Blackford and Greenloaning are two small villages that lie beside the main A9 road to the west of Auchterarder. Greenloaning has grown considerably in recent years as new commuter housing has been built. It remains a good spot to head off up the Ochil Hills towards the wide, open spaces of Sheriffmuir, site of a famous battle in the Jacobite rebellion of 1715. More recently it was home to the much loved Hercules the Bear who lived with a past owner of a remote inn on top of the moors.

Blackford retains the feel of a small country village with its wide main street and friendly village inns. It is also the source of the famous Highland Spring and Gleneagles mineral waters that come down from the Ochil Hills and are now exported all round the world. There are currently ambitious plans to develop a new visitor and speciality centre at the mothballed Tullibardine Distillery on the edge of the village. The surrounding countryside is famed for the quality of its field sports and regularly attracts sportsmen from all over the world.