‘History’ is one of the principal reasons for visiting the Blair Atholl area, with walks, scenery, and sports including cycling, fishing, and golf also highly rated, according to a survey conducted by the Blair Atholl Area Tourism Association (BAATA). The Five Star Blair Castle, which dates from 1269, immediately springs to mind as the major historic attraction, but a walk around the Blair Atholl Historic Trail provides much additional information about the history of the surrounding area, which includes Bridge of Tilt and Old Blair.
The Trail officially starts in the Memorial Car Park, opposite the main Castle gates in Blair Atholl. Information sheets, including a map, are available at the start.
Over the years there have been as many as six churches in the local area of which three remain standing; of those, two are still active as places of worship: Kilmaveonaig Scottish Episcopal Church, which dates from around 1275, and the Blair Atholl Parish Church (right), which opened in 1825. On September 15th, 1844, Queen Victoria attended a service while staying at Blair Caste.
Kilmaveonaig Episcopal Church situated opposite Bridge of Tilt has been through a number of transitional stages since 1275. It was rebuilt by the local Robertson family in 1591 and was burnt to the ground by government forces in 1746 after the Battle of Culloden. It was rebuilt again in 1794 and in 1898 further restoration took place. It has been in regular use ever since.
The Parish Church, located opposite the Blair Castle caravan site, was built to replace the 13th-century Bride’s Church at Old Blair. St Bride’s fell into a state of disrepair after it was bypassed by the road, which now runs through Blair Atholl, opened in September 1822.
St Bride’s is now a majestic ‘ruin’. Its vault is the resting place of Bonnie Dundee (Graham of Claverhouse), leader of the Jacobite army in the Battle of Killiecrankie. The church was repaired in 1824 but it only remained in use until 1825 when replaced by the new Parish Church.
Construction of the first Free Church Of Atholl started in 1843 but the wooden building at Kings Island south of Blair Atholl was liable to flooding and in 1855 a site was obtained in Bridge of Tilt where St Andrew’s church was built. When the Blair Atholl Parish Church opened in 1825 two large churches were now close to one another so the main St Andrew’s building was removed in 1968, followed in 1971 by the tower. The site of St Andrews, close to the Tilt Stores, is now a rest garden.
In 1821 Baptist missionaries erected a thatched building in Kilmaveonaig. In 1836 a new church was built in Bridge of Tilt but it was closed in 1886 and converted into a private house.
In addition to the three churches in the Blair Atholl area, which are still standing, the Historic Trail includes an additional 31 points of interest, all of which are accessible from the Memorial Car Park; most are well within walking distance!