Perthshire
Big tree country. The Hermitage. Ben Lawers. Pitlochry and Dunkeld. The landscape between Highlands and Lowlands that everyone drives through and nobody spends enough time in.
Best Time
Year-round
Recommended Stay
1 – 2 Days
Getting There
1.5 hrs from Edinburgh
Known For
Forests, rivers & Victorian charm
Perthshire gets called "Big Tree Country" for a reason — the Hermitage has Douglas firs over 60 metres tall, some of the highest trees in the UK. But it\'s more than forest. The Ben Lawers range is a cluster of Munros south of Loch Tay. The villages — Pitlochry, Dunkeld, Aberfeldy — have the Victorian charm that Fort William and Inverness lack. And it\'s an hour and a half from Edinburgh. If you want a taste of the Highlands without the long drive, start here.
What to See & Do
The Hermitage
An 18th-century folly overlooking the Black Linn Falls on the River Braan. The woodland is ancient Douglas firs — some of the tallest trees in Britain. Ossian's Hall is a tiny viewing platform built specifically to impress 18th-century visitors with the drama of the waterfall. It still works. 30-minute walk from the car park.
💡 Free. Off the A9 near Dunkeld. The circular walk takes about an hour.
Ben Lawers
The highest mountain in the southern Highlands (1,214m) and one of the best Munros for beginners. The path from the Ben Lawers car park starts at 400m, so you're only climbing 800m instead of the usual 1,000+. Views across Loch Tay and the Breadalbane range.
💡 The car park is the highest in Scotland at 422m. £2 honesty box. The Nature Trail is a gentler alternative.
Pitlochry
A Victorian spa town that still feels like one. The Festival Theatre, the salmon ladder at the dam (free, genuinely interesting), and the main street with its independent shops. Good lunch stop between Edinburgh and the Cairngorms. The Moulin Inn outside town has been serving ale since 1695.
💡 The fish ladder is best April-October when salmon are running. Free to watch.
Dunkeld & Birnam
Twin villages on the River Tay connected by a bridge built by Thomas Telford in 1809. Dunkeld Cathedral sits on the riverbank. The Birnam Oak is supposedly the last remnant of Birnam Wood from Macbeth. The Atholl Arms does a good pub lunch.
💡 Walk the riverside path from Dunkeld Cathedral to the Hermitage — about 3 miles each way along the Tay.
Queen's View
The most famous viewpoint in Perthshire, looking west along Loch Tummel to the distinctive cone of Schiehallion. Named after Queen Victoria (or possibly Queen Isabella in the 14th century — historians disagree). Either way, the view is spectacular. Visitor centre with café.
💡 Free viewpoint. Car park £3. Best in autumn when the surrounding forests turn gold.