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Title: PITLOCHRY: The Heart of the Highlands

Reference number: 9306

Date: 1965

Director: filmed by Dr Iain Dunnachie

Sound: sound

Colour: col

Fiction: non-fiction

Running time: 13.43 mins

Description: A lovely colour film with accompanying narration, highlighting the many and varied attractions of Pitlochry to the visitor. Made by amateur award winning film-maker Iain Dunnachie.

Shotlist: [title] Shot of a stag looking over a hedge. gvs of the Highlands as narrator explains about his first visit to Pitlochry. He was so charmed by the place he returned again and again. On main North road from Perth to Inverness, lead to Braemar, Balmoral and Killiecrankie. gvs of the Pass of Killiecrankie. gvs of hotel set into the landscape. The narrator explains that Pitlochry has about 28 hotels and facilities for leisure and entertainment. GVs of main street. Narrator talks about his visit in May when he felt his spirits lifted, at the time the tourists had not arrived yet. Shot of a woman and a boy (Mrs Dunnachie and Robin Dunnachie) looking in a jewellery shop window. Narrator comments that there was functional and artistic produces available in the shops. More shots of shop windows as the narrator says that window shopping was a pleasure. Shot of signs “Pitlochry Tweed” and “Macnaughton” and shots of products in their windows. Shot of women looking at tartan blankets. The narrator talks about the quality and history of tartan and its popularity across the world. The narrator also explains that tweed is also made in the area as women are shown looking at tweed in Mcnaughton’s tweed warehouse. Shot of tweed making loom. Narrator recommends that all visitors to Pitlochry visit to the Tweed mills. The narrator mentions how fast it is to make tweed. Outfits are ready to wear within the same day that the sheep are shaven. Shot of man working a loom. Shot of the loch and a boat house. As narrator explains that Pitlochry is a walker’s paradise. People can hire boats for fishing or just rowing. Walking to the boat yard is a pleasant as is walking to the duck pond. Shots of ducks being fed. Shots of lilies and water hens. Shot of a river damn. The narrator explains that walking to the damn is good for an after dinner stroll. The damn is a symbol of power and beauty and part of a chain of six hydroelectric stations. Within the damn there is a 900 ft fish pass to allow salmon to spawn up the river. The chain of damns give 600 million units of electricity. Shot of damn pumping out water. Shot of people entering the “Festival Theatre”. The narrator explains that he visited Pitlochry in early August and visited the festival theatre. Each year a group of artists are engage to perform a repertoire of six plays. At least one of the plays performed are Scottish. Shot of interiors of the theatre and play sets. Shot of visitors’ book as he narrator explains that visitors from all over the world visit Pitlochry and the theatre so the visitors’ book looks like the League of Nations. Shot of a sign for the “Brown Trout Restaurant” and shot of the interior of the restaurant as the narrator explains the foyer and the theatre restaurant are good. Shot of theatre goers in the Brown Trout Restaurant. There is also an open air café in the garden as people are shown sitting in the sun. Sometimes people can sit in on rehearsals or on the actors discussing their roles. Narrator explains that Pitlochry also has many outdoor events. Shot of people riding ponies and horses. Narrator explains that there is also a golf tournament, sheep dog competition and bowing activities. In early September there are the highland games. Shot of people in highland dress holding bag pipes and the crowds gathered to watch. The narrator explains the sorts of activities which are carried out at the highland games. Shot of people running a race, tossing a caber, highland dancing, cycling, doing the high jump etc. Shot of many pipe bands playing together with the (very faint) sound of them playing. Narrator explains that early in October the theatre closes down but the best of Pitlochry has yet to come. Pitlochry is very beautiful in the autumn. Shot of a path leading to a country house. Shot of people rowing in the loch, GVs of the river and the autumnal landscape. Narrator explains that Pitlochry is excellent for driving with very pretty views. GV of the landscape as a pipes band plays. THE END