Perth

Welcome to Perth

Perth may be geographically close but they are two very different cities that each offer lots for the visitor choosing Perthshire or Stirlingshire for their short break in Scotland. Dunblane is a small, quaint city with an ancient cathedral while historic Perth, framed by two attractive parks (North & South Inch) and resting along the banks of the River Tay is a much larger city. Surrounded by some of Scotland’s most famous scenery and historic monuments, Dunblane and Perth are also well placed for exploring the rest of Scotland, being less than 1 hours drive from Glasgow in the west and Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital, in the east.

Things to do in and around Perth

Surrounded by stunning scenery visitors to Dunblane can’t help being captivated by its small town charm, the winding streets of its centre have the feel of a picture postcard and lead to the impressive Dunblane Cathedral, a stunning masterpiece dating back centuries. The city’s famous hotel, the Dunblane Hydro, was established back in 1878 as a destination to take advantage of the reputed medicinal properties of the area’s water, it still thrives to this day offering a leisure club and the city’s only indoor pool. In neighbouring Stirling there are yet more attractions to be enjoyed, including Stirling Castle, one of Scotland’s finest and the tribute to William Wallace, one of Scotland’s heroes, the Wallace Monument. The simply unique Falkirk Wheel, the world’s first and only rotating boat lift and Blair Drummond Safari Park, the only place in Scotland where you can get up close to free roaming elephants, lions and giraffe, are both perfect options for days out with the family and are within easy reach of Dunblane and Perth. Due to its central location in Scotland, historic Perth has always been an important trading and market town, evident in its fine Georgian facades, terraces and crescents. Attractions in and around the city are plentiful from the Perth Museum & Art Gallery and Black Watch Regimental Museum of the city centre to the Caithness Glass Visitors centre on the outskirts. The city is also home to the Dewars Centre a place where you can enjoy curling, ice hockey or ice skating. Journeying away from the city will bring you to several other first class attractions including the Famous Grouse Experience. This Visit Scotland 5 star rated experience offers visitors the chance to learn more about one of Scotland’s most famous tipples, how it’s made and perhaps even sample a drop or two! Scone Palace, the seat of parliaments, the ancient crowning place of Scotland’s Kings and Queens and modern day home of Perth Racecourse, is definitely another must see in the area. Bell’s Cherrybank Gardens, home of the national heather collection with over 900 species and more besides, is another major attraction. Noah’s Ark is a specially equipped children’s soft play barn with three separate areas for different age groups.  Open all day, it’s a haven of activity where children can enjoy go-karts or even bowling in the 10 pin bowling alley while the adults relax in the café bar. With its central location Perth is also gateway to the highlands and is ideally placed for exploring the likes of Inverness and Aviemore, home of Scotland’s ski centre in the winter months. In terms of outdoor pursuits there is so much to offer in and around Dunblane and Perth from quad biking or hiking through the Perthshire hills to enjoying a picnic and sailing in the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park. Of course this guide wouldn’t be complete unless we mentioned golf. This area of Scotland has more than its fair share of courses, all of different shapes and sizes from the Dunblane New Golf Club to the prestigious Gleneagles.

Evenings out in Perth

While evenings out in Dunblane are a fairly laid back affair consisting of good food, good wine and good conversation, the neighbouring city of Stirling offers a livelier pace with a whole host of bars, restaurants and nightspots. Perth also offers a variety of options for a night out too; try a whole manner of restaurants ranging from the cordon bleu to old world parlour tearooms, snug and friendly pub grub to bustling bistros, enjoy a drink in one of the many bars, take a trip to Perth Royal Concert or dance the night away in one of the nightspots.

Shopping in Perth

Shopping in Dunblane and Perth offers two very contrasting experiences. Dunblane’s narrow cobbled streets offers a collection independent shops selling everything from arts and crafts to local produce and antiques, there are a few high street names too. While in Perth’s centre the pedestrianised High Street and St John’s Shopping Centre offers all the major brands you would expect and a few you may not. In the surrounding attractive streets you’ll find a wide variety of specialist retailers and a number of markets going on throughout the year including the Perth Farmers Market. Stirling is a good choice for a spot of retail therapy too with the recently extended Thistle Shopping Centre and the Sterling Mills Designer Outlet Village.

Fascinating fact
During much of the medieval period Perth was known as ‘St. Johnstone’, or ‘St. John's Toun’, a name still preserved in the city's football club, St. Johnstone FC!

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