Perth and Perthshire sit at the very heart of Scotland — and they’ve been sitting there, quietly magnificent, for centuries. Ancient castles, roofless cathedral ruins, thundering waterfalls, whisky distilleries, and forests so vast and beautiful they earned the region the nickname “Big Tree Country.” This is Scotland at its most rewarding, and it richly repays every visitor who gives it proper time.
Stretching from the fertile Carse of Gowrie in the south to the wild expanse of Rannoch Moor in the north, Perthshire is one of Scotland’s largest council areas — and one of its most varied. Drive north from Perth and within an hour you are in the Highlands, passing waterfalls, ancient battle sites and whisky distilleries. Here’s your complete guide to the best things to do in Perth and Perthshire.
Explore Perth: Scotland’s Fair City
Perth deserves far more than a quick pass-through. Many visitors make the mistake of treating it as a gateway to the Highlands — and miss what the Fair City itself has to offer.
Start at Perth Museum on George Street, which reopened in 2024 after a major renovation. The centrepiece of the entire museum is something quite extraordinary: the Stone of Destiny — the real one — on public display for the first time since it was seized from Scotland in 1296.
This ancient sandstone block, also known as the Stone of Scone, is no museum curiosity. It was used to crown Scottish kings here at Scone for centuries, and it remains an active symbol of monarchy. Still used to crown kings and queens of the United Kingdom today — most recently King Charles III in May 2023 — the Stone has returned to its home in Perthshire for the first time in 700 years. Entry to the Stone of Destiny display is free, and it is genuinely one of the most moving things you can see in Scotland.
From the museum, walk down to the North Inch, a wide park on the banks of the River Tay. The riverside path is lovely at any time of year. For elevated views, head to Kinnoull Hill just east of the city — a short drive and walk brings you to the summit tower, with panoramic views over Perth, the Tay valley and the hills of Fife beyond.
Discover Scone Palace
Just north of Perth, Scone Palace holds a unique and layered place in Scottish history. This is where Scottish kings were crowned for centuries — seated upon the very Stone of Destiny now housed at Perth Museum. A replica sits at the palace today, but the atmosphere of deep history is unmistakable.
Still home to the Earl and Countess of Mansfield, Scone’s state rooms are open to visitors and contain remarkable collections of porcelain, ivories and centuries-old furniture. The grounds include a maze, a butterfly garden and a woodland drive that is breathtaking in autumn. Tickets cost around £18 per adult.
Visit Blair Castle in Blair Atholl
One of Scotland’s most dramatic white castles, Blair Castle stands near the village of Blair Atholl roughly an hour north of Perth, with the Grampian mountains rising dramatically behind it. Dating to the 13th century and home to the Dukes of Atholl for hundreds of years, the interior houses extraordinary collections of arms, armour, furniture and royal portraits.
Blair Castle is also home to the Atholl Highlanders — the only remaining private army in Europe. The regiment still parades at the castle each year, typically in late May or early June. If your visit coincides with the parade, plan around it. The castle grounds extend over 9 acres of formal gardens and are free to explore on foot even when the castle itself is closed. Adult admission is approximately £15.
Practical tip: Combine Blair Castle with a visit to the Pass of Killiecrankie — the two sites are less than 10 minutes apart by car.
Explore Pitlochry
Perthshire’s best-known town sits in a dramatic valley on the River Tummel, with mountains rising on all sides. Pitlochry has the feel of a Victorian Highland spa town — elegant, unhurried, and beautifully positioned.
The Pitlochry Festival Theatre runs a full programme of plays from May to October, and is one of Scotland’s most respected regional theatres. Book in advance if you can.
The Pitlochry Dam and fish pass are worth a visit too. Viewing windows — free to use — let you watch Atlantic salmon making their way upstream through a series of pools built to bypass the dam. Loch Faskally, the beautiful reservoir above the dam, is surrounded by woodland walking trails that are outstanding in autumn colour.
Pitlochry also hosts its own Highland Games each September — caber tossing, hammer throwing, tug-of-war and pipe bands, all thoroughly family-friendly and a genuine slice of Highland culture.
Walk Through the Hermitage
Just outside Dunkeld, about 15 miles north of Perth, the Hermitage is one of Perthshire’s most spectacular and most popular walks. The star attraction is the Black Linn of Braan — a thundering waterfall on the River Braan, with Ossian’s Hall, a small folly perched dramatically above the falls, offering a viewpoint you won’t forget in a hurry.
