Places to visit
With so many places to visit from Duncrub Holidays, it is impossible to list them all. You might like to consider investigating the discounts available by booking ahead. You will find an ample supply of tourist information in Tower House and Chapel House. Scroll down the page for a selection of popular visits, not all in Perthshire, listed under headings:
Castles and Churches
Gardens, Walks and nature reserves
Distilleries
Visitor attractions and centres
Art Galleries
Entertainments and Food
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and other popular visits
Scottish Explorer Ticket– Holders get unlimited entry to over 60 of Scotland’s top heritage visitor attractions including Edinburgh, Stirling and Urquhart Castles. You can purchase a 3-day, 7-day or 14-day pass, or a family ticket.
Great Houses of Scotland – This group offers a good deal with at least 4 of the visits within easy reach for visitors to the Perthshire area. Buy an adult or family ticket. Scone Palace, Blair Castle, Glamis Castle, Thirlstane Castle, Traquair, Ballindalloch Castle, Dunrobin Castle, Glenturret Distillery and Dewar’s World of Whisky. Tickets may be purchased at any one of the attractions.
Perthshire Gardens Collection – A season ticket offers entry to 9 unique gardens – tickets may be purchased at any of the gardens in the scheme, which include Bell’s Cherrybank, Drummond Castle, Scottish Plant Collectors Garden, Branklyn Garden (NTS Members will have free entry here), Blair Castle, Scone Palace and Glendoick Garden Centre.
Scotland’s Garden Scheme – Each year some 350 Scottish gardens, most of them privately owned, open their gates to the public under the banner of Scotland’s Gardens Scheme. Founded in 1931, it is an independent charity and the money raised from garden visitors supports two main beneficiaries – the Queen’s Nursing Institute (Scotland) and the Gardens Fund of NTS.
The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) – Consider membership which will give you access to some of Scotland’s greatest country houses and fortified castles, along with many of the nation’s finest gardens, the battle sites of Bannockburn and Culloden with this excellent interpretative centres, and conservation sites such as Ben Lawers, Ben Lomond, Cairngorms and Glencoe.
Scotland’s Churches Scheme – Many of Scotland’s most important buildings re abbeys and churches – not just the great and expansive, but also the small and humble which are often found in the most beautiful and tranquil of settings. They all represent the rich cultural background of Scotland and the diversity of the nation.
Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe Festival annually in August. To book tickets call 0131 473 200 or from overseas +44 131 473 200 or book online.
Edinburgh Military Tattoo tickets for this annual event are available online from early December.
Scottish Highland Games – A guide to Games which are held in Scotland, with contacts, links, results, and information on the events.
To hire a guide for a day, the Scottish Tourist Guides Association are the accrediting body for all Scottish Blue Badge Guides, and can guide in 18 languages throughout Scotland.
Castles and Churches
Blair Castle – Turreted baronial castle dating from 1269. Home to the Duke of Atholl and the Atholl Highlanders.
Scone Palace – 19th century restoration of 16th century and earlier buildings – the home of the Stone of Destiny now housed in Edinburgh Castle.
Elcho Castle – The historic family seat of the Wemyss Family
Huntingtower Castle – built by the Ruthven family in the
15thC
Castle Menzies – Aberfeldy. 16th century fortified tower house.
Balvaird Castle – Castle ruins used in the filming of Macbeth.
Loch Leven Castle – Castle ruins where Mary, Queen of Scotswas imprisoned in 1567.
Dunkeld Cathedral The former ecclesiastical heart of Scotland set on the banks of teh River Tay, with ruins of pre-reformation cathedral nearby. The church has an informative exhibition. Tomb of the infamous Wolf of Badenoch is here.
St John’s Kirk where John Knox gave his famous sermon in 1559
Scroll down for more castles in the Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and other popular visits section.
Gardens, walks and nature reserves
NTS Branklyn Garden– Perth. Wonderful two acres of garden, collections of rhododendrons, azaleas and specialist plants.
Rodney Gardens – Perth. Pleasant formal garden in the grounds of the Rodney Pavilion and close to the Norie Miller Riverside Walk.
Kinnoull Hill Woodland Park – Woodland walks and views across Perth to the Tay and beyond.
Quarrymill Woodland Park – Outdoor activities north of Perth.
Norie Miller Riverside Walk – Walk along the banks of the Tay through landscaped gardens.
Cluny House Gardens – Aberfeldy. Woodland garden with many specimen trees, shrubs and rhododendrons.
Blair Castle – Hercules Garden
Explorers Garden – Pitlochry
Glendoick Gardens – world famous rhododendron collection
Scone Palace – famous arborteum
University of Dundee Botanic Garden
Moncrieffe Hill Wood – Two miles south of Perth. 333 acre wood with magnificent views and plenty of wildlife.
Perth’s North Inch “The playground of Perth” a recreation and park area by the River Tay.
Macrosty Park – Crieff’s oasis for all the family.
