Queen’s View is a scenic viewpoint and visitor facility on the north shore of Loch Tummel in Highland Perthshire. It’s managed by Forestry and Land Scotland on land adjacent to Tay Forest Park, with the café, visitor centre, and car parks now operated by a new private operator. This guide covers opening hours, parking charges, transport, accessibility, and practical tips for planning your visit.
The easiest way to visit is as part of a Best of Scotland in a day tour from Edinburgh, which also includes Dunkeld Cathedral and Blair Castle.
Last updated: May 2026. The visitor centre and café closed in September 2022 for redevelopment and have now reopened under new management. Many guides and third-party listings still show the facility as closed, under redevelopment, or with the old parking charge of £2. The current car parking charge is £3 per day for cars. Guides showing £2 are out of date.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | B8019, Loch Tummel, Pitlochry PH16 5NR |
| Viewpoint access | Open at all times; free to visit |
| Café and visitor centre hours | Every day, 10:00–15:00 |
| Car parking charge (cars) | £3 per day |
| Car parking (coaches/minibuses) | £10 per day |
| Blue badge parking | Free |
| By road from Pitlochry | 7 miles via B8091/B8019 (~15 minutes) |
| Typical visit length | 1–2 hours |
Queen’s View opening times
The viewpoint itself is accessible at any time of day or night and costs nothing to visit on foot. The café and visitor centre are open every day from 10:00 to 15:00. Hours may vary seasonally; check the offical website before travelling if you are relying on the café being open.
Out-of-hours toilet facilities are available at Allean Forest, approximately half a mile west along the B8019.
Why book the Best of Scotland in a Day Tour?
- 🏰 Blair Castle & Gardens: Explore the ancient, white-walled home of the Dukes of Atholl, complete with fine collections of weapons, hunting trophies, and the unique history of Europe’s only legal private army.
- 🌲 The Hermitage Woodland Walk: Take a peaceful walk through a magnificent stretch of forest featuring towering Douglas firs, leading to the Black Linn waterfall and a picturesque 18th-century folly.
- 👑 The Iconic Queen’s View: Drink in one of Scotland’s most famous vistas, looking out across the glittering waters of Loch Tummel toward the majestic peak of Schiehallion.
- ⛪ Dunkeld Cathedral: Visit a striking, partly ruined cathedral nestled on the banks of the River Tay, capturing the serene history of Scotland’s ancient ecclesiastical capital.
- 🚐 Very Small-Group Comfort: Maximize your time with an intimate group (averaging around 12 passengers) traveling in a luxury Mercedes mini-coach, allowing for personal interactions with an expert driver-guide.
Queen’s View admission and parking
The viewpoint is free to visit. There is no charge to walk to the viewpoint or use the surrounding paths. The car park charges £3 per day for standard vehicles and £10 for coaches and minibuses. Blue badge holders park free. Payment is by coin or card.
Queen’s View is not included in any regional or national pass scheme. The car park is managed independently of Forestry and Land Scotland’s national car park network.
Opening hours and parking charges were checked on the official website and last updated in May 2026.
How to get to Queen’s View
Queen’s View is on the B8019, approximately 7 miles west of Pitlochry. From the A9, follow the signs for Killiecrankie, then Kinloch Rannoch. The B8019 runs along the north shore of Loch Tummel; Queen’s View is signposted on the right-hand side after approximately 7 miles. The nearest postcode is PH16 5NR.
There is no direct bus service to Queen’s View. The most practical approach without a car is a taxi from Pitlochry. The B8019 is a narrow, single-track road in places; drive carefully and use passing places to allow oncoming traffic through.
Cycling: Queen’s View can be reached by road from Pitlochry; the route follows a scenic but hilly course. Check Sustrans for route options.
Parking at Queen’s View
There is a large dedicated car park on-site, with spaces for both cars and coaches. Payment is £3 per day per car. Blue badge holders park free. The car park is close to both the viewpoint path and the café/visitor centre building. Additional toilet facilities (out of hours) are at Allean Forest, about half a mile west.
How long to spend at Queen’s View
Most visitors spend between one and two hours at Queen’s View. The walk from the car park to the viewpoint takes only a few minutes. Visitors combining the viewpoint with a café stop, the visitor centre, and a walk into Allean Forest can easily fill two to three hours. The circular trails in Allean Forest range from short waymarked paths to longer forest routes.
Accessibility at Queen’s View
A dedicated accessible path leads from the car park to the viewpoint and is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. The path is firm and well-maintained. The viewpoint itself provides the same panorama as the main viewing area.
The café and visitor centre building is accessible; contact [email protected] in advance if you have specific accessibility requirements. Blue badge holders park free in the main car park.
What to see at Queen’s View
The viewpoint faces west along the length of Loch Tummel, framing the conical peak of Schiehallion (1,083 m) and, on clear days, the peaks of Glencoe and Rannoch Moor up to 50 miles in the distance. It is one of the most widely photographed landscapes in Scotland and is best in morning light or on autumn days when the surrounding woodland is in colour.
The name is conventionally associated with Queen Victoria, who visited in 1866 and recorded the view in her diaries — assuming it had been named in her honour. Historical research suggests the name is older and may refer to Queen Isabella, the first wife of Robert the Bruce, who lived more than 500 years before Victoria’s visit.
The café and visitor centre (10:00–15:00 daily) serve hot drinks, food, and light refreshments. The visitor centre includes information about the local landscape, wildlife, and forest.
