Dall Cottage Camping

With just four tent pitches, each with its own fire pit, Dall Cottage Camping offers a small-scale, semi-wild stay near Blair Atholl in the Cairngorms National Park. The pitches occupy an open field beside the River Garry, with a compost toilet and hot shower unit covering the essentials. Dogs are welcome, and the simple setup suits bikepackers as well as visitors travelling with a tent. The campsite opens all year, with bookings arranged by phone or email.

Access deserves particular attention: reaching the campsite involves crossing a ford through the River Garry. Four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended; cars with good ground clearance may also be able to cross, but visitors should discuss conditions and vehicle suitability with the campsite before travelling. Wild swimming is possible in the river, though conditions need assessing on the day.

For walks in the Blair Atholl area, Atholl Estates has waymarked trails through woodland, glens and open moorland. Glen Tilt car park is a starting point for estate routes, rather than the campsite itself; check access notices when planning a walk, as shooting can temporarily affect paths through the glen’s rifle range. Blair Castle adds a historical outing, with interiors reflecting generations of the Atholl family and grounds that include a nine-acre walled garden, a wooded grove and a ruined kirk. In Pitlochry, Blair Athol Distillery offers guided tours and tastings, with advance booking recommended. Despite the similar name, the distillery is in Pitlochry, not Blair Atholl village.