What's on inPerthshire

Few regions can rival Perthshire for sheer variety of terrain and the breathtaking majesty of its landscapes. From the desolate and wild beauty of the beguiling Glen Lyon Valley to the calm of Loch Tay and from the stunning empty expanse of Rannoch Moor to the lakes and lush forest valleys in the east this is a truly wondrous landscape.

Perthshire was actually abolished as a county in 1975 by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and carved up between the Central and Tayside Regions. This was also changed in 1996 so that the area covered by the original county was divided between Stirling, Clackmannanshire and Perth and Kinross. Nevertheless, many people still refer to the region as Perthshire and the tourism board markets the Perthshire Tourist Route.

At its heart this tourist route is made up of the stunning scenery in the region, with Kinross and Loch Leven at its center. Loch Leven is eerily beautiful and is a famous trout-fishing destination. It has the RSPB Vane Farm Nature Reserve on its shores and Leven Castle sits on an island in the Loch. Other beautiful spots include the Ochil Hills which feature some spectacular walking trails and the fantastic wooded gorge at Killecrankie, scene of a famous battle in 1689. Indeed nearly all of the most beautiful spots offer castles or ruins en route.

Perthshire has its fair share of historic sites, from Blair Castle to the 16th century Castle Menzies, from the Cathedral town of Dunkeld (with sites dating back to the 9th century) to Scone Palace, (ancient crowning site of Scottish Royalty) and Huntintower Castle with the gorgeous Branklyn Garden. Seemingly then, Perthshire has it all, but to top it off, it also offers the most famous golf course in the world at Gleneagles.