Blairgowrie and Rattray can be explored through different scales of walking: the Cateran Trail starts in the market town, while the circular route to The Knockie offers a shorter walk with views over the town. The River Ericht flows through the centre; its banks also tell the story of the local textile industry. Nature and history therefore sit side by side, without needing to be combined into a single outing.
Walking: from the Cateran Trail to The Knockie
The Cateran Trail is a fully waymarked route of 64 miles, or 103 kilometres, through Perthshire and the Angus glens in the heart of Scotland. Blairgowrie is its starting point. This means a long-distance walking route begins here, on a scale quite different from a shorter local circular walk. If you would first prefer to get a sense of a more manageable distance, a useful comparison is the circular route from the town centre to The Knockie: it is about three miles, or five kilometres, and takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.
From The Knockie, views extend over Blairgowrie, Rattray and the surrounding area. On a clear day, the Sidlaw Hills and other areas can also be seen. The stated walking times and distances offer a different guide for planning your day than the total length of the Cateran Trail. Visibility is also key to the view: seeing as far as the Sidlaw Hills is expressly dependent on clear conditions.
River Ericht and traces of industry
The River Ericht flows through the centre of Blairgowrie and Rattray. Sixteen mills once stood along its banks; many can be seen on a walk by the river. The mills add another layer of history to the riverside route. During the Industrial Revolution, Blairgowrie and Rattray was an important centre of the textile industry. First, flax was processed or spun there, followed by jute and, finally, rayon. Together, the mills by the river and the succession of fibres illustrate the role the textile industry played in the town’s history.
Another place on the River Ericht is Cargill's Leap, where there is a viewing platform in the Keith Falls section. An information board at Cargill's Leap explains that local man Donald Cargill escaped pursuing government troops here by jumping across the river. A separate cairn memorial to Donald Cargill stands in a field outside Rattray. It is another local point of interest connected with the name Cargill.
Lochs and spring blossoms on the outskirts
White Loch, Fingask Loch and Black Loch are small freshwater lochs in the lowlands on the outskirts of Blairgowrie. They are designated Sites of Special Interest and form part of a Special Area of Conservation. The three named lochs offer a different landscape from the river in the centre: here, the lowland freshwater areas on the edge of town take centre stage.
Darroch Woods are also on the outskirts. Locally, the woods are known as Bluebell Woods; every spring, they put on an impressive display of bluebells. The exact timing varies from year to year. This seasonal caveat is useful when planning a spring visit: the flowers bloom in spring, but the precise timing is not the same every year.
Textile history and annual events
The local cultural history is not limited to mills and riverbanks. The textile industry shaped Blairgowrie and Rattray during the Industrial Revolution, and the progression from flax to jute to rayon brings this transformation to life. The annual Blairgowrie and Rattray Highland Games and Braemar Day celebrations are also part of the local calendar. If an event is a deciding factor in your travel plans, check the dates for your intended visit. These annual events are another reason to consider the calendar when planning, alongside the area’s natural landscape and history.
Bus services and planning
Stagecoach operates several bus services between Blairgowrie and Rattray and neighbouring towns and villages. Destinations mentioned include Dundee, Perth, Alyth, Meigle, Coupar Angus, Bridge of Cally and Kirkmichael. Check the timetable for the relevant service for your planned travel days. This helps you fit a bus journey into your day without assuming a particular travel time. When choosing accommodation, you can also consider whether a longer walk, the circular route to The Knockie, the river and its historical connections, or the seasonal flowers best match your interests.
Discover more destinations: Braco, St David's, Perth, St Fillans, Acharn, Kinloch Rannoch, Bridge Of Cally, Dunning.
For the wider travel guide: Perth And Kinross.