NTS The Hermitage near Dunkeld – Mixed conifer and deciduous woodlands with folly built in 1758 called Ossian’s Hall. Good easy to follow walks, and if lucky you may see salmon jumping up the falls.
Drummond Castle Gardens near Crieff. One of the finest formal gardens in Europe. Created in the early 17th century.
The Calyx – a new garden project still in the design phase but set to be on the western outskirts of Perth. It will be the national showcase for the very best in modern horticulture and the art of garden design.
Bell’s Cherrybank Heather Garden – Perth. Garden devoted to Scotland’s ubiquitous shrub.
The Bruar Falls – 3 miles to the west of Blair Atholl River Bruar cascades down through rocky chasms and over great gleaming slabs of granite (visited by Robert Burns).
NTS The Pass of Killiecrankie and the Soldier’s Leap – Splended wooded gorge with the famous Soldier’s Leap – a 54ft jump made by one of Mackay’s soldiers to escape from the Highlanders
NTS Ben Lawers, Perthshire’s highest mountain (3984ft) with views from the Atlantic to the North Sea.
Loch of the Lowes – Nature Reserve where ospreys can be seen from a hide.
RSPB Vane Farm near Kinross On the southern shores of Loch Leven discover the many variety of migratory birds.
Visitor Attractions and Centres
Perthshire Visitor Centre – Tel : 01738-787696 Incorporating the Macbeth Experience, restaurant and shops.
Caithness Glass – home of Scottish glassmaking. Using traditional paperweight manufacturing techniques such as millefiori and lampwork.
House of Bruar – a centre for excellence for Scottish produce
Drummond Trout Farm & Fishery – Feed the fish, enjoy the views and wildlife or catch your supper.
Auchingarrich Wildlife Centre – Lovely wildlife centre set in 100 acres of beautiful Perthshire hills near Comrie.
Crieff Visitor Centre – Craft centre well known for its paperweights and pottery. The Crieff Visitor Centre hosts the ‘Highland Drovers’ an audio visual presentation which takes you to the Crieff Tryst in 1723
Stuart Crystal – Tel 01764-654004 Crystal and china emporium.
Perth Mart Visitors Centre – Tel : 01738-474170 Highland Farm Life Show and Animal Farm adjacent to the famous Perth Auction Market. The Scottish Antiques Centre – at Abernyte (between Perth and Dundee) and also at Doune, Stirlingshire
Highland Adventure Safaris – The safaris are differentiated between 4×4 driving like glentarkie and mad4x4it and highland safaris which are an exciting cultural and natural history experience into some of scotland most unspoilt mountains reaching heights of nearly 3000′. Explore the deer park, and have a go gold panning!
Splash White Water Rafting – Enjoy river rafting in Perthshire
Visits of Historic interest
Innerpeffray Library – The oldest public library in Scotland, founded in 1690.
St Serf’s Church , Dunning. Former church with 13th century Norman tower and now home to a Pictish Cross called the Dupplin cross. Managed by Historic Scotland
Comrie Earthquake House Built in 1874 to house one of the earliest seismometers in the world – still has a modern working instrument.
NTS National Trust Houses in Dunkeld dating from 1689. Ell Shop at Dunkeld
The Scottish Crannog Centre – at Kenmore, Loch Tay Travel back in time 2,500 years to see how crannog dwellers lived.
Abernethy Round Tower – Slender tapering tower, 74ft high, dates from the 9th century
Scottish Tartan Museum – Over 1300 tartans. Look up your name and discover which tartan you are eligible to wear.
The Black Watch Regimental Museum – Housed in Balhousie Castle, Perth – the museum has more than 250 years of military history.
The Fortingall Yew in the churchyard at the village of Fortingall, just north of Loch Tay, the Fortingall Yew is said to pre-date the birth of Christ, with some saying it dates back 9000 years.
Distilleries
The Famous Grouse Experience– at Scotland’s Oldest Distillery, BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards – Winner 2002.
Tullibardine Distillery – nestles at the foot of the Ochil Hills in Perthshire, where the Highlands of Scotland begin.
Blair Athol Distillery – and Visitor Centre is located on the Southern Edge of Pitlochry. Founded in 1798 distilling the malt whisky that goes into Bell’s scotch whisky.
Edradour Distillery – Scotland’s smallest distillery and last one to produce a handcrafted malt.
Art Galleries
Fergusson Gallery– Converted former waterworks (1832) containing the most extensive collection of J.D.Fergusson’s paintings.
Perth Museum and Art Gallery – Ideal for a wet day, includes Scottish colourists.
Entertainment and Food
Pitlochry Festival Theatre – Drama, concerts and foyer events all year
The Horesecross – Perth’s Concert Hall and Theatre
Music in Perthshire – All the latest news from the local music scene. Up to the minute details of concerts and ceilidhs.
The Birnam Institute – Community facility for the Arts, Crafts, Drama, Concerts, Exhibitions, Dances etc with Cafeteria and bar.
Dundee Rep Theatre provides Drama, Dance, Plays, Entertainment, Musicals and is Scotland’s only ensemble based theatre company.
