Best Things to Do in Perth and Perthshire, Scotland: The Complete Guide

Perth and Perthshire offer some of the finest things to do in Perthshire Scotland for travellers of any experience level. Ancient castles, cathedral ruins, Highland rivers, Victorian spa towns, and some of Britain’s best forest walks — this region sits at the very heart of Scotland and rewards every visitor who gives it proper time.

Perth is Scotland’s Fair City, a proud market town on the River Tay. Drive north from Perth and within an hour you are in the Highlands, passing waterfalls, ancient battle sites and whisky distilleries. Perthshire stretches from the fertile Carse of Gowrie in the south to the wild reaches of Rannoch Moor in the north. It is vast, varied, and consistently beautiful.

This guide covers the top things to do in Perth and Perthshire for first-time visitors. It includes practical tips, key attractions and useful advice to help you plan your trip.

Visit Blair Castle in Blair Atholl

Blair Castle is one of Scotland’s most striking white castles. It stands near the village of Blair Atholl, roughly an hour north of Perth. The Grampian mountains form the backdrop.

The castle dates to the 13th century. It has been home to the Dukes of Atholl for hundreds of years. The interior houses a remarkable collection of arms, armour, furniture and royal portraits.

Blair Castle is also famous as the home of the Atholl Highlanders — the only remaining private army in Europe. The regiment still parades at the castle each year. If your visit coincides with the parade in late May or early June, it is worth planning around.

The castle grounds extend over 9 acres of formal gardens. They are free to explore on foot even when the castle itself is closed. Admission for adults is approximately £15.

Practical tip: Combine Blair Castle with a visit to the Pass of Killiecrankie nearby. The two sites are less than 10 minutes apart by car.

Explore Pitlochry

Pitlochry is Perthshire’s best-known town. The Victorian spa town sits in a dramatic valley on the River Tummel. Mountains rise on all sides.

The Pitlochry Festival Theatre runs a full programme of plays from May to October each year. It is one of Scotland’s most respected regional theatres and worth booking in advance.

The Pitlochry Dam and fish pass are worth a visit too. You can watch Atlantic salmon make their way upstream through a series of pools built to help them bypass the dam. The viewing windows are free to use.

Above the dam lies Loch Faskally, a beautiful reservoir surrounded by woodland. Walking trails follow the loch for several miles. The colours in autumn are outstanding.

Highland Games at Pitlochry

Pitlochry hosts its own Highland Games each September. Expect caber tossing, hammer throwing, tug-of-war and pipe bands. The games are family-friendly and a genuine slice of Scottish Highland culture.

Walk Through the Hermitage

The Hermitage is one of Perthshire’s most popular walks — and one of its most spectacular. The site sits just outside Dunkeld, about 15 miles north of Perth.

The main draw is the Black Linn of Braan — a thundering waterfall on the River Braan. Ossian’s Hall, a small folly perched above the falls, offers a dramatic viewpoint. On a wet day, the spray from the falls carries all the way up to the path.

The woodland is ancient. Douglas firs and beech trees tower over the path. The National Trust for Scotland manages the site. Admission to the walk is free, though car parking charges apply.

The walk to the waterfall takes around 20 minutes from the car park. Longer routes extend through the forest and connect with the Dunkeld riverside path.

Do not miss: Cross the bridge above the falls and walk a short distance further to reach the Rumbling Bridge — a narrow stone arch over a rocky gorge.

Discover Scone Palace

Scone Palace sits just north of Perth and holds a unique place in Scottish history. For centuries, Scottish kings were crowned here on the Stone of Destiny — a flat sandstone block with extraordinary symbolic power.

The original Stone of Destiny was seized by Edward I of England in 1296. A replica now sits at Scone Palace. The real stone is on display in Perth Museum, which reopened in 2024 specifically to house this national treasure.

Scone Palace is still home to the Earl and Countess of Mansfield. The state rooms are open to visitors. They contain collections of porcelain, ivories and furniture accumulated over centuries.

The grounds include a maze, a butterfly garden and a woodland drive that is stunning in autumn. Tickets cost around £18 per adult.

See the Pass of Killiecrankie

The Pass of Killiecrankie is a dramatic gorge on the River Garry, carved by glaciers long ago. Today it is a peaceful woodland walk. But in 1689, it was the site of a fierce Jacobite battle.

At the Battle of Killiecrankie, Jacobite forces routed a government army. The battle lasted less than 30 minutes. One story from that day has become famous: a government soldier fleeing the Highlanders leaped across the river at a narrow point to escape. That spot is now called Soldier’s Leap.

