An Aerial View of Sunbank House Hotel

Perth - The Fair City

Festivals and Fairs are in plentiful supply, plus Highland Gatherings, potteries, galleries, crafts and antique shops. Sample the local whiskies from plenty of distilleries open to the public, including the Glenturret Distillery, Scotland's oldest. View glass making and the work of some of Scotland's finest artists at Fergusson Gallery. The area is a haven for wildlife, where Ospreys nest at the loch of the Lowes near Dunkeld and Loch Leven, an important nature reserve for many species of birds. Watch the salmon leaping up the many waterfalls.

Perthshire is steeped in history with castles and stately homes including Pictish stones in Meigle Museum near Blairgowrie, Ardoch Roman camp near Auchterarder, Drummond Castle and gardens, 16th century Burleigh Castle, Blair Castle and the 14th Century Cathedral of Dunkeld. Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned in 1567 at Loch Leven Castle. The waters of Crieff were well known for their healing powers. Fortingal was the birthplace of Pontius Pilate, where the famous 3000-year-old Yew tree is situated. Loch Tay was the site of ancient Crannogs; you can see a reconstruction of one of these ancient settlements of some 2500 years. Scone Palace witnessed the crowning of ancient Scottish Kings on the Stone of Destiny. The Battle of Kiliecrankie in 1689 was a famous Jacobite victory - you can walk through some spectacular scenery on the Pass of Killecrankie.