Perthshire: Scotland’s Garden County

Perthshire is one of Scotland’s most surprising regions – a county of rolling hills, magnificent gardens, historic castles, and unexpectedly mild climate that makes it Scotland’s garden heartland. Often overlooked for the Highlands or Edinburgh, Perthshire rewards those who take the time. From Scone Palace to Glamis Castle, from magnificent gardens to peaceful countryside, this region offers a different side of Scotland – gentler, greener, and beautifully preserved.

The Royal Heartland

Perth

Perth is Scotland’s ancient capital and remains one of its most elegant towns. Sitting at the confluence of the River Tay, Perth has beautiful riverside walks and historic architecture.

What you’ll see:

• Perth Museum and Art Gallery – Excellent collections
• Kinnoull Hill – Woodland with spectacular views over Tay
• Fair Maid’s House – Historic house (though the story is literary)
• River Tay walks – Beautiful riverside paths

Why visit: Perth is the heart of Perthshire – a good base for exploring the wider region.

Scone Palace

The crowning place of Scottish kings – where monarchs were inaugurated on the Stone of Scone (now in Edinburgh Castle, but the palace remains).

What you’ll see:

• The palace – Gothic Revival mansion (1808)
• The grounds – Beautiful parkland with spectacular views
• Moot Hill – Where kings were crowned
• The chapel – Beautiful interior

Why it matters: Scone represents the political heart of medieval Scotland. Understanding Scone is understanding Scottish monarchy.

Practical: Allow 2-3 hours. The grounds are spectacular for walking.

The Castles

Glamis Castle

One of Scotland’s most famous castles – childhood home of the Queen Mother and setting for Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

What you’ll see:

• The castle – Magnificent tower house evolved over centuries
• The gardens – Formal and informal gardens
• The Duncan’s Hall – With Macbeth connections

Why it matters: Glamis is one of Scotland’s most atmospheric castles, with royal connections and literary associations.

Blair Castle

Seat of the Dukes of Atholl, this castle is remarkable for its white colour and impressive collection.

What you’ll see:

• The castle – White-painted castle with distinctive appearance
• Diana’s Grove – Remarkable collection of trees
• The Atholl Highlanders – Britain’s only private army (ceremonial role)

Why visit: Blair Castle tells the story of one of Scotland’s most powerful families.

Other Castles

Huntingtower Castle – Near Perth, interesting smaller castle. Loch Leven Castle – Island castle where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned (access by boat).

The Gardens

Perthshire’s Gardens

Perthshire’s mild climate (compared to much of Scotland) makes it ideal for gardening. Several gardens are exceptional:

Drummond Gardens – Renaissance-style gardens with dramatic terracing.

Branklyn Gardens – Beautiful small gardens with alpine plants and water features.

Explorers’ Garden – Pitlochry, showcasing plants brought to Scotland by plant hunters.

Why Gardens Matter

Perthshire’s gardens show Scotland’s botanical enthusiasm. The plant hunters who explored the world (particularly Himalayas) often settled in Perthshire, creating gardens that are world-class.

The Countryside

Highland Boundary Fault

Perthshire straddles the Highland Boundary Fault – geological line dividing Lowlands from Highlands. You can see this in the landscape – rolling hills in the south, mountains beginning in the north.

River Tay

Scotland’s longest river flows through Perthshire. The Tay valley is beautiful and was historically important for transport and trade.

Pitlochry – Charming Highland town on the Tay, with dam and fish ladder.

The Trossachs

Southwest corner of Perthshire, this area has spectacular scenery – mountains, lochs, and glens.

Callander – Gateway to Trossachs and Loch Lomond (technically in different region but close).

Planning Your Visit

Getting There

By train: Perth Station is on ScotRail’s Highland main line – 1 hour from Edinburgh, 1 hour 30 from Glasgow.

By car: M90 from Edinburgh, M9/A9 from Glasgow. Good road network.

By bus: Regular services to main towns, but car is useful for exploring countryside.

Best Time

Spring: Gardens are spectacular, countryside is green.

Summer: Best weather for exploring, but can be busy.

Autumn: Spectacular colours, especially in gardens and woodland.

Winter: Quieter, some gardens closed, but castles often open year-round.

Duration

Day trip: Perth, one castle, one garden.

Weekend: Add more castles, explore countryside, maybe distillery visit.

Perthshire break: Use as base for exploring wider region.

Practical Tips

For Garden Lovers

Scone Palace combines castle and gardens.

Visit multiple gardens – Each has different character.

Consider timing – Spring and early summer are peak garden season.

For Castle Visitors

Glamis is the most famous – allow extra time.

Scone combines history with beautiful grounds.

Blair Castle offers something different – white castle and ceremonial Highlanders.

For General Visitors

Perth makes a good base – accommodation, restaurants, central location.

Allow driving time – Distances seem short but roads can be winding.

Combine with whisky – Several distilleries are in or near Perthshire.

Beyond Perthshire

St Andrews

Just east of Perthshire, St Andrews is Scotland’s university town and golf capital.

Dundee

To the east, Dundee has excellent museums (V&A Dundee) and historic centre.

Angus

Adjacent region, with similar character – castles, countryside, coast.

The Perthshire Story

What makes Perthshire special is the combination of gentle landscape and rich heritage. This isn’t the dramatic Highland scenery that draws most tourists – it’s something different – rolling hills, fertile valleys, and a milder climate that nurtured both gardens and royal ambition.

The royal connections (Scone Palace, Glamis Castle) show this region’s importance in Scottish history. The gardens show a different side of Scottish culture – one that’s horticulturally ambitious and botanically curious.

Final Thoughts

Perthshire deserves more attention than it gets. The gardens are world-class, the castles are atmospheric, and the countryside is gentle and beautiful. This isn’t about dramatic Highlands or Edinburgh’s grandeur – it’s about experiencing a different, quieter side of Scotland.

Whether you’re interested in gardens, castles, or just pleasant countryside exploration, Perthshire delivers. The mild climate created conditions for magnificent gardens, and the royal history created spectacular castles.

Come for the gardens, stay for the castles, and leave understanding why Perthshire is called Scotland’s garden county. This is Scotland at its gentle, green, and unexpectedly beautiful.