ATHOLL, or ATHOLE  , a district in the north of Perthshire, Scotland, covering an area of about 450 sq. m . It is bounded on the N. by Badenoch, on the N.E. by Braemar, on the E. by Forfarshire, on the S. by Breadalbane, on the W. and N.W. by Lochaber . The Highland railway bisects it diagonally from Dunkeld to the borders of Inverness-shire . It is traversed by the Grampian mountains and watered by the 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 mainly centres around Dunkeld, Pitlochry and Blair Atholl . The only cultivable soil occurs in the valleys of the large rivers, but the deer-forest and the shootings on moor and mountain are among the most extensive in Scotland . 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 mormaer (thane or earl) until the union of the Picts and Scots under Kenneth Macalpine in 843 . The duke of Atholl's seats are Blair Castle and Dunkeld House . What is called Atholl brose is a compound, in equal parts, of whisky and honey (or oatmeal), which was first commonly used in the district for hoarseness and sore throat .