The woodland here is ancient. Douglas firs and beech trees tower overhead. The National Trust for Scotland manages the site; the walk itself is free, though car parking charges apply. The waterfall is about 20 minutes from the car park, and longer routes extend through the forest and connect with the Dunkeld riverside path.
Don’t miss: Cross the bridge above the falls and walk a little further to reach the Rumbling Bridge — a narrow stone arch over a rocky gorge.
See the Pass of Killiecrankie
The Pass of Killiecrankie is a glacier-carved gorge on the River Garry, and today it is a peaceful woodland walk through beech and oak. But in 1689 it was the scene of a fierce Jacobite battle that lasted less than 30 minutes — and produced one of Scotland’s most enduring stories.
A fleeing government soldier, hotly pursued by Highlanders, leaped across the river at its narrowest point to escape. The spot is now known as Soldier’s Leap, and you can walk to it from the National Trust for Scotland visitor centre in about 10 minutes. The gorge walls drop steeply on both sides — it’s dramatic even in peacetime.
Visit Dunkeld and Birnam
Dunkeld is a small cathedral town on the Tay, 15 miles north of Perth, with one outstanding sight. Dunkeld Cathedraldates to the 14th century: part of it is a roofless ruin, part of it is still an active parish church. The contrast between the two halves, in their riverside setting, is quietly stunning.
Across the river lies the village of Birnam — famous as the setting for part of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The Birnam Oakis a vast, ancient tree believed to be a survivor of the original Birnam Wood described in the play. You can stand beside it, and many people find that surprisingly affecting.
Tour a Perthshire Whisky Distillery
Scotland’s whisky heritage runs particularly deep in Perthshire. Edradour Distillery, near Pitlochry, was historically one of Scotland’s smallest working distilleries, producing limited quantities of single malt each year using traditional methods. It’s small enough to see everything in a single visit — authentic and very different from the larger commercial operations.
Aberfeldy Distillery, about 15 miles west of Pitlochry, sits in a beautiful Highland setting and offers a range of guided tours and tastings. Both are worth your time.
Find the Fortingall Yew
Fortingall is a small, remote village in a glen west of Aberfeldy that would be easily overlooked — were it not for one of the most remarkable trees in Europe. The Fortingall Yew, standing quietly in the village churchyard, is estimated to be between 3,000 and 5,000 years old. Scientists believe it is almost certainly the oldest tree in Europe.
It doesn’t announce itself dramatically. Centuries of growth and storm damage have left it as a cluster of trunks rather than a single form. But stand beside it and you feel the full weight of time. This yew was already ancient when the Roman Empire fell. It predates the Kingdom of Scotland itself. Access to the churchyard is free, and the village, with its unusual thatched cottages, is beautiful in its own right.
Practical Information
How long to spend: Two to three days covers the main highlights — Blair Castle, Pitlochry, the Hermitage, Scone Palace and Perth itself. Add a fourth day for more remote areas like Fortingall, Rannoch Moor or Loch Tay.
Best time to visit: Late May to September offers the warmest temperatures and longest days. That said, Perthshire in autumn — mid-September through November — is extraordinary. The beech forests around the Hermitage and Killiecrankie turn gold, amber and deep red. “Big Tree Country” makes the most sense in October.
Getting around: A car gives you the freedom to reach Blair Castle, Killiecrankie, Fortingall and the more remote glens with ease. That said, ScotRail trains connect Perth to Edinburgh and Inverness, and local buses serve Pitlochry, Dunkeld and Aberfeldy from Perth. With careful planning, the main highlights are accessible by public transport.
Where to stay: Pitlochry is the most popular base, with the best range of accommodation and easy access to Blair Castle, Killiecrankie and the Hermitage. Perth city is a strong alternative if you want better transport links and city amenities alongside Highland day trips.
Perthshire sits at the crossroads of Scotland — the Highlands begin just north of Pitlochry, and from Perth you can reach Inverness in two hours, Stirling in under one, and Loch Lomond and The Trossachs to the southwest. However you arrive and however long you stay, this is a region that gives generously to everyone who takes the time to explore it properly.
Have you visited Perth or Perthshire? Which part captured your heart? Tell us in the comments — we’d love to hear your Perthshire stories.
“Perthshire is where Scotland reveals its full hand — ancient history, Highland drama, cathedral ruins, and whisky, all within an hour’s drive of each other.”