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Catch up with latest developments at Pitlochry Community Action Trust.
Chance to view proposed design for Pitlochry All Wheels Park
A community consultation event on the proposed design to extend and improve the skatepark at Pitlochry Recreation Ground into an all wheels park is to take place on Tuesday, October 6.
The drop-in event will give local residents an opportunity to find out more about the £200,000 project, share their thoughts on the design for the exciting new facility, and meet the volunteers and contractors behind its delivery.
The move comes following the appointment of specialist contractors Betongpark to carry out the detailed design and construction phases of the project, which is being managed on behalf of Pitlochry Community Action Trust (PCAT) and Pitlochry All Wheels (PAW) by Perth and Kinross Council (PKC).
Representatives from all four organisations will be on hand to chat to people about the project and the designs.
Local parent Kate Thompson from PAW is looking forward to the event. She said: “Betongpark is recognised as one of Europe’s industry leaders in skatepark design and construction and the team there is very experienced and passionate about the work they do, so we are confident that we will get the best possible facility for Pitlochry.
“This project will create a larger, more versatile and more inclusive all wheels park with fun features that could be used by cyclists, skaters, skateboarders, scooters, balance bikes and wheelchair sports.
“Facilities of this type encourage sustainable healthy communities, providing a forum for participants young and old, beginning and skilled, to meet up, share experiences, have fun and be active in a safe environment away from other traffic and pedestrians.
“This consultation follows on from the community survey carried out last year and attendance by representatives from PAW and PCAT at several community events.
“We’re very excited about the design and can’t wait to share it with the wider community.”
Chair of Pitlochry Community Action Trust (PCAT), Judith Dingwall, also encouraged people to attend the community consultation event, commenting:
“All wheels sports parks provide opportunities – in particular for young people from all different backgrounds – to participate in sport and to get outdoors, and there is lots of evidence that taking part in outdoor activities can have real, positive benefits for people’s physical and mental health and wellbeing.
“We’re therefore really keen that as many people come along to this event to find out more about this transformative project and share their thoughts with us.
“PCAT exists to facilitate community and volunteer-led projects such as this, guided by the aspirations set out in the Pitlochry Community Action Plan, with the aim of making a positive difference in our town.
“Improving and extending the existing skate park at Pitlochry Recreation Ground to create a welcoming space for people of all ages and abilities is a wonderful example of how community-led initiatives can be a force for good, particularly when organisations work together in a meaningful way.”
Stuart Maclure, development manager at Betongpark, commented: “The local community in Pitlochry has been working tirelessly for years towards enhancing the existing skatepark so that it becomes a new all wheels facility.
“This brings a fresh approach to delivering a skateable space that will be shared with other uses and community functions.
“We are therefore excited to be joining the team at this community event as we progress towards a final design. The session will give members of the local community a chance to see the proposals, provide comment and understand more about the design and construction process.”
The project is expected to break ground in March 2027 and will take around six weeks to complete. Commencing works in the spring will ensure that quality of the build, and in particular the final shotcrete work, will not be negatively impacted by lower temperatures.
Contract administrator for PKC, Simon Garnett, explained: “We’re pleased to be working closely with PCAT and PAW on this project, which is going to create a much-needed asset for the local community and beyond.”
The project is being funded thanks to support from the SSE Renewables Sustainable Development Fund, the SSE Renewables Hydro Community Fund, SportScotland, the Gannochy Trust’s Youth Panel, Perth and Kinross Council’s Climate Challenge Emergency Fund, The Enchanted Forest Community Fund, The Enchanted Forest Discretionary Fund, Andie Millar’s Trust, and the Inner Wheel Club of Pitlochry, as well as donations from members of the public.
The community consultation event takes place on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 from 4pm to 7pm at Pitlochry Recreation Ground.
Milestone anniversaries for Pitlochry streets
There were celebrations in Pitlochry recently as two popular residential areas marked milestone anniversaries.
2026 is the 100th anniversary of the building of Tomcroy Terrace in the Highland Perthshire town, as well as the 50th anniversary of the nearby James Court sheltered housing complex, run by Perth and Kinross Council.
The team at James Court organised a celebratory lunch with invited guests, including members of the community who had been involved with James Court in one capacity or another over the past five decades.
Guests included the family of the first ever warden at the complex, the late Cecelia Ramsey, the son of the owner of local firm AC Wilson – the constructors who built the premises – former staff, and the residents themselves.
The following day, a very well attended coffee morning was held at Pitlochry Town Hall to mark the 100th anniversary of Tomcroy Terrace.
Past and present residents of the popular street and surrounding area attended the coffee morning, which, as well as tea, coffee and home baking, also saw displays of photos, household artefacts and children’s toys from 100 years ago, and information about the history of Tomcroy Terrace and also James Court and the wider town.
There were also traditional fundraising games such as guess the weight of the cake, guess how many sweeties in the jar, and a tombola, as well as some traditional sweet treats and an opportunity to record the names of residents and memories of the street from members of the public.
