INVERNESS TO PITLOCHRY
On, to Culloden Moor. You can cut down country to Carr Bridge and Aviemore and meet the road you would have taken for Spean Bridge to Newtonmore. It is a nice drive south through the Pass of Drumochter following the newly doubled railway through Glen Garry to Pitlochry. I haven't motored over this stretch of the A9, between Culloden and Carrbridge, but I have used the train many times. All main places on this A9 are also stations served by the railway: Daviot, Moy and between Tomatin and Carrbridge both road and railway drop over the very steep 'Slochd' gradient. Gaelic, Slochd = Pit or Hollow.
Carrbridge: (The bridge on the twist of the road) is the junction with the A938 to Grantown on Spey and the A941 north to Elgin and lossiemouth.
A mile and a half on, at Kinvechie, you meet the junction with the A95, which also goes to Grantown but continues through Strath Spey to Craigellachie, Keith and ending at the coast, at Banff.
From Kinvechie you meet the trackbed of the two lines that came from Foress and Keith, meeting at Boat of Garten, where the preserved Strathspey railway has it's headquarters. The line runs to Aviemore.
After passing the small dwellings of Avielochan and Granish you enter Aviemore. Until the middle 60's this was a tiny group of houses and a hotel existing because of the railway.
Originally the Perth to Inverness line took the long and heavy route north through Granton on Spey (West). And over the Dava Moor to Foress, Due to many problems when the line would be closed due to Dava being snow bound and the need to cut the times to Inverness, early this century the 'new' divergence line was built via Carrbridge and Culloden. Stretches between Aviemore and Pitlochry were also doubled, though these were singled again in the 60's, only to be doubled again in the 80`s when HST's started running too and from London.
Passenger-wise, the Dava line declined and services cut back, though the line continued to the Dr. Beeching days and was closed in the late 60's. The Keith - line via Grantown on Spey (East) closed at the same time.
The main Aviemore station also went into decline, but was saved when the village was built up as the Sports Center for Skiing and Nature Reserve became established. The tiny village has boomed into a busy though very expensive holiday resort.
Activities have been extended with the surgence of the preserved Spey Valley Steam Line. A seperate station was built on the sight of the old Up yard and the old Highland Railway Locomotive Shed is a great attraction.
Steam trains run throughout the summer too and from Boat of Garten and it is planned to re-build to Grantown on Spey (West) in the near future. Boat of Garten is popular both for the railway center and the nearby Osprey Observatory on nearby Loch Garten, which is also a popular picnic area.
The A9 and railway continue south through very attractive hill and forested stretches past Kincraig, Kingussie and Newtonmore.
Kingussie: Gaelic, Ceann Uisge (water End) is a favourite holiday center with roads encircling numerous picturesque spots on both sides of the river Spey. Ruthven Barracks is a well- preserved reminder of the Duke of Cumberland's dark deeds during Culloden.
Just 3 miles on is Newtonmore. The A86 runs westwards through Strath Massie and past lovely Loch Laggan to Tulloch and Spean Bridge for Fort William. This is another grand road worthy of a visit, another time. The A9 and railway strike south for 11 miles through Glen Thruim to Dalwhinnie. A north south road (7 miles) joins the A9 with the A86 west of Newtonmore, at Drumgask.
Dalwhinnie: (The valley of Gorse) is a tiny village but put on the map by its Whisky Distillery, which stands out on the moorland. The station is the highest in the U.K. From the platforms there is a magnificent view of the distant mountains with glistening loch Garry (The loch in the cutting) stretching back to the mountains. A wild, beautiful place.
We now enter wild and lonely Drumochter Pass to Dalnaspidal. Both road and railway are often closed during the long winters. Often the railway was the only thing moving, but today with the new A9, which leaves the railway at many points and cuts through/over the hills, this doesn't happen very often now.
Drumochter Pass: (Gaelic, Drum = Ridge and Ochter, as in English, Oxter, referring to the sharp curve and drop of the road and rail gradient, or 'pit'. We now continue through Glen Garry with the Forest of Atholl in the north, passing lonely little Dalnacardoch Lodge. This is a stretch where you want to look out for Deer, especially in the evenings. One second it will look as if there is nothing there then suddenly a mass of movement is spotted as a herd of Deer, decide to move. It is quite a sight.
Dropping down past Caline and Clachan, the B847 goes off southwest through Glen Errochty to meet the Rannoch B848, at Dunalastair. A footpath goes north through Glen Bruar ion the Atholl Forest. On past Pitagowan where we meet the river Garry and are soon into Blair Atholl (Gaelic: Blair = Battle). Another tiny community but the area is well know for its history and Blair Castle where the Duke of Atholl still dwells and has his own Army. The lovely castle is open to the public and the grounds used for many pageants. There is a caravan park. Sits in magnificent countryside.
A mile or so on we pass the tiny hamlet of Aldclune and the sight of a battle in 1689. Then into Killiecrankie (Possibly means the 'crooked' church).
At Killiecrankie is the 'soldiers leap' an impossible rocky gap over the raging river Tummel. An English soldier escaping from the Highlanders is said to have jumped this gap in desperation. The truth appears to be sound as the soldier escaped back to England and told his story for some years after. The B8019 goes off west to far off Rannoch Moor.
The fast flowing river Tummel drops down the gorge and into Loch Tummel where it is dammed for use in the Faskally Hydro Station, then flows on through Pitlochry and meets the river Tay at Balmacneil where it flows through Perth and into the sea at Dundee.
Pitlochry: (The loch in the pit/Gully) is a lovely place but a sure tourist trap. It is full of gift shops many of the cheap imported rubbish but also high quality Scottish Woolen Wear. The local Theatre is worth a visit as is the Faskally Hydro Dam. It lies in a nice wooded area on the inland side of the station and A9. The water is taken from a dam formed from Loch Tummel. The Hydro is open to the public and makes an interesting visit. When the dam is open there is a magnificent rush of water. There are 'steps/ladders' down the side of the dam that allows Salmon to return to their mating grounds. They make a nice sight when a run is on.