Campsites in Perthshire

Perthshire has much to offer with its fantastic countryside and walks, friendly, picturesque towns and villages and rich history. It borders lovely Loch Lomond, has the kind of great golf courses that Scotland is so known for and is brimming with green landscapes.

Our favourite things to do:

• Scone Palace
• Blair Castle
• Perth
• Black Watch Museum

Highland towns and beauty spots 

Turn your attention to the city that gave its name to this county. Branklyn Garden overlooks the city of Perth and its attractive setting on the Tay, home to rare and exotic plants and flowers. Browse Perth's great shopping along George Street, nibble in its tasty restaurants and then let the kids make a splash - Perth Leisure Pool has flumes and slides to win them over. A quick drive will also take you to Phoenix Falconry where there are over 60 incredible birds to watch and you can book an experience as a falconer for the day.

Pitlochry's also set on a river and the water offers a real treat - Pitlochry Dam and Fish Ladder. You might have seen salmon leap but have you watched them struggle their way to the top of a steep climb? Make time for this attractive town to find out why it was such a favourite for Queen Victoria.

Ten miles north of this you come across iconic local shopping, and no trip is really complete without buying some of the things that only Scotland can do well. At House of Bruar you'll be treated to fabulous tweeds and the finest local flavours in gorgeous hampers.

Talking of flavour, one of the most popular ways to see all the area has to offer is with the distilleries trail, taking you through a tour of its tipples.  There are six in total in Perthshire to explore, but Dewar's in Aberfeldy has an excellent whisky lounge and cafe and the Edradour Distillery is the perfect pintsize place to finish - it's Scotland's smallest distillery. 

Grab your walking boots

Fantastic walks can be had around Loch Tay, Moncreiffe Island, Loch Lubnaig, and Kinnoull where excellent views, stunning scenery and spotting local wildlife will keep your busy. Climbing Ben Vrackie which towers over the town of Pitlochry is also a popular challenge and it'll all be worth it once you reach the top.

Perthshire's rolling hills and cool rivers are sure to get you moving. For woodland trails, Black Spout Wood close to the Blair Athol Distillery in Pitlochry is one of the highlights, where red squirrels can often be glimpsed and the shady woods look like a fairy glen. In this area is a glistening waterfall, with its own viewing platform - so you can take the selfie of a lifetime. Of course, rounding it off with a fiery tipple is a great idea. 

Not too far from town is Queens View, where the views are quite simply fit for royalty, and the tea room is the icing on the cake.

If you like a feast for the eyes to keep you motivated on a ramble, toddle off on the public art trail beside the River Tay from Perth, with 22 quirky sculptures to keep your legs pumping.

Of course, they don't call Perthshire 'big tree country' for nothing and to really understand the nickname you need to take a wander beside Fortingall, where a yew tree is Europe's oldest and an ancient part of the Birnam Wood that Shakespeare mentioned can still be seen.

Is that all sounding a bit too tame? What you need is wild ride with Highland Safaris. Whether you hop into a quad bike, zoom in a 4 x 4 or take a helicopter ride, it's an opportunity to see rare Scottish wild cats, deer, predatory birds and much more.

What next? Well you might tee off a few holes at the top Gleneagles resort or swoop down the slopes - the Glenshee Ski Centre is ideal for snowboarding too.

'Thistle' do nicely!

Perthshire really is the cream of the crop when it comes to turreted towers and crenellated castles. Blair Castle is a gem which still holds Europe's last private army and has a history steeped in intrigue from the Jacobite rebellion - and an adventure playground that the kids will be jumping for joy over.

Tour the walled gardens at Castle Menzies and be on the look out for stunning wildlife at Elcho Castle. Butterflies wander Elcho's orchard and barn owls and bats are often spotted. Strathallan Castle isn't just the hot venue for T in the Park in summer, it's also top for outdoor fans with fishing, falconry and even quad biking to get your engine revving.

Huntingtower Castle is worth a trip, while Dunkeld House offers lovely grounds to admire, and Dunkeld Cathedral is also a must see. Don't forget that it's not only Macbeth who was haunted by Glamis Castle - it's also know as one of the most haunted spots in Scotland.

For a look at an even older time, St Serfs Church in Dunning is another impressive building. It's home to a fantastic tower which dates back to the 12th century and Dupplin Cross, a Pictish carving from the 9th century. 

The Black Watch Museum, tucked into Balhousie Castle, celebrates the elite British Black Watch regiment, in a dramatic and eerie setting. Have a nosey in the military exhibitions, explore their history and finish it all off with some finger food in the tea room.

Who could mention castles without giving full credit to the Scone Palace - the iconic crowning place of Scottish kings. Walk in the footsteps of those royals, stroll the dazzling palace with its views of the Grampians and get lost in the maze.

And if you really want to get into this area's history Scottish Crannog Centre is the spot. It'll bring alive exactly what the Iron Age was like and when the kids have had their fill, there's a great picnic spot for hungry tummies.