Kirkmichael, Perth and Kinross

Kirkmichael is a village located in Strathardle, Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It is 13 miles NNW of Blairgowrie and 12 miles ENE of Pitlochry on the A924 from Bridge of Cally to Pitlochry road and is linked to the A93 Perth to Aberdeen road by the B950. The village is centred around the bridge over the River Ardle.

The name Kirkmichael means "The Church of St Michael"; the Gaelic name is Cill Mhìcheil. The village dates back over a thousand years and was at one time an important market in the cattle trade between the Highlands and Lowlands with various drove roads converging on the village. The area became popular as a holiday resort following Queen Victoria's building of Balmoral Castle in nearby Deeside and many of the local shooting lodges or "big houses" as they are known were built at that time. Traditionally they were occupied for "the season" of August and September which included the all important Glorious Twelfth when grouse shooting started. The location of the village in the geographical centre of Scotland at the gateway to the Cairngorm National Park and the convenience of roads leading north, south, east and west has again made it a popular holiday destination.

The village is split into two by the River Ardle. On the north side is the A924 Main Street with the church, Session House community centre, Kirkmichael Hotel, shop, post office, garage and traditional properties dating from the late 19th century. On the south side are the Primary School, Bannerfield, the fire station, the old part of the village known as Williamston, the village hall, the disused Free Kirk, more recent properties in Sillerburn Road and Whitefield View, the cemetery, Balnald and Balnakilly. The village has suffered from depopulation in recent years for instance in the main street there are ten holiday letting properties, ten empty or weekend homes and only eleven permanently occupied properties and apart from Milford Vintage Engineering and the village shop there is no industry or employment. Permanent population is approx 150. However Kirkmichael is still a vibrant and lively community with various youth groups, Scottish Woman's Institute, knitting group, book club, village bloom group, annual flower festival, highland games, pub quiz nights, pool team, darts team and more.

The original village known as Williamston sits above the school on the original highway from Blairgowrie to Blair Atholl which entered the village past the Hall and Old Kirk and exited by the road to Balnakilly. This now forms part of the Cateran Trail long distance trail, a circular route taking in Blairgowrie, Bridge of Cally, Kirkmichael, Enochdhu, Spittal of Glenshee, Kirkton of Glenisla and Alyth which takes around five days to walk.

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