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.