Walking Scotland’s Autumn Forests: A Four-Night Break in Pitlochry
Explore ancient woodlands, golden leaves, and the charm of Pitlochry on this fully guided 4-night walking holiday. With easy transport from Glasgow and a visit to the Enchanted Forest included, this once-a-year autumn break showcases some of the best seasonal scenery in Scotland.
Duration: 4 nights
Accommodation: Hotel
Group Size: Maximum 8
Pickup From: Glasgow
Level: Leisurely Plus
Age: 18+
Dogs: No dogs, except trained assistance dogs
Public Transport: This trip is fully accessible by public transport, we include free collection from Glasgow & Glasgow International Airport. Please see the Meeting Location & Time section below for full details.
What to Expect on Your Four-Night Autumn Walking Break
Explore Highland Perthshire in Autumn: Walk through forests filled with gold, amber, and red in one of Scotland’s most scenic regions.
Car-Free Travel from Glasgow: We’ll collect you from Glasgow and include all transport during the trip.
Guided Walks with Local Insight: Led by passionate guides who’ll share the area’s wildlife, history, and landscapes.
Visit the Enchanted Forest: An evening at Scotland’s premier light and sound show is included in your trip.
Hotel-Based Stay in Pitlochry: Stay in comfortable hotel accommodation with breakfast included and evening meals at local restaurants.
Book today…
Discover the Forests and Colours of Autumn in the Scottish Highlands
Each year we run this special autumn walking holiday at the perfect time to see the forests of Highland Perthshire at their most colourful. Based in the lively town of Pitlochry, we’ll spend five days exploring local trails and viewpoints that capture the spirit of autumn in Scotland.
This trip is car-free and fully organised – we collect you in Glasgow and include all local travel and guided walks. You’ll explore everything from peaceful river paths to grand forest trails, with options to visit historical landmarks and viewpoints along the way.
A key feature of this trip is the Enchanted Forest – Scotland’s premier outdoor light and sound event – which turns the woodland into an immersive experience after dark.
Expect a friendly, sociable atmosphere with the chance to discover wildlife, history, and Highland scenery in good company.
Suggested Itinerary
Here’s what we’ve got planned - of course, we may have to offer alternatives or make amendments if the weather misbehaves or other unexpected situations arise!
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We begin the trip by collecting you from Glasgow (meeting details are provided below). From here, we head north through the Highlands with a stop in the charming village of Dunkeld.
Our first walk is at The Hermitage, a National Trust for Scotland site known for its towering Douglas firs, dramatic waterfalls, and picturesque woodland paths. This 4–5 mile trail follows the River Braan, leading to Ossian’s Hall, a folly overlooking the spectacular Black Linn Falls. It’s a perfect leg-stretcher to start the trip.
In the afternoon, we continue to Pitlochry, our base for the next four nights. This Victorian town is known for its riverside setting, surrounding hills, and welcoming feel. After checking into the hotel, there’s time to relax before we head out for dinner at a local restaurant. (Evening meals are not included.)
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Over the next three days, we’ll enjoy a range of scenic walks, each around 7–10 miles, at a leisurely pace, taking in autumn colours and Highland views.
Possible walks and visits include:
Killiecrankie and the Pass of Killiecrankie – A beautiful wooded gorge with rich history, famous for the 1689 battle and Soldier’s Leap, where a fleeing soldier is said to have leapt across the River Garry.
Loch Faskally and Faskally Forest – A local favourite for its mirrored water, golden trees, and peaceful trails. A great spot for spotting red squirrels and birdlife.
Queen’s View – One of Scotland’s best-loved viewpoints, overlooking Loch Tummel, framed by forests and backed by distant mountains. We’ll combine this with a nearby woodland trail for a full day out.
Blair Atholl and Glen Tilt – A stunning glen walk near Blair Castle, which offers optional entry to its grand interiors and gardens (entry not included).
After each day of walking, we return to our hotel to freshen up, before heading out to eat in one of Pitlochry’s many welcoming restaurants.
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One evening, we’ll experience the magic of the Enchanted Forest, a hugely popular light and sound event held just outside Pitlochry.
