Tay Forest Park

Queen's View, Tay Forest Park

The Tay Forest Park takes in a huge swath of remote and idyllic countryside near Dunkeld, including Loch Tummel. The most popular part of the Forest Park is The Queen's View, offering a superb view up Loch Tummel. Rannoch Moor, at the end of the road, is desolate wilderness covered with peat bogs.

Queen's View

The gem in the crown of the Tay Forest Park and one of the most popular destinations for visitors to Highland Perthshire, Queens View offers an unrivalled vantage point for sweeping views west over Loch Tummel and the surrounding Hills.

Queen Victoria visited the viewpoint in 1866, and perhaps understandably, she thought it was named in her honour. Not so; the viewpoint was probably named for Isabella, the wife of King Robert Bruce. There is a modern visitor centre on the B8019 about 7 miles west of Pitlochry and the site is well signposted.

Just past Queen's View is Allean Forest, with signposted trails through the woodland and several viewpoints to experience the stunning landscape.

At Grandtully is a Pictish hill fort called Caisteal Dubh (or, The Black Castle), and at Faskally is a model forest planted in the 19th century and later used as a training ground for aspiring foresters. The very first managed forest in Scotland is at Drummond Hill, and at Craigvinean is a woodland of exotic trees planted by the Dukes of Atholl.

One of the most popular walks is the ascent of Schiehallion from Braes of Foss, and there is a very popular walk along the burn at Carie, on the shore of Loch Rannoch. Perhaps the best views are from the Black Rock trail on Drummond Hill.