Kiln House

Location

A few miles below the geographical centre of mainland Scotland Keltneyburn sits in the east of Breadalbane (Bred-Albin), the ‘Upper part of Alba’ or ‘High Ground of Scotland’ and to the west of Atholl. These two historic provinces, once part of a Pictish Kingdom, occupy a large part of what is now Perth and Kinross. Positioned above the Highland Boundary Fault and between the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and the Cairngorms National Park, Keltneyburn is also centrally placed within the proposed Tay Forrest National Park, surrounded by National Scenic Areas, Wild Land Areas, National Nature Reserves, Scottish Wildlife Trust Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

Long considered ‘the most varied and the most beautiful’ of locations this description by Sir Walter Scott, from 1828, still accurately describes the combination of awesome ruggedness rising above lush pasture that characterises the scenery of the Lochs and Glens nearby:

‘The most picturesque, if not the highest, hills are also to be found… The rivers find their way out of the mountainous region by the wildest leaps, and through the most romantic passes connecting the Highlands with the Lowlands. Above, the vegetation of a happier climate and soil is mingled with the magnificent characteristics of mountain scenery, and woods, groves, and thickets in profusion clothe the base of the hills, ascend up the ravines, and mingle with the precipices. It is… beauty lying in the lap of terror.’

Popularised by Queen Victoria‘s visits from 1842 onwards the local landscape extends across a series of deep glacial valleys with mountainous divides, containing Kenmore and Loch Tay, Glen Lyon the ‘longest, loneliest and loveliest glen in Scotland’, Loch Rannoch with the wilderness of Rannoch Moor beyond, together with the softer surroundings of seasonally scenic Loch Tummel.

Heart of Scotland

Several places lay claim to be the Heart of Scotland, however, in many ways Keltneyburn, for all it is a small and out-of-the-way location, really is just that.

Not only does being close to the geographical centre of Scotland, at the heart of the intended Tay Forrest National Park and at a midpoint between Scotland’s two adjacent National Parks, put it in the middle of everything that Scotland is renowned for in terms of its Highland landscape, it places it within reasonable range of an abundance of historic, arts and cultural resources representative of Scottish Heritage, not to mention outdoor pursuits aplenty.

Moreover, given its smallness and rural location Keltneyburn is strangely connected to a surprising amount of Scottish History and the significant people and events that have shaped it.

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Activities

Walking, Munro Bagging (hiking up Scotland’s highest peaks), cycling, wildlife and bird watching, salmon and trout fishing, several golf courses, pony trekking, boating, kayaking, white water rafting and clay pigeon shooting are among the many outdoor activities available in the surrounding area.

There are also numerous places of interest and visitor attractions that provide for a variety of alternative, creative or recreational pursuits and pastimes to suit other interests.

At a glance

Here is a brief summary of what the locality offers*:

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*This is a representative snapshot of what visitors will find in the surrounding area. Whilst much of this will be relatively local to Kiln House, some may involve longer journeys or day trips to destinations of interest.

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