It's been a while since I've been to Blair Castle, so decided to stop for a tour on the journey north. This property is affiliated to the Historic Houses Association (HHA), so our visit was free as members. Highly worth joining - I recouped my annual membership over visiting 3 properties in single weekend. This is a large castle, steeped in history and a large number of rooms are open (I think over 30) to the public over 3 floors. It's self-guided, with information sheets in most rooms. Plenty parking, small gift shop and large, modern restaurant. I didn't spend a lot of time in the grounds this time due to time pressures but there is a children's play area and some pleasant walks. I did find the information in most rooms relatively limited and not always accurate - even at the start there were references to exhibits that were there. The initial information booklet I was given on arrival had a QR code on the back that opened up information sheets, but (1) I only found this out by accident after leaving the castle as it wasn't highlighted (see below) and (2) there wasn't any additional information. If, like me, you like to know a bit more about the history a guide book would be necessary. A well worthwhile stop on the A9. Allow at least a couple of hours to do the castle and more if you want to explore the grounds. Our visit was split a little by a rather rude member of staff at the ticket booth, who got in right state over stopping the car before the booth and approaching on foot, due to the large number of pedestrians surrounding it. In fairness, once inside the castle the staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful and I put it down to some people not being suited to the hospitality/tourist industry!

Visited here on Saturday for the Christmas fayre. Tickets are £4 for over 16s, under 16s go free, we booked in advance online. The fayre was busier than last year and had a great choice of stalls inside and outside from gin, jewellery, candles, soap, woodwork and sweet treats to name a few. They also had a wood fired pizza van and a spit roast pig, there’s also a restaurant/canteen inside aswell which was quite busy. Overall an enjoyable couple of hours spent here and bought some unique items. Hopefully be back next year!

Enjoyable half day. Bit of a schlep up the hill from the train station and getting away in the rain on the 4;30 bus back to Pitlochry was chaotic with loadsa Seniors needing a ride back to the Atholl Hotel. Did the walled garden first as rain was forecast, probably hurried a bit so only spent an hour there. Nice cafe for lunch Inc cake (mmmm). The castle itself was OK with thematic rooms for various Earls or aspects of their history. Highlights were ballroom and China plates room.

Blair Castle and Gardens is extraordinary. The Castle grounds and gardens are beautifully maintained and picturesque. The lawns are manicured to perfection. The walled-garden is worth the visit itself, including a Japanese Tea House, many sculptures, and a large central lake with shelters for wildlife and birds. There is a separate pasture for Highland Cattle and a separate enclosure for Red Deer. The castle itself is majestic. The interior furnishings and armory are period specific, the primary hallways and stairways include many paintings and works of art. The central hallways are lined with deer antlers. The great hall and china room are impressive. The gift shop and cafeteria offer something for everyone. On the hour, a piper performs in the front courtyard. Overall, a magical experience.

We visited Blair Castle but did not have a chance to explore the gardens. The castle itself covers several floors, which made it challenging for 1 of us who had mobility limitations. However, the staff directed us to a room with a video that gave a very informative overview of the castle and its history, which showed most of the rooms. The cafe provided a very comfortable place to hang out while the other member of our group explored the rest of the castle. The castle tour is self-guided with materials in each room that describe the contents and provide a historical context. The entry hall is very impressive and immediately gives an impression of stepping into a hunting lodge. Deer antlers are common as part of the wall decorations and on one stairway there was even a deer antler chair. Other rooms provided a view of how the castle inhabitants lived with bedrooms, dressing rooms, and sitting rooms. The historical information on Queen Victoria's visit was also interesting. The large ballroom was quite dramatic and one could imagine large festive events taking place there. The neighboring room was filled was many examples of china of varying patterns. Outside, the bagpiper gave a feeling of authenticity and the stream and wooded areas made the location quite peaceful. Overall, we had a very enjoyable visit to Blair Castle and we found the staff to be very friendly and helpful. We would definitely recommend it!

So we’ve paid admission to several castles and this one should be added to Google’s top 10 list of “castles”…guess it’s not because it was never a “fortress “… They have over 30 rooms to view. You get a free audio app to load and listen to room descriptions (app IDs easily scanned on back of ticket or map). As we entered at 15:00.. the bag pipes were being played… the interior of the “castle” is stunning… The plaster details and tapestries are remarkable. Plus a little bias since supposedly my husband’s mother was a Murray descendant. Always makes things more interesting

Dropped off some guests for a personalised tour, I have never been here and when it was suggested I have a look around. Well I was so excited. The history of the place is brilliant, seeing the various rooms was a fantastic experience, the interior architecture and finishing were sublime. The pieces of furniture!!! The craftsmanship is mind blowing, such finesse and skill wow!!thanks guys!!

We visited Blair Castle, the ancestral home of the Dukes of Atholl, and had the incredible opportunity to hear a extremely talented bagpiper play. It was such an awesome experience! I even had the chance to speak with him, thank him for his amazing performance, and share that my Great Grandfather also played the pipes. The bagpiper, who lives near where my Great Grandfather was from in Scotland, recognized my Great Grandfather's surname, 'Beattie.' He mentioned it was rare, but one of his teachers also had the same name. It truly made the day even more special! I've included a picture of us together.

Blair Castle offers a blend of history, Highland charm, and a dash of whimsy with carpets. We wandered through the corridors, marveling at the castle's flair for decor. Who knew deer antlers could be transformed into such imaginative furniture? From chairs that looked like they might charge at any moment to chandeliers that seemed ready to lock horns, Blair Castle proves that antlers aren't just for the walls—or the deer. Speaking of walls, the collection of hunting firearms was equally impressive, if not slightly intimidating. With enough firepower on display to outfit a small battalion, you couldn't help but wonder if any of the stags could be plotting their revenge.

What a lovely estate! There’s so much to see in the more than 30 rooms. Definitely try out the free audio tour for additional details about each of the rooms. Gorgeous architectural and decorative elements throughout the house along with the Jacobite history which I find fascinating. The room with all of the guns and weapons, as well as the room with the china and embroidery were my favorites. It was too rainy and wet the day we visited to see the gardens, but the landscape was lovely, as well as the deer grazing nearby. Loved the bagpiper’s hourly appearance and performance for a true Scottish feel. The cafe is also excellent with a great variety of hot, fresh dishes!