You can walk to Soldier’s Leap from the National Trust for Scotland visitor centre in about 10 minutes. The path follows the river through beech and oak woodland. The gorge walls drop steeply on both sides.

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Explore Perth City

Perth deserves at least half a day. Many visitors pass through on the way to the Highlands and miss what the Fair City has to offer.

Start at Perth Museum on George Street. It reopened in 2024 after a major renovation. The museum now displays the Stone of Destiny — the real one — for the first time since it was removed from Scotland in 1296. Entry to this display is free.

Walk down to the North Inch, a large park on the banks of the River Tay. The path along the river is pleasant at any time of year. The South Inch, on the other side of the city centre, offers similar open green space.

Kinnoull Hill rises just east of Perth. A short drive and walk brings you to the tower at the summit. The views over the city, the Tay valley and the hills of Fife are excellent.

Dunkeld and Birnam

Dunkeld sits 15 miles north of Perth on the River Tay. It is a small cathedral town with one outstanding sight: Dunkeld Cathedral.

The cathedral dates 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 is striking. The riverside setting adds to the atmosphere.

The village of Birnam, just across the river, is famous as the setting for part of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Birnam Oak is a vast, ancient tree thought to be a survivor from the original Birnam Wood described in the play. You can stand beside it today.

Visit the Edradour Distillery

Scotland’s whisky heritage runs deep in Perthshire. Edradour, near Pitlochry, was historically one of Scotland’s smallest working distilleries. It produces limited quantities of single malt each year using traditional methods.

Tours at Edradour take you through the full production process in a compact, traditional setting. The distillery is small enough to see everything in a single visit. It is authentic and very different from the larger commercial operations.

Aberfeldy Distillery, about 15 miles west of Pitlochry, is another excellent option. It sits in a beautiful Highland setting and offers a range of guided tours and tastings.

If you are planning a wider whisky journey, our guide to the best Scottish whisky distillery tours covers the top options across all of Scotland’s five regions.

See the Fortingall Yew

Fortingall is a small village in a remote glen west of Aberfeldy. It would be easily overlooked if it did not contain one of the most remarkable trees in Europe.

The Fortingall Yew stands in the village churchyard. Scientists estimate it to be between 3,000 and 5,000 years old. That makes it almost certainly the oldest tree in Europe.

The tree does not look like much at first glance. 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 weight of time. This yew was old when the Roman Empire fell. It was ancient when Scotland became a nation.

Access to the churchyard is free. Fortingall village itself is beautiful, with thatched cottages unusual in Scotland.

Plan Your Perthshire Trip: Connections to the Rest of Scotland

Perthshire sits at the crossroads of Scotland. The Highlands begin just north of Pitlochry. This makes it an excellent base or a natural stop on a wider Scottish itinerary.

From Perth, you can reach Inverness in about two hours. Our guide to things to do in Inverness covers the gateway to the northern Highlands, including Loch Ness and Culloden Battlefield.

Stirling, with its extraordinary castle and Wallace Monument, is less than an hour south of Perth. Read our Stirling visitor guide for more on what to see in Scotland’s historic gateway city.

Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park sits to the southwest. Our Loch Lomond visitor guide covers the highlights of Scotland’s most accessible national park, from The Cobbler to Loch Katrine.

For those planning a longer journey through Scotland, our 7-day Scotland itinerary builds in time for Perthshire alongside the other must-see regions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I spend in Perthshire?

Two to three days gives you enough time to cover the main highlights. You can visit Blair Castle, Pitlochry, the Hermitage and Scone Palace in that time. If you want to explore more remote areas like Fortingall, Rannoch Moor or Loch Tay, plan for a fourth day.

What is the best time of year to visit Perthshire?

Late May to September gives you the warmest temperatures and longest days. However, Perthshire in autumn — mid-September to November — is remarkable. The beech forests around the Hermitage and Killiecrankie turn gold, amber and red. Perthshire’s reputation as “Big Tree Country” makes most sense in October.

Is Perthshire easy to explore without a car?

A car gives you much more freedom, especially for sites like Blair Castle, Killiecrankie and Fortingall. However, ScotRail trains connect Perth to Edinburgh and Inverness. Local buses serve Pitlochry, Dunkeld and Aberfeldy from Perth. With careful planning, you can see the main highlights using public transport.

Where is the best place to stay in Perthshire?

Pitlochry is the most popular base and has the best range of accommodation. It puts you within easy reach of Blair Castle, Killiecrankie and the Hermitage. Perth city is a good alternative if you want better transport links and city amenities alongside day trips into the Highlands.