Now in its 20+ year history, the show transforms Faskally Woods into a night-time trail of colour, music, and immersive installations. Each year the theme changes, but the event remains a highlight of any autumn trip to this area.
The ticket and transport are included, and it’s a relaxed walk with plenty of time to enjoy the displays and atmosphere.
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After breakfast, we’ll enjoy a relaxed local walk, often following the River Tummel or visiting the nearby dam and lochside paths. It’s a chance for one last stroll in the autumn colours before we begin the journey back.
We’ll return to Glasgow in the afternoon (drop-off details are provided below), aiming to get you back mid-afternoon.
Essential Information
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Meeting Time:
From 9am - your Large Outdoors host will meet you in Glasgow - please see Pickup options below.Pickups (Day 1): when booking you can let us know which of the two Pickup locations below you’d like to be collected from.
09:00 - Glasgow City Centre
From the ibis Styles Glasgow Central, 116 Waterloo Street, Glasgow, G2 7DN. Please note: a discount code for this hotel is available if you plan to stay in Glasgow the night before/after the trip09:15 - Glasgow International Airport At the Pick-up & Drop-off area located outside the main terminal building in Car Park 2.
Returning to Glasgow (Day 5):
If you are taking advantage of our Pickup service, we will also return you to Glasgow on the final day. We aim to be back in Glasgow between 3-5pm and can drop you back in the city centre or at the airport.Please book onward travel accordingly, to allow for flexibility with the return time to the city centre or airport - we do allow for some stops on the journey, but we (sadly!) can’t control the traffic.
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Located in the heart of Pitlochry, Fisher’s Hotel is a well-established 4-star hotel offering comfortable accommodation with a blend of traditional charm and modern amenities.
Accommodation Address:
Fisher's Hotel,
Pitlochry,
Perthshire,
PH16 5BNRoom Types:
You can book one of the following options, subject to availability:Shared Rooms, where you’ll be sharing a twin room - with two single beds - with just one other participant (bathrooms are en-suite).
Twin Rooms, with two single beds, sleep up to two participants booking together (bathrooms are en-suite).
Double Rooms sleep two participants booking together, with a double bed (bathrooms are en-suite).
Single Rooms are for one participant and have either a single or a double bed (bathrooms are en-suite).
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Included:
Pickup service from Glasgow - see the Meeting Location & Time section above - and transportation for the duration of the trip.
4 nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation at Fishers Hotel Pitlochry.
Guided walks.
Transport to/from and entry ticket for the Enchanted Forest event.
The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.
Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.
Not included:
Travel to and from the meeting location in Glasgow.
Packed lunches - there will be the opportunity to purchase something locally.
Dinner each evening - we’ll book a table at a local pub/restaurant to enjoy dinner as a group and you can purchase whatever you fancy from the menu available.
Any extra (i.e. not mentioned above in ‘Included’) excursions or activities that you may partake in which incur a cost.
Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.
Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.
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Please see our Residential (Walking) Kit List.
The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should be carrying the items listed.
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• What level of fitness is needed?
This trip is graded as Leisurely Plus. Click here to see Large Outdoors’ Experience Levels.• Can I attend on my own?
Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.• I am currently on a specific diet / have an allergy - can you cater for me?
Unfortunately, we are generally unable to cater for a wide variety of diets or food preferences due to the nature and cost of our catered trips and/or the use of shared kitchens. However, we can offer vegetarian meals, vegan meals, provide meals with gluten* free ingredients, and/or provide meals with dairy* free ingredients - these options can be selected when booking. *Please see our general FAQs for more information about dietary options.
This particular experience offers a little more flexibility catering wise, as evening meals are taken at local pubs/restaurants, so please contact us if you’d like to check whether it is suitable for your dietary needs.• What transport is provided during this experience?
We offer transport with a Pickup service (see Meeting Location & Time section above) and transfers from the accommodation to the activity start points.• Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are not allowed on this experience, except for trained assistance dogs. If you wish to bring your trained assistance dog, please let us know in advance of booking so we can discuss the itinerary and any activity/equipment/accommodation, and of course additional safety requirements or considerations that may be necessary.