The last time I visited Perth, Perthshire, I went to Scone Palace and didn’t go to the city centre or visit any of the Perth attractions, but I didn’t make that mistake this time. With an area of more than 6500 square kilometres, Perthshire is most definitely an area of Scotland that you should visit.
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Perth Attractions
Your first stop when you visit Perthshire may be the city of Perth. Here, you can see Perth Cathedral, St Ninian’s, and the Black Watch Museum. There is a Pay and Display car park at the Black Watch Museum or a Park and Ride at Broxden Services if you are driving in.
Perth Cathedral St. Ninian’s
In 1848, two young Scottish men from Oxford University decided to revive the Scottish Episcopal Church and chose an architect from London to design the Cathedral. The Cathedral was consecrated in 1850 and dedicated to St. Ninian.
Ongoing restorations to the Cathedral have brought it to life with the organ and the roof completed to date.
There are information pamphlets in a few different languages, so you can wander about and learn at your leisure. There is also a memorial to the Black Watch soldiers that lost their lives in the 2nd Boer War. Above it, the stained glass window has the crest of the Black Watch.
There are services daily, and it’s open for visitors 9 am-3 pm daily, although that is volunteer-dependent. It is free to enter, although a donation is welcome, and you’re free to take photos inside, respecting others in there, of course.
Black Watch Museum
Just a 5-minute walk up the road from the Cathedral is the Black Watch Museum.
Formed in 1725, The Black Watch has seen action ever since. Although not known by that name then, as The Regiment of the Line, they would keep watch over the Highlands, making sure no more Jacobite risings were to occur.
Their name, Black Watch comes from their Gaelic name, as they wore dark colours and watched over the Highland, enforcing the harsh English laws. They had the nickname “the ladies from hell” from the Germans, as they fought fearlessly and wore kilts.
The Museum holds many artefacts from the history of this regiment, and you can take a guided tour to learn more about the history and what is here.
Balhousie Castle is a fitting place for the Museum, as it was the ancestral home of the Black Watch and the origins of the Castle date back to the 12th Century.
The trench has been recreated above ground so you can easily walk through. It’s in the original zig-zag pattern, and you can see dugouts and learn what life was like in a WW1 trench as part of your tour.
Memorials also line the front of the Castle, paying respect to those who fought so bravely for us.
Hours
We are open 7 days a week.
| Summer (1st April – 31st October) | Winter (1st November – 31st March) |
| Castle and Museum | 9.30 am-4.30 pm | Last entry to the Museum is 3.30 pm. Bistro @ The Castle | 9.30 am – 4.00 pm | Last orders for food are 3.00 pm and for coffee and cake at 4.00 pm. | Castle and Museum | 10.00 am – 4.00 pm | Last entry to the Museum is 3.00 pm. Bistro @ The Castle | 10.00 am-3.30 pm | Last orders for food are 3.00 pm and for coffee and cake at 3.30 pm. |
Prices
You can book online here.
Museum Day Ticket
- Adults, £12.00
- Concession (60+, students) £9.00
- Children (5-15) £5.00
- Family Ticket (2 adults, up to 4 children) £28.25
- Under 5’s Free.
This ticket entitles the holder to unlimited return visits to The Black Watch Museum for one year from the date of purchase to explore and discover our Museum’s rich exhibits, displays and collections.
Daily Guided Tour
- Adults, £21.00
- Concession (60+, students) £16.50
- Children (5-15) £9.75
- Family Ticket (2 adults, up to 4 children) £52.25
- Under 5’s Free.
During the Summer months, guided tours are available at 11 am and 2 pm. During Winter they take place daily at 11 am. Your guided tour ticket price includes all-day admission to the Museum.
When you purchase a ticket for our guided tour, you’ll also receive a Standard Admission Ticket that entitles you to unlimited visits to The Black Watch Museum for one year. Please note that this Standard Admission Ticket does not include unlimited guided tours.
North Inch Park
Just on the northern boundary of the Museum is North Inch Park. You can walk or cycle, and kids can play in the playground. In 1396 it had been a battleground between two clans, the Chattan and Kay. Over the years, their feuding finally came to fruition in a bloody battle to the death. Of course, feuding started again in only a few years, when numbers were strong enough.
