Pitlochry
Pitlochry is a small town in Perthshire, popular with holiday makers and tourists who often use it as a base for exploration of the central area of Scotland. The local area is popular with walkers and climbers who can access a number of nearby walking routes along with hills and mountains such as Ben Vrackie. Local accomodation includes a selection of hotels, Bed & Breakfast and self-catering properties.
As with so much in the UK, the popularity of Pitlochry probably became significant after Queen Victoria stayed at nearby Blair Castle: any place of which the Queen approved became a magnet for society in those days. The Queen's View is magnificent and today there is a Queen's View Visitor Centre.
Attractions in Pitlochry include the Atholl Palace Hotel Museum, the dam (famed for its salmon ladder) and the Pitlochry Festival Theatre. For those who enjoy a wee dram of the good stuff, there are two nearby distilleries which run tours: Blair Atholl and the tiny Edradour, Scotland's smallest distillery.
Autumn Festival
The Pitlochry Autumn Festival has become a popular event with both visitors and locals alike. Of particular interest to lovers of the strange - especially those with children - is probably the Enchanted Forest in Faskally Woods. Forest events in 2007 included a Treasure Hunt, a Halloween Tent, a children's storyteller and ghost tours.In 2008 the Autumn Festival is scheduled for Friday 17th October to Sunday 2nd November. Check the official website for details.
The Bogle
One of the stories you might hear on a Pitlochry ghost tour is that of the Death Bogle. The story was told by Elliot O'Donnell in his work Scottish Ghost Stories.The Bogle is reportedly a white, spectral figure that haunts the area near the town's main crossroads. It is a fearsome sight to behold and if you do see it then you'd be well advised to stay clear. The ghost's touch is apparently like a finger from the grave and those marked by it die within the year.