The celebrations were organised by Pitlochry Community Action Trust (PCAT), Perth and Kinross Council, and Pitlochry and Moulin Heritage Trust.
Chair of PCAT, Judith Dingwall, commented: “What a wonderful weekend of celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary of Tomcroy Terrace and the 50th anniversary of James Court!
“When Ann Millar, Perth and Kinross Council’s housing support officer at James Court, first suggested the idea of marking this momentous occasion, we jumped at the chance to be involved.
“It was a great opportunity to acknowledge the strength of community here in Pitlochry, and the celebrations were a real coming together of organisations, working together for the benefit of local residents, which is what PCAT is all about.
“Huge thanks must go to the residents of James Court and to Pitlochry and Moulin Heritage Centre for compiling the information and photo boards, bringing along some of the artefacts and running the tombola.
“Thanks also to all the helpers at what was a very busy coffee morning, everyone who donated home baking, and tombola prizes, and everyone who came along and enjoyed the celebrations with us – there was a real buzz at both events with people chatting, reminiscing and making new connections, which was so lovely to see.”
First Minister and local MSP for the region, John Swinney, was at the coffee morning.
He said: “The celebrations to mark 50 years of James Court and 100 years of Tomcroy Terrace were a lovely occasion and I was pleased to be able to share that with the community in Pitlochry.
“Both contain so many memories for so many people, and it was great to hear some of the stories from local residents, share some of the history of the communities and celebrate all the lives that have been lived in both James Court and Tomcroy Terrace.
“These are two developments that are indicative of the significance of investment in local housing and it is a timely reminder of the importance of affordable housing that serves the needs of communities, and my Government is determined to ensure that we do more to support that.”
Perth and Kinross Provost Xander McDade spoke at the lunch at James Court. He said: “There is a very special community here at James Court and it was lovely to be able to chat to some of the many people who have been connected with the building over the last 50 years.
“Community connections are so important to towns everywhere and we are very lucky here in Pitlochry to have such a strong community.
“Well done to Ann and the team for everything that they do every day.”
The coffee morning raised £730 which will be split between the James Court residents’ comfort fund and PCAT with donations to the Pitlochry and Moulin Heritage Centre and CHAS.
UK Town of Culture 2028 shortlist is announced
The shortlist for the UK Town of Culture 2028 competition has been announced and sadly Pitlochry didn’t reach the final 15.
Nearly 400 applications to the inaugural competition were received, many of which were from Scotland – clearly demonstrating both this country’s extraordinary cultural heritage and the strength of the competition!
While we’re disappointed not to have made the shortlist, we’re really proud of the work that we put into the application to champion our community and demonstrate how Pitlochry contributes to Scotland’s story, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who took the time to engage with us during the application process – it was great to see the real passion and pride people have for our town.
As part of Pitlochry’s bid to become the first UK Town of Culture in 2028, we submitted a digital postcard from our picture perfect town to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The postcard can be seen on the official competition map here.
All the postcards will remain within the National Museums Liverpool’s national collection.
The experience of taking part has been really worthwhile in terms of strengthening partnerships locally, and will serve us in good stead as we work with other groups and organisations to develop plans for the Pitlochry 300 celebrations in 2028 when we will mark the 300th anniversary of the building of General Wade’s road, part of which is now Atholl Road, which brought together disparate hamlets to create the town we now know as Pitlochry.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish the shortlisted towns the very best in the competition moving forward, with a special shout out to the Scottish finalists in particular – the Isle of Bute, Leith and Lerwick!
Music to our ears!
A new course in music technology is to be offered at Pitlochry High School from next year, thanks to support from Pitlochry Community Action Trust (PCAT) and a donation from the Heartland music festival.
The Scottish Qualifications Music Technology course at National 3, 4 and 5 levels will be delivered by the school’s music department, complementing its existing music teaching and coursework offering.
This exciting development has been made possible thanks to a donation of £2000 to Pitlochry High School from PCAT and the organisers of the Heartland music festival in recognition of PCAT’s support of and contribution to the volunteer effort at the popular event.
The donation has also facilitated the purchase of some new musical instruments and equipment for the school.
Chair of PCAT, Judith Dingwall, commented: “We are absolutely delighted that our support of the Heartland festival in Pitlochry has allowed us to in turn support Pitlochry High School to deliver a new course that will make a real difference to many young people in our community.
“We are so lucky to have a school of the calibre of Pitlochry High School, and, at a time when other communities are losing resources, it is great that our school is able to expand its offering, both in terms of the courses on offer and the facilities proposed as part of the £8.7million being invested in its upgrade.
“The Heartland Festival has been a wonderful addition to the events calendar here in Pitlochry and we are proud to have supported this homegrown event from the beginning.
“Facilitating connections in this way is a great example of how positive action, organisations working together and the existence of a local development trust can create real benefits for communities.”
The music technology course is designed to enable pupils to develop skills in and knowledge of using music technology software and hardware in a practical and experiential way, and provides a pathway for those who want to progress to higher levels of study in this area.
