ATHOLL or ATHOLE, mountainous district in north Perth shire, Scotland, area about 45osq.m., bounded on the north by Badenoch, on the north-east by Braemar, on the east by Forfar shire, on the south by Breadalbane, on the west and north-west by Lochaber. It is watered by Tay, Tummel, Garry, Tilt, Bruar and other streams. Glen Garry and Glen Tilt are the chief glens, and Loch Rannoch and Loch Tummel the principal lakes. The population is mainly in Dunkeld, Pitlochry and Blair Atholl. The only cultivable soil is in the large valleys, but deer-forest and shootings on moor and mountain are very extensive. It is said to have been named Athfotla (Atholl) after Fotla, son of the Pictish king Cruithne, and was under the rule of a Celtic rnormaer (thane or earl) until the union of the Picts and Scots under Kenneth Macalpine in 843.