The Life of Atholl

Tucked away in the hills of Highland Perthshire is the Atholl Country Life Museum with a unique collection of information, photographs and artefacts from the local area and local people that tie in with the stories and displays of how they were used in their homes and work places in the villages and surrounding glens.

This year 2006 it celebrates it’s silver jubilee and has been since beginning, in it’s original situation the Old School, Blair Atholl.

It owes its existence to the local hill farmer, John Cameron, who with foresight, realised by the end of the 1960s, that with the disappearance of the traditional small family farms and associated trades, evidence of the rural way of life as well as items of local interest were liable to be lost forever. He gradually built up his collection through buying at farm displenishing sales, along with donations and loans from local folk and purchasing special items such as outstanding horse show harness.

Here there is something of interest for all age groups with set-pieces such as the Victorian farm kitchen and its box bed; an early 20th century classroom, complete with old school group photographs; Trinafour Post Office office complete with counter, shelves, and wooden telephone box; there is a byre with Scotland’s only stuffed highland milk cow; in the smiddy Bob Kennedy the Blacksmith recalls Blair Atholl and the visiting circus. The stable section houses a splendid display of horse harness, while the game keeper’s invites you to spot various wild animals and birds. In addition the millennium photographic exhibition of “A Century Of Atholl In 100 Pictures” provides fascinating glimpses of people and places of the past.

Here too you can meet personalities of the past; Duncan Robertson

“The Boss” A farmer in Glen Fender; Kirsty MacDonald the teacher and her Father’s famous Highland Pony Stallion “Glen Bruar” ; Sgt. Major Donald McBeath of the Atholl Highlanders, gamekeeper, hero of the Crimean, and admired by Queen Victoria.

Some helpful information for ancestor searches is available for visitors.

Athol Country Life Museum is open at Easter then from the 1st of June till end of September every afternoon 1.30pm to 5.00pm, with the additional opening time of 10.00am during July and August.

For further information Tel: 01796 481 232