At about 54 hectares in size, there is plenty of room to explore here. Fancy a round of golf? Anyone can join the millions that would have played this course when they visited Perthshire over the last 500 years. It’s open to visitors every day with free golf hire.
The City of Perth Salute 2019
If you’re lucky enough to be in Perth in August, you should check out the City of Perth Salute.
This Salute is a nod to Edinburgh Tattoo but without the crowds. It’s only been on for four years but is slowly gaining momentum, and this year I was lucky enough to see it.
The Perth Chinese Community was added to in large numbers by Chinese School kids enjoying themselves.
The Parade runs from South Inch to North Inch along Tay Street, and there was plenty of room along the road to view them.
Perth has flooded over hundreds of years, and when it does, the Tay River rises. Keep an eye out on the North Inch side of the bridge for the markings of where the floodwaters have come up to.
It’s on the 1st Sunday of August.
Outskirts of Perth Attractions
Huntingtower Castle
Less than 20 minutes out of Perth city centre, Huntingtower Castle is truly a step back in time.
First built in the 15th Century, it has been added on over the centuries to its present state, although the bats and pigeons now hold residence.
Now part of Historic Scotland, you can learn all about the “rocky” history by reading information boards about the kidnapping of James VI at the age of 16, and the disloyalty and disintegration of the Castle.
One of the fantastic features of the Castle is the painted ceiling, which they think dates from about 1540 and is one of a few left in Scotland.
Hours
29 Mar to 30 Sept:
Daily, 10 am to 4.30 pm (last entry 4 pm).
Closed for lunch from 12.30 pm to 1 pm.
1 Oct to 28 Mar:
Daily except Thur and Fri, 10 am to 4 pm (last entry 3.30 pm).
Closed for lunch from 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm.
Check for unexpected closures here.
Prices
It’s recommended to book in advance to guarantee entry.
| Adult (16-64yrs) | £7.50 |
| Concession (65yrs+ and unemployed) | £6 |
| Child (5-15yrs) | £4.50 |
| Family (1 adult, 2 children) | £15 |
| Family (2 adults, 2 children) | £21.50 |
| Family (2 adults, 3 children) | £25.50 |
| Explorer Pass Holders | Free |
An adult must accompany children under the age of 16.
Concession price: this applies if you can prove that you’re aged 65+ or unemployed.
Scone Palace
Scone Palace is one of the premier places to include when visiting Perthshire. It is where the Kings of Scotland were crowned, and ornate furnishings are on display in the Palace. You are free to take a self-guided walk through the Palace, although photography is not allowed.
Special days occur at Scone, and you should check the website to see if anything is on when you are visiting.
Over 100 acres of grounds are available for you to wander through. Paths are throughout the gardens and woodland, and you are free to photograph anything here.
You can also try your hand at the maze. You can find your way to the bridge from the entrance, where you can see your path to the fountain in the middle. Once in, of course, you have to find your way out again.
If you’re after something to eat, there is a cafe, or you can bring a picnic to enjoy.
Scone Palace is a great place to spend an afternoon.
Hours
| Palace | Gardens, Coffee Shop and Food Shop29th March – 31st October 2024 10 am – 5.30 pm (last entry is at 4 pm). Coffee Shop and Food Shop close at 4.30pm. |
| Gardens | Gardens, Coffee Shop and Food Shop29th March – 31st October 2024 10 am – 5.30 pm (last entry is at 4 pm). Coffee Shop and Food Shop close at 4.30 pm. |
Prices
For prices, please click here.
North of Perth Attractions
The House of Bruar and Falls
When you visit Perthshire, The House of Bruar is an excellent stop to make when travelling on the A9 between Perth and Inverness. It is a total surprise with shops, food halls and toilets in the middle of nowhere. At the back of the House of Bruar, you can walk to the Bruar Falls, which is well signposted.
Robbie Burns visited Bruar Falls in 1787. The ground was bare of trees when Robbie Burns first visited, so he petitioned the 4th Earl of Athol that trees of Ash and Fir be planted. Today we have Robbie Burns to thank for the well-stocked woods that stand here.
The Walk to the Falls
It’s only about 10-15 minutes up the path to the Lower Falls. There are steps on your right that lead to a viewing platform, or if you carry on just before the bridge, there is a Victorian viewing house with fantastic views of the falls cascading down through the gorge.
Canyoning is very popular here, as you may see from the people in the photos.