Mrs Liney is the headteacher at Pitlochry High School. She said: “We are hugely grateful to PCAT and the Heartland Festival for their support of the school and in particular the music department.
“This will be the first time we have been able to offer the music technology course, which we’re sure will appeal to pupils with an interest in music, and we’re excited to see it develop.”
Heartland Festival director Graham Howie added: “Ever since the first Heartland Festival back in 2024, our aim has always been to find ways to support the local community as much as possible. We’re delighted to contribute and help make a difference to the Pitlochry High School.”
Pictured are, from left, PCAT Trustees Norman Cairns and Catriona Morrison, music teacher at Pitlochry High School Sarah Richardson, and Heartland Festival Director Graham Howie
Join our Board of Trustees!
We’re looking for new people to join our Board of Trustees!
This is an exciting time for Pitlochry and for Pitlochry Community Action Trust (PCAT).
We recently welcomed Pitlochry Garden Share as a core project; working with local parents we have raised more than £200,000 towards proposals for an all wheels park at the Recreation Ground, and we’re working on updating the Community Action Plan and looking at ideas to celebrate Pitlochry’s 300th anniversary in 2028.
Our Trustees help guide the direction of PCAT and ensure we continue to work with our community to achieve the goals set out in the Pitlochry Community Action Plan.
Whether you’re an experienced leader or thinking about taking on a meaningful volunteer role for your community for the first time, we need your voice and skills.
We’re especially looking for people with backgrounds in board leadership, grant funding and finance, events, and community development – particularly housing.
Most importantly though we need your enthusiasm and your commitment to supporting our community to be a wonderful place to live, work and visit!
For more information, including a detailed description of the role, please email secretary@pitlochryaction.org.uk
To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter detailing your enthusiasm and suitability for the role to secretary@pitlochryaction.org.uk
The deadline for applications is Friday, July 31st, 2026.
PCAT and Pitlochry Garden Share grow together
Volunteer-led organisation Pitlochry Community Action Trust (PCAT) has welcomed Pitlochry Garden Share (PGS) as a core project.
The move comes as part of efforts to secure the future of the Moulin Community Garden on a longer-term basis.
As a PCAT core project, PGS will retain its own identity, logo and online presence but will come under the auspices of PCAT in terms of financial administration and other core support as and when required, enabling volunteers to spend more time on the aspects of volunteering in the garden that they enjoy most.
PGS first approached PCAT about a potential collaboration at the end of last year. Since then, representatives from both organisations have been working hard behind the scenes to ensure that everything is in place for a seamless transition of PGS operations to PCAT.
PCAT was formed in 2023 following the development of the Pitlochry Community Action Plan which outlines the aims and aspirations of the community. The Trust is a charity and works with local people, community groups, businesses, the local authority and other stakeholders to lead and coordinating projects that support a thriving and attractive town that is resilient and enjoys sustainable growth.
PCAT trustee Catriona Morrison is looking forward to working with PGS. She said: “Pitlochry Garden Share is a fabulous community-led project that has really blossomed in the four years since it was first set-up by a group of hugely enthusiastic, knowledgeable and hard-working volunteers.
“We are therefore delighted to join forces with the Garden Share team and support efforts to further develop and enhance that offering to the community.
“Everything PCAT does is guided by the aspirations set out in the Pitlochry Community Action Plan – and establishing community growing initiatives, sharing local produce and supporting and encouraging volunteering in the community were all identified in the CAP by the community as priorities.
“Pitlochry Garden Share was set up to contribute to the delivery of those priorities, and it is wonderful that PCAT is able to support the volunteers to continue do that through the sharing of resources and effort, benefitting everyone involved directly as well as the wider community.
“The fact that PCAT has been approached for support once again by an organisation in our community is testament to the growing reputation PCAT has for listening to local residents and sensitively and effectively delivering projects.”
PGS aims to facilitate growing organic food locally in the community, reduce food poverty and food miles, support mental and physical health and wellbeing and increase biodiversity in gardens in the area.
As well as the Moulin Community Garden, it also works to support organic food growing in the area, and match people with garden space to spare with volunteers who would like to grow fruit and vegetables but perhaps don’t have enough land themselves. One example of this is a private garden share at Dunfallandy which has seen a very successful collaboration between a local homeowner and volunteers.
A steering group made up of volunteers from PGS, supported by PCAT, will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the garden share.
Anna Stokes is one of the volunteers at Pitlochry Garden Share. She said: “PGS and PCAT are both working towards the same priorities of protecting and enhancing the environmental assets and sustainability of the area, boosting health and wellbeing, reducing social isolation and supporting volunteering efforts in the community.
“As a group, PGS is passionate about growing organic vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers in and around Pitlochry and supporting as many people as possible to get involved in doing that. We’re also here to connect people who would be interested in sharing their gardens with local volunteers to help look after those spaces.
“This new partnership with PCAT will allow us to focus more on those efforts rather than having to set up as a charity on our own, saving time and resources, and we’re really excited about working with PCAT as we head into the next chapter of the PGS story.”
For more information about PGS, see www.pitlochrygardenshare.org
