The Blair Atholl Watermill provides a very welcome break from the A9; only a couple of minutes drive from the turn off and fantastically quaint and beautiful.
The watermill itself, since its restoration, is one of the last eleven working watermills still in operation in Scotland and is a fabulous piece of living history, where you are welcome to view the stone grinding of wheat and oats in the traditional manner. The resultant flour and oatmeal are used in the home baking, available to buy in the tea-room which is situated on the original kiln drying floor.
The small but perfectly formed tea-room is an absolute delight, catering to a full house and always managing to squeeze a few more eager customers through its old wood doors. Producing in-house, a delicious array of tempting cakes, breads, bagels, fresh soups and light lunches with a fantastic dressing for salads made from the fresh herbs in the kitchen garden and ranges of speciality teas and fresh coffee.
The atmosphere is convivial and very welcoming, the hardworking staff literally do not stop, yet are still genuinely warm, informative and happy to oblige.
This little gem is well worth the stop en route north and south!