You can continue, from here, up to the Upper Falls. I went part of the way, and it is an easy but steep climb, although you should keep an eye on the kids (and your footing) as the sides of the track fall away. The view of the falls wasn’t great as the trees partly obscured them even from a distance.
You can get closer, but I have not seen a photo of them close up, as you are too close to these significant falls.
Hours for the House of Bruar
Food Hall, Restaurant, Market Stall and Bakery
Monday – Sunday: 8.30 am until 5.30 pm
Other Retail Areas (Excluding Whisky Shop)
Monday – Sunday: 9.30 am until 5.30 pm
Whisky Shop
Monday – Sunday: 10 am until 5.30 pm
The Fish & Chip Shop
Friday – Sunday: 12 pm until 8 pm
Other Activities
What I have posted is just the tip of the iceberg. You can visit The Hermitage with its tall fir trees, which have paths to the Black Linn Falls. The village of Dull has Highland Safaris and cruises of Loch Tay, or if you’re into walking, there are plenty of countryside walks to keep you satisfied.
Conclusion
Perthshire has so much to see and do that you should consider spending more time when you visit. It has all that Scotland offers, wrapped up in an area for you to explore.
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Very useful guide, beautiful pictures! Makes me want to visit this part of the world. Thank you 🙂
Thanks very much, Jairam. I’m glad that you liked it. Hopefully one day you will visit.
I’ve never been to Scotland even though I lived in the UK 20 years ago. I’m looking forward to reading more in your Scotland series.
Thanks, Razena. There is more coming over the next couple of weeks or so, which I hope you also enjoy.
Those long exposure waterfall shots are so beautiful! Love natural beauty like this, adding it to my never ending list of places to go!
Thanks, Hanna. I’m also going to North Wales and the Yorkshire Dales to see more waterfalls so keep a lookout in the next months for the blogs on those regions.
I love Scotland so much I’ve been twice in the last 3 years. But not to Perthshire. Yet. 🙂
Third time’s a charm, Kristina.
What a beautiful place. I will add Perthshire to my list of places to visit!
I’m glad that you enjoyed it, Megan, and I hope that you get to visit soon.
There’s a lot to do in Perthshire and this is a useful guide to help plan a visit. Bookmarking this page!
Thanks, Suzanne, I’m glad you found it useful and hopefully you can visit these places and more from my blogs in Scotland, England and Wales.
Great post! I only remember ever going into Perth itself once, and I still haven’t been to Scone Palace, but Perthshire is lovely! Bruar Falls is lovely (and the House Of Bruar!) and Pitlochry is one of my favourite places in Scotland. 🙂 (I also much prefer Dundee to Perth, it’s a pretty cool city!)
Thanks, I’m glad you liked the blog. I agree with you about Pitlochry, it’s beautiful up there. Next time you’ll have to try and get to Scone Palace.
Both the roof of the cathedral and the castle are beautiful! It must have taken so much work and patience to incorporate so much detail. I loved all of the gorgeous scenery and learning about the history of each destination. I’ve been wanting to make a return visit to Scotland and will have to add Perthshire to my list!
Thanks, Brooke. You need a lot of time in the whole country as there is so much to see, not just in Perthshire, but everywhere. I hope you enjoy Scotland as much as I have.
I really want to explore Scotland more and now I am officially adding Perthshire to my list. Thank you.
Thanks, Nicola, I’m glad I could help. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I have.
Scotland is so blooming pretty! I would loooove to hike and see those waterfalls.
Also, Scone Palace looks amaaaaazing. Although with that name, I would feel the need to eat scones! I wonder if you can have a decent cream tea there!?
I couldn’t agree with you more, Josy, Scotland is stunning. I guess you’ll have to visit Scone Palace yourself though, to see if they have scones.
Can’t wait to finally visit Scotland
I hope you enjoy when you visit.
The painted ceiling is spectacular! I certainly have plenty of ideas for next time I visit, including seeing the fabulous Desperate Dan.
If you want to see more painted ceilings, Bernadette, when you’re here, I saw one at the gift shop in the 17th Century Town House in Culross, and another in Aberdour Castle. Hope you find them and Desperate Dan when you visit.
I love Scotland and this article is great! I rather enjoyed the description of the Black Watch.
Thanks, Heather. I hope that you get to visit the Black Watch museum one day.