Things to do in Perthshire
Perthshire is attractive in many ways. A perfect example of spruced up rural Scotland, the area not only offers the widest choice of glens, lochs and rivers but also offers visitors plenty of activities to try out.
Things to do in Perthshire
Historical sites: Perthshire has a wealth of historical sites and it is well worth your time to visit them. They include the Scone Palace situated outside Perth, The Drummond Castle with its beautiful Italianate gardens located near Crieff, and the Baronial Blair Castle sited to the north of Pitlochery.
Blair Castle: This eye-catching building gives visitors a taste of the glorious life of the Highland nobility. Dating from 1269, the Blair castle was the seat of the Atholl dukedom. Highlights are its impressive entrance hall, the beautifully adorned Tapestry Room and the vast ballroom.
Scottish Crannog Centre: One of the best heritage museums in Scotland, the Scottish Crannog Centre (+44(0)1887 830583) dating from 5000 years is another highlight of Perthshire. The museum which features an exclusive reconstruction of an early Iron Age loch-dwelling is a sight not to be missed. A great way to step back in time and see how people lived in the Highlands, The Scottish Crannog Centre proves to be very educational as well. Once here, you can also try your hand at ancient crafts like wood turning and making fire.
Outdoors: Perthshire is a celebration of the great outdoors. Often quoted as one of “Europe's finest Adventure playgrounds” the area offers a range of activities from white-knuckle rides down waterfalls and great cycling routes to treks through old oak forests. White water rafting, adventure tubing, mountain biking, cliff jumping and sailing are a few among the exhilarating activities to get you muddy and wet on the banks of Loch Tay. Another factor which makes Perthshire exciting is the relative accessibility of the area's diverse landscapes from the central belt. This has also been the reason for a large number of outdoor activities operators to set their base in Perthshire.
- Nature Walks: Highland Perthshire is charming and you can definitely think of taking a walk here. The rich scenery interspersed by woodlands is a treat to any nature-lover. Take the route along the banks of River Tay which lead to Loch Tay. Overlooked by the area's tallest peak – Ben Lawers; this part of Perthshire gifts you one of the best walks.
- Mountain-climbing at Schiehallion: Perthshire's “fairy mountain” is one of the few freestanding hills in Scotland. With views to both sides of Scotland and to the massed ranks of the Highland peaks to the north, the misty peak is a popular, fairly easy mountain to climb.
- Hiking at Rannoch Moor: One among the most inaccessible places in Scotland. The moor roughly occupies about 150 square miles of uninhabited hillocks, lochs, bogs and pines.
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The Hermitage: One of the most rewarding walks in Scotland is the mile and a half which stretches from Birnam to the Hermitage. Set in the wooded gorge of River Braan, the Herimitage is also home to the Ossian's Cave, the Ossian's Hall of Mirrors and the Georgian follies. Visitors can spot numerous Douglas-fir trees (the first trees to reach 200 feet in height in the UK) and also engage themselves in various walks here - many of them on paths which date back to the 18th century.
Adrenalin junkies will definitely love Perthshire for what it has to offer. The area gifts opportunities for tons of adrenalin-rushing activities. Here is a list of the ones you should not miss:
- Adventure tubing: Navigate your way through gorges, dodge rocks and plunge yourselves into the natural pools in Perthshire. A new pulse racer which will thrill you if you love river adventure.
Canyoning: You can try different levels of canyoning and canyoneering at several places in Perthshire. 'Big hits', scrambles, whitewater swims, cliff jumping into pools and slides down natural stone 'flumes' – Canyoning is all this and more. And if you are in Perthshire, you should definitely not miss it.
White water rafting: The most popular and the most social of all adrenalin sports, Perthshire boasts of rivers of different grades and if you are in Scotland, Perthshire is an ideal place to try out some white water rafting.