Allean Forest, immediately west of the viewpoint along the B8019, has waymarked walking and off-road cycling trails through mixed woodland with further views of Loch Tummel. Car parking at Allean Forest is separate from Queen’s View; follow signposting from the B8019.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| The viewpoint is free; only parking is charged | You can park, walk to the viewpoint, and return without using the café at no additional cost beyond the £3 car park charge. The viewpoint path takes only a few minutes on foot from the car park. |
| Arrive early for the best light and fewer people | The car park can fill quickly on summer weekends and during the school holidays. Early morning visits — before 10:00 — give the best light for photography and the quietest conditions. |
| The café closes at 15:00 | The café and visitor centre close well before standard tourist attraction closing times. If you are planning to eat or drink on-site, arrive before 14:30. |
| Combine with a drive along Loch Rannoch | The B8019/B846 continues west from Queen’s View along the north shore of Loch Rannoch to Rannoch Station, with views throughout. This makes an excellent half-day or full-day drive from Pitlochry, with stops at several points along the way. |
| Bring layers | The viewpoint is elevated and exposed to west winds off Rannoch Moor. Even on warm days in Pitlochry, temperatures at the viewpoint can be notably cooler, particularly in the morning and evening. |
Frequently asked questions about Queen’s View
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Queen’s View free to visit? | The viewpoint is free. The car park charges £3 per day for cars (£10 for coaches); blue badge holders park free. There are no charges for the viewpoint or paths. |
| Is Queen’s View suitable for children? | Yes. The path to the viewpoint is short, flat, and accessible. Allean Forest has waymarked trails suitable for families. The café serves food and drinks. There is no charge for children. |
| Is Queen’s View open in winter? | The viewpoint is accessible year-round at any time. The café and visitor centre (10:00–15:00) may have reduced winter hours; check queens-view.co.uk before travelling. |
| Is there parking at Queen’s View? | Yes. A large car park is on-site at £3 per day for cars. Blue badge holders park free. Coaches and minibuses pay £10. |
| Which Queen gave Queen’s View its name? | Disputed. Queen Victoria visited in 1866 and assumed the viewpoint was named for her. Historical accounts now suggest it was named after Queen Isabella, wife of Robert the Bruce, who lived in the 14th century — more than 500 years before Victoria’s visit. |
Things to do near Queen’s View
Schiehallion — The distinctive conical mountain visible from the viewpoint can be climbed from the Braes of Foss car park (B846, east side), around 10 miles west of Queen’s View. The ascent takes 4–5 hours return and requires hill-walking experience and kit. The car park is managed by the John Muir Trust.
Loch Rannoch and Rannoch Station — Following the B8019 and B846 west from Queen’s View, the road runs along the north shore of Loch Rannoch and ends at Rannoch Station on the edge of Rannoch Moor (~30 miles; ~45 minutes’ drive). The tearoom and the West Highland Line train service are at the station.
Pitlochry — Around 7 miles east of Queen’s View, Pitlochry is the main town in Highland Perthshire with restaurants, shops, the Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre and salmon ladder, and the Pitlochry Festival Theatre.
Pass of Killiecrankie — Around 15 minutes east of Queen’s View via the A9, the wooded gorge of Killiecrankie is managed by the National Trust for Scotland with a visitor centre, woodland walks, and historical interpretation of the 1689 Battle of Killiecrankie.
Blair Castle — Around 25 minutes north-east via the A9, Blair Castle is a white-harled Scottish baronial castle set in 9 acres of gardens and open to visitors from April to October.
What to visit tomorrow: scenic viewpoints within two hours of Queen’s View
Pass of Killiecrankie, Perthshire (NTS) — Around 15 minutes east of Queen’s View, the steep wooded gorge of the River Garry is one of the most dramatic short walks in Perthshire. The NTS visitor centre explains the Battle of Killiecrankie (1689) and the famous leap across the gorge.
Kinnoull Hill Woodland Park, Perth — Around 45 minutes south-east, Kinnoull Hill provides panoramic views across Perth, the River Tay, and east to Fife. Multiple walking routes from the car park at Corsiehill Road. Free to visit.
Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve, Loch Tay — Around 40 minutes south-west, the NTS-managed slopes of Ben Lawers (1,214 m) offer extensive upland walks and outstanding alpine plant communities. The Ben Lawers car park (charge applies) is the starting point for the summit route and shorter nature trails.
Aberfoyle and the Duke’s Pass, Trossachs — Around 1 hour 30 minutes south, the A821 over the Duke’s Pass above Aberfoyle is one of Scotland’s most scenic short drives, with viewpoints across the Trossachs and Loch Achray.
The Three Sisters Viewpoint, Glencoe — Around 1 hour 30 minutes west via the A82, the layby viewpoint above the meeting of Glen Etive and Glencoe is one of the most recognised Highland landscapes in Scotland. Free to stop; limited roadside parking.
More Scottish Highlands
Other Scottish Highlands travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Guides to Scottish Highlands waterfalls: Plodda Falls in Glen Affric, Falls of Shin near Lairg, Rogie Falls near Contin.
- What you need to know before visiting Attadale Gardens and Strome Castle.
- Guides to Scottish Highlands castles: Eilean Donan Castle, Dunrobin Castle, Inverness Castle and Urquhart Castle.
- Plan your visit to the Highland Wildlife Park.
- The best places to see seals in Scotland.
