of miles north of Riverdell) and other local businesses. You can pick up tourist information leaflets here, and they also do takeaway coffees, bacon rolls, pies etc.
They have reorganised the shop for covid compliance, so no longer have seating inside, but there is a seating area outside.
Note that it no longer has a post office - our closest post office is at Bridge of Cally
8 locals recommend
Kirkmichael Village Shop
Main StreetOur closest grocery shop: in the summer it's open all day Monday to Saturday and Sunday mornings. Check their Facebook page for current opening hours.
It stocks the usual basic foods, and you will also find produce from Glenkilrie Larder (based just a couple of miles north of Riverdell) and other local businesses. You can pick up tourist information leaflets here, and they also do takeaway coffees, bacon rolls, pies etc.
They have reorganised the shop for covid compliance, so no longer have seating inside, but there is a seating area outside.
Note that it no longer has a post office - our closest post office is at Bridge of Cally
The Wee House shop and cafe is the closest place to Riverdell to pop out to for a coffee and cake: just a couple of miles north on the A93. Their business is quite seasonal, so check their Facebook page for current opening hours.
The Wee House is also a shop which stocks lots of high quality gifts and souvenirs - definitely worth a browse.
They have a tourist information section where you will be able to pick up leaflets and guidebooks, as well as lots of general information about the area.
Wee house of glenshee
The Wee House shop and cafe is the closest place to Riverdell to pop out to for a coffee and cake: just a couple of miles north on the A93. Their business is quite seasonal, so check their Facebook page for current opening hours.
The Wee House is also a shop which stocks lots of high quality gifts and souvenirs - definitely worth a browse.
They have a tourist information section where you will be able to pick up leaflets and guidebooks, as well as lots of general information about the area.
Our local gin distillery, just two miles south of Riverdell on the A93. Open most days from midday.
https://www.persiedistillery.com/
6 locals recommend
Persie Distillery
A93Our local gin distillery, just two miles south of Riverdell on the A93. Open most days from midday.
https://www.persiedistillery.com/
Sightseeing
Braemar is a very picturesque village, 35 minutes drive north of Riverdell, on the way to Balmoral Castle.
There are a number of tourist shops, including the unique Horn Shop (https://visitcairngorms.com/dbeatdrinkshop-The_Horn_Shop/670.html)
The Braemar Gathering in September is one of the most famous of the highland games which take place all over Scotland during the summer, and is usually attended by members of the royal family. The Gathering grounds can be visited all year round, and there is a cafe and museum there.
There are several nice coffee shops and restaurants in the village. The Fife Arms has recently been refurbished and is filled with fabulous art and design - well worth a visit.
(Check online for current opening times for specific businesses due to covid restrictions)
30 locals recommend
Braemar
Braemar is a very picturesque village, 35 minutes drive north of Riverdell, on the way to Balmoral Castle.
There are a number of tourist shops, including the unique Horn Shop (https://visitcairngorms.com/dbeatdrinkshop-The_Horn_Shop/670.html)
The Braemar Gathering in September is one of the most famous of the highland games which take place all over Scotland during the summer, and is usually attended by members of the royal family. The Gathering grounds can be visited all year round, and there is a cafe and museum there.
There are several nice coffee shops and restaurants in the village. The Fife Arms has recently been refurbished and is filled with fabulous art and design - well worth a visit.
(Check online for current opening times for specific businesses due to covid restrictions)
The Cateran Trail is a 64 mile long distance walk which Riverdell sits right in the middle of.
It follows old drove roads, starting at Blairgowrie and passing through Bridge of Cally, Kirkmichael, Spittal of Glenshee, Kirkton of Glenisla and Alyth.
You can do each of these sections separately, and there is a huge variety of landscape and terrain - much of it fairly easy.
For more information:
https://www.pkct.org/cateran-trail
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/perthshire/cateran-trail.shtml
6 locals recommend
The Cateran Trail
The Cateran Trail is a 64 mile long distance walk which Riverdell sits right in the middle of.
It follows old drove roads, starting at Blairgowrie and passing through Bridge of Cally, Kirkmichael, Spittal of Glenshee, Kirkton of Glenisla and Alyth.
You can do each of these sections separately, and there is a huge variety of landscape and terrain - much of it fairly easy.
For more information:
https://www.pkct.org/cateran-trail
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/perthshire/cateran-trail.shtml
Fascinating castle and beautiful grounds. Still privately owned by the Murray family, so it has a lot of family history as well as being part of Scotland's national story.
"Bonnie Dundee", the leader of the 1689 Jacobite Rising, is buried in the old church here and the Murray family, like most aristocratic families of the time, were involved in a number of the risings - sometimes on both sides....
Visit Killiecrankie visitor centre as well, to better understand the history.
76 locals recommend
Blair Castle
Fascinating castle and beautiful grounds. Still privately owned by the Murray family, so it has a lot of family history as well as being part of Scotland's national story.
"Bonnie Dundee", the leader of the 1689 Jacobite Rising, is buried in the old church here and the Murray family, like most aristocratic families of the time, were involved in a number of the risings - sometimes on both sides....
Visit Killiecrankie visitor centre as well, to better understand the history.
Distillery tours:
https://www.malts.com/en-gb/visit-our-distilleries/blair-athol/
25 locals recommend
Blair Athol Distillery
Perth RoadDistillery tours:
https://www.malts.com/en-gb/visit-our-distilleries/blair-athol/
The visitor centre has an exhibition which explains how and why the dam was built, and why the fish ladder is so important to the natural environment.
38 locals recommend
Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre
Armoury RoadThe visitor centre has an exhibition which explains how and why the dam was built, and why the fish ladder is so important to the natural environment.
Edradour Distillery
Distillery tours
https://www.edradour.com/
This National Trust of Scotland visitor centre explains the battle of Killicrankie and has some beautiful walks through the forest and the gorge.
10 locals recommend
Killiecrankie
This National Trust of Scotland visitor centre explains the battle of Killicrankie and has some beautiful walks through the forest and the gorge.