Scottish Country Dancing
The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society Perth and Perthshire Branch Summer Season – Scottish country dancing held every Tuesday night from early June until the end of August – spectate or join in.
Scottish Nights
At Pitlochry Town Hall, Thursday evenings from end of June to end September enjoy a “Scottish Night Out” of family entertainment every Thursday. Includes Scottish humour, singing and dancing. Telephone – 01796 473866 for details
Food
Sample some of Scotland’s fine produce by visiting a farmers’ market . The Perth market takes place on the first Saturday of the month.
Discover the Taste gets together with some of the finest producers, shops, chefs and restaurants to bring you exciting Gourmet Events including tasting sessions, meet the chef events, cookery demonstrations and much more.
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and other popular visits
To visit Edinburgh without a car we suggest several options –
Park and Ride from Inverkeithing, just north of the Forth Road Bridge
Train from Gleneagles or Dunblane (more frequent)
Bus from the western edge of Perth – there are bargains to be had if you book ahead with www.megabus.com
“Find your feet” in Edinburgh by taking a multi language commentary “ Classic Tour ” on open-topped double-decker buses where you get on and off as you please. The Castle, the Royal Mile the Museum of Childhood, Holyrood Park at foot of Arthur’s Seat (a good climb if you have the time) and behind The Palace of Holyroodhouse. Close by is the Queen’s Gallery, the new Scottish Parliament (you’ll have to book ahead if you want a tour) and Dynamic Earth where you can travel back from the present day to the beginning of time. Galleries to visit include the Gallery of Modern Art, the National Gallery, Chambers Street Museum, the new Museum of Scotland. There’s a bus that you can take between Galleries – just hop on and off in your own time. Don’t miss a walk along Princes Street, the graceful Georgian architecture of the “New Town”: Visit the Nations Trust for Scotland’s, 28 Charlotte Square. The world-famous Botanic Gardens are stunning and do take time to visit the Royal yacht “Britannia” now permanently berthed at Leith – a bustling part of the town with many interesting places to eat.
To visit Glasgow without a car we suggest several options –
Train from Gleneagles or Dunblane (more frequent)
Bus from the western edge of Perth – there are bargains to be had if you book ahead with www.megabus.com
Glasgow is a vibrant city with many visitor attractions. Outstanding amongst a wealth of museums is the Burrell Museum. Enjoy a walk in the grounds there and Pollok House. There is easy parking here. Also, House for an Art Lover and see designs inspired by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Glasgow Cathedral, built during the 13th to 15th centuries and the only medieval cathedral on the Scottish mainland to have survived the 1560 Reformation virtually complete. George Square, the Hunterian Gallery, the MacLellan Galleries and the Glasgow Science Centre. The People’s Palace is Glasgow’s social history museum and a chance to see the story of the people and city of Glasgow from 1750 to the present.
Explore Stirling and “Braveheart” country. Stirling Castle is sited above the old town. A Visitor Centre stands on the site at Bannockburn where Scotland won independence in 1314 following Robert the Bruce’s victory over English forces. See also the Wallace Monument at Bridge of Allan, a tribute to Scotland’s first freedom fighter whose struggle to free Scotland from England’s occupation was portrayed in the Oscar-winning movie, Braveheart.
When over at Stirling it’s a lovely drive over towards the Trossachs and Loch Lomond National Park.
East from Duncrub Holidays is Dundee where you should certainly not miss out a visit to Discovery Point, Captain Scott’s famous polar exploration ship RRS Discovery. Travel south over the Tay Road Bridge towards St Andrews , ancient University coastal town and “Home of Golf” in the Kingdom of Fife. Apart from the picturesque coastal trail to Anstruther and its Fisheries Museum, Crail, St Monans and Ellie, you can take a boat trip out to the Isle of May to see puffins and other seabirds. Visit Kellie Castle, Hill of Tarvit and Falkland Palace, hunting palace of the Stuart Kings.
Travelling towards the North East, and hour’s drive will take you to the fairy-tale Glamis Castle, birthplace of the late Queen Mother. A fascinating visit to do on the same day is the nearby Angus Folk Museum. At nearby Kirriemuir you can visit J M Barrie’s birthplace. North from Blairgowrie is a spectacular drive over Glenshee (ski-ing in winter) to Braemar, Balmoral Castle, Ballater and beyond. The scenery is quite different here – see the spectacular mountains of Lochnagar and Mount Keen and admire the Scot’s Pine Forests and the River Dee. There’s a great selection of castles, all open under the National Trust for Scotland banner – Craigievar, Crathes, Haddo, Pitmedden.
Heading North you can reach Aviemore in1.5 hour’s drive and Inverness in 2 hours. Many visitors take a spectacular day out by driving north to Inverness, down Loch Ness side to Fort William, through Glen Coe and back by Crianlarich, Loch Earn and Crieff – it’s all possible!
Whatever you decide to do during your stay, you’ll find no day long enough and we hope you will certainly want to return.