While this web site is intended primarily for visitors planning to visit the Blair Atholl area, we will post information here of interest to the local community.

 If you have an item or an event that might be appropriately displayed here, please forward details to Paul Buttress, email:- baata@live.co.uk

Blair Atholl Gateway Project

More details can be obtained by contacting the Blair Atholl Gateway Committee Chairman, James Rattray on 01796 473335, or email James at :- james@explorescotland.net

Pitlochry and Blair Atholl Pipe Band

The Band have spent the winter learning some new material for this year. Our first performance of it was in March at Pitlochry Festival Theatre where we supported the Red Hot Chilli Pipers for three concerts. You can come and hear for yourselves at our Celtic night at Blair Castle.

Some of the Band have already been over to Brittany in April to compete at the Breton Championships with our twin band Bagad Lorient. This year we hope to have some Breton drummers compete with us at the World championships in August. You may well hear us practise outside the village hall in Blair Atholl, during the summer if the weather is good. ( Wednesday and Thursday evenings and some Sunday afternoons).

Our travels abroad continue in May when we shall travel to the South of France to a place called Pau (pronounced PO) near Biarritz to take part in their Interceltic Festival. This is a new region for us so we are looking forward to it very much.

We will be attending some of the games around the country and some of the Major championships. We can also be seen at the Celtic nights as mentioned and also at the Tourism Association Gala nights.

Hope to see you around.

 

 The Band’s new DVDs are now on sale from the following local outlets:- Blair Castle, Blair Atholl Garage, Blair Atholl Post Office. The Gem Box, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Hydro Hotel, Pitlochry Post Office, and
Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre.  For access to Internet Sales please contact Jill by email for details at :- jill@bploffice.co.uk


    If you wish further information about the Band or require the services of a piper or the full band for your special occasion, please visit the bands web site at www.pbapb.org




Our picture shows a jubilant Band, led by Pipe Major Christy Kelly (left) before leaving Ballymena in Northern Ireland with their well won cup having come 2nd in the 2007 British Championships out of a total of twenty-five bands

Subject: Accolade to the Folks of Atholl

 The following is an extract from an email received from Martha Friedrich from Florida who. with a little help from BAATA, came to Blair Atholl in 2007 to celebrate her 70th birthday by attending the Atholl Highlanders Parade and Atholl Gathering because she "liked men in kilts"!

 "Living over there (in Scotland), I don't know if you can appreciate what a pleasure it was for us to be in the crowd gathered for the Games.  So different from over here (in the USA), where it's all commercial, often trashy (content and litter), too much careless/bad language, mothers yell at their children, etc....and cell phones are rife in the land.  Your crowd was like here in the fifties; the best word I can think of is 'wholesome.'  Children and dogs well behaved.  I walked around a lot, just enjoying the atmosphere.

 One thing I wish to make clear - it's not like complimenting organizers of an event (for example); it's a compliment to the people in general - the crowd decorum. That is, not a planned thing, but a way of life. Very lovely, a little bit longed for.  And, oh yes: one always wants to return!"

Subject: A Wonderful Holiday

 "We have just returned from a wonderful holiday in Highland Perthshire. We were staying in Blair Atholl and went along to the Gala Evening in the Park on Wednesday. What a great night we had. Many places we have visited have not especially welcomed tourists but I have to say Blair Atholl made us, as tourists, feel very welcome indeed. Even my two daughters, aged 13 and 14, were impressed. Praise indeed as teenagers are not so easy to please. Would you kindly convey our thanks to those in the community for being so friendly and welcoming.

 "We also hired bikes when we were there and spent an enjoyable afternoon discovering the area. I am now hooked on cycling and intend to treat myself to a bike and join my family when they venture off on their bikes. I am so glad we decided to holiday in Highland Perthshire."
Mrs Leslie Russell, Grangemouth.

Subject: A Great Holiday

 "I returned home yesterday with my family after the four of us spent a week at Blair Atholl. Tremendous. Peaceful. Relaxing. Beautiful. Just thought I'd let you know we all enjoyed ourselves! I'd recommend the area to anyone."
Regards Gareth Bowen & Family Caerphilly South Wales

Subject : A real Scottish welcome!

 "My wife and I recently spent a week in a rented cottage in Blair Atholl. We arrived about 4pm on the Saturday and very soon we found ourselves being greeted by the sound of your pipe band rehearsing for a future competition.

 "This initial meeting was to grow into a great friendship with your band and its members as we joined in your rehearsals during our stay. We thank you for your time in explaining the complexities of the bagpipes and giving us interesting information. We also noted the discipline that you instilled on your young members, something that seems to be generally lacking in other parts of the UK. The result is that you have a fine junior band section and we left with the feeling that the future of the Blair Atholl Pipe Band is secure.

 "We were blessed with good weather during our stay and enjoyed our short break in Scotland. Spending time with your pipe band was the icing on the cake."

Kind regards,
David & Grace Guy, Jersey

PS: If you are on holiday in the area, the Pipe Band usually practice at Blair Atholl Village Hall every Wednesday night