Tour Perthshire In Scotland For Its Scenery, Whisky Distilleries & More

Officially titled the County of Perth, Perthshire nestles in central Scotland. What makes it a wonderful place to visit is its beautiful scenery, with mountains and lochs, its quaint towns and villages and its whisky distilleries. Moreover, travelers can enjoy a stay in traditional and often historic bed & breakfasts. Another great option is the beautiful Scottish manor houses available as the perfect vacation stay.

About Perthshire in Scotland

Perthshire is so scenically gorgeous, Sir Walter Scott once dubbed it, “The fairest portion of the northern kingdom,” and he was right. The county is renowned for its combination of bleak moors, endless forests and serene glens. Moreover, Perthshire offers beautiful lochs, rivers and waterfalls to visit.

To get an idea of its location, Perthshire’s boundaries stretch from the Pass of Drumochter in the north, to Aberfoyle in the south. It also stretches to Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west and Strathmore in the east.

Adventure activities

Perthshire offers a range of options for adventurous travelers including hiking through its spectacular wilderness. Meanwhile, mountaineers can try their hand at scaling awesome peaks like Schiehallion and Ben Lawers.

Visitors who enjoy the world of animals can spot the majestic red deer, while bird lovers will spot various species in their natural environment, including soaring ospreys.

Perthshire is accommodating

A good range of hotel accommodation is available in the cities and towns of Perthshire, along with quaint and sometimes historic bed & breakfasts. Meanwhile, to get a true feeling of the culture of Scotland, a stay in one of the beautifully restored Scottish manor homes comes highly recommended, surrounded by beautifully manicured gardens.

Some manor houses nestle on beautiful lochs, backed by stunning mountain views. This type of accommodation is perfect for international travelers to get a true taste of the country’s past while appreciating all the modern amenities available.

Visit the city of Perth

While in Perthshire, a visit to the county capital, Perth, is a must. The beautiful and historic city nestles on the River Tay and features many options for lovers of culture. Visitors can appreciate the paintings of the 20th-century Scottish Colorist John Duncan Fergusson and his wife, dancer Margaret Morris at the Fergusson Gallery. This striking gallery is housed in the former, circular water tower of the city. Another art gallery of interest is the nearby Perth Museum and Art Gallery.

History lovers can appreciate the Black Watch Museum, housed at the Black Watch regiment’s ancestral home in Balhousie Castle. Exhibits here include weapons, uniforms, paintings and medals relating to Scotland’s oldest Highland Regiment.

Perthshire’s whisky distilleries

Scotland is renowned for its whisky, and lovers of the tipple can visit several famous distilleries in Perthshire. One is Glenturret Distillery, which dates back to 1775 and is said to be the oldest working distillery in the country. It lies two miles outside of Crieff in the countryside and, to this day, continues to use traditional mashing by hand and cutting by eye while using water from Loch Turret.

Another is Blair Athol Distillery, which is among the oldest of its kind in Scotland. It was first established in Pitlochry back in 1798 by John Stewart and Robert Robertson. The whisky distillery has changed hands several times since then and was closed for a while during World War II. However, it reopened in 1949 and is today known for its 12-year-old Blair Athol single malt whisky.

Make sure to visit Perthshire on your next vacation in Scotland to experience the scenery, villages and towns and the best Scotch whisky.