Visitor Information For Perth City and Towns

There is a wide range of safe and secure, short-stay and long-stay car parks within the city centre and our surrounding towns and villages. We also advise making use of the two Park & Ride facilities connected to Perth city centre.

https://www.pkc.gov.uk/article/17971/Parking-in-Perth-and-Kinross

If you are exploring the great Perthshire countryside please bear in mind that your rights to roam under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code does not extend to motorised activities. With that said, we know that many visitors use their cars to reach the remote areas that make our region such a popular destination for walkers, cyclists and hikers, and so we offer this advice. Please use your car in a considerate manner. It is important not to cause damage or create an obstruction. This handy checklist will allow you to park your vehicle in remote locations, safe in the knowledge that you’ve done your best.

• You are not blocking an entrance to a field or building
• You are not making it difficult for other people, including emergency vehicles, to use a road or track
• You have given thought and regard to the safety of others
• You have not damaged the verge or hedgerows

Forestry and Land Scotland Car Parks

In addition to this, Forestry and Land Scotland have an abundance of car parks at many Perth and Kinross forest trails. The aim is to help visitors access the forests they manage and all the walks, trails, picnic areas, viewpoints, visitor centres, adventure and other activities available in them. There is a charge for parking at some of these car parks, to help maintain these facilities and look after the forests and wildlife.

You can find out the parking charge (if applicable), how to purchase an Annual Pass, and which car parks have accessible parking bays by visiting https://forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/car-parking.

Clearways In Perth & Kinross

Clearways help to ease traffic congestion at popular beauty spots and natural attractions, ensuring that these rural roads remain safe for our visitors and residents. Within each clearway, it is a traffic violation to stop on the road for any reason other than an emergency, making it a parking restriction, rather than an access restriction.

This means that you can still access the beautiful countryside across the whole area, but the road remains clear for emergency vehicles and service vehicles, and is safe for walkers, cyclists, wheelchair users and young families with pushchairs.
Clearway restrictions are currently in place at the following locations:

• Linn Road, Stanley
• Clunie Loch, Blairgowrie
• Marlee Loch, Blairgowrie
• Foss Road, South Loch Tummel
• Invervar, Glenlyon
• Braes of Foss, Tummel Bridge

For more information regarding the rural clearways please visit https://www.pkc.gov.uk/article/21821/Parking-restrictions-on-country-roads

Perth is located in the heart of Scotland and is super-easy to reach by car, bus and train. Once here, we know you'll want to visit other parts of our glorious region and the good news is, that's simple too.

Our train station and bus station are both within walking distance of the city centre; just a quick-five minute stroll will have you amongst the fantastic shops, bars and restaurants that make Perth such a popular day out – or, you can connect here for onward travel to one of our eleven beautiful towns.

See Travel To and Within Perthshire > https://www.perthcityandtowns.co.uk/section/explore-perthshire/travel-to-and-in-perthshire

As a region, we are committed to becoming one of Europe’s most sustainable small cities and we’d like to thank you for playing your part in reducing emissions. We have a growing number of EV charge points across Perth city and towns, link roads and motorways and this is increasing all the time.

For a full list, check the website here https://www.pkonthego.co.uk/electricvehicles/

A day trip or cycling break is a wonderful way to enjoy the stunning scenery of Perthshire and with electric bikes now easily transported from home to holiday, and various hire options across the area, there has never been a better time to get out on two wheels! 

Highland Perthshire Cycling have installed Ebike chargers  at the following locations:

•    Birnam Arts cafe, Birnam/Dunkeld
•    Escape Route Cafe, Pitlochry
•    Highland Safaris, Dull, near Aberfeldy
•    Comrie Croft, near Comrie

https://www.highlandperthshirecycling.com/ebikes

See also, our Be Inspired Blog on cycling in Perthshire > https://www.perthcityandtowns.co.uk/blog/be-inspired-cycling-perthshire

The freedom of the open road! Perthshire is a popular choice for motorhome and caravan enthusiasts, thanks to its glorious landscapes and easy-to-navigate road network. We’re also well connected to all major road networks in Scotland and the UK, making us the ideal start or finish point for a Scottish tour.

 For a comprehensive list of private motorhome and caravan parks and campsites see our Be Inspired Campsites and Caravans blog here.

Please do remember that motorised vehicles do not have the same rights as wild campers under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code .

Stay The Night Initiative, Forestry and Land Scotland

Motorhomes and campervans that are self-contained (i.e. with all facilities, including toilet inside the vehicle) will be able to stay overnight at four Forestry and Land Scotland car parks from 1 April to 31 October 2023 in a continuation of the Stay the Night initiative. For full details on this, including an interactive map of all particpating car parks, please visit the dedicated page the Forestry and Land Scotland website >

Rules and Restrictions

Stay the Night operates on a first-come first-serve basis only.

No awnings, pop-up/pup/toilet or any other type of tent, or car camping is allowed. There is no pre-booking and allocated spaces are not possible.

You can stay for one night only at a time between 6pm and 10am. You should not return to the same car park to stay the night within 48 hours.

Please park safely and leave at least 4 metres between you and your neighbour.

Payment

There is a £7 charge to Stay the Night at all participating car parks. Payment can be made through RingGo with details of how to do this at each car park. You may want to download the RingGo app before you set off. Advance payment is not allowed. At sites with poor signal you’ll have up to 72 hours after your visit to pay. 

During the day, outside of the Stay the Night hours 6pm to 10am, normal car parking charges (if any) apply. 

Blue Badge holders can Stay the Night for free with a valid badge displayed.  

FLS Annual Parking Passes are not valid for Stay the Night.

Find Out More About Stay The Night in Perthshire > 

We love this question! Thank you for being responsible and caring about our beautiful area.

One of the biggest rules of touring in a campervan or motorhome is to respect your surroundings so you must take ALL of your general waste and rubbish with you to dispose of correctly.

Every campsite has general waste disposal facilities and the majority have recycling facilities too. We highly encourage you to recycle as much waste as possible.

If you are not on a campsite but need to dispose of waste, please only place bags of rubbish in larger council waste collection facilities in towns and villages. Never leave bags of rubbish beside a full bin – keep rubbish in your motorhome until it can be disposed of properly, taking it home if needed.

Most supermarkets now have recycling bins and the majority of our towns have a recycling centre.

https://www.pkc.gov.uk/recyclingcentres

At the moment we suggest visiting one of our many campsites and caravan parks.

Find more information on our Caravan and Campsites Blog here > 

Please do call ahead to ensure the park can accomodate you. 

Perth & Kinross Council operate 13 public toilets throughout the area which are a mix of unattended facilities, located mainly in smaller settlements and parks which are free to use; and attended facilities which are situated in larger towns, and have a 50p admission charge.

Regular visitors to attended facilities who have a medical condition can apply for a Public Toilet Access Pass, which allows them to use the attended facilities free of charge. Contact the Customer Service Centre on 01738 476476 to apply.

Under-fives can use facilities free of charge when accompanied by a fee-paying adult.

If you require a RADAR key for our disabled toilets, please contact the Customer Service Centre on 01738 476476. For more information, visit the RADAR website.

For more information, visit the Public Toilet page on https://www.pkc.gov.uk/publictoilets

For our less mobile visitors, we highly recommend contacting PKAVS, the charity behind the successful Shopmobility scheme in Perth city centre.

Perth Shopmobility is a PKAVS project which lends wheelchairs and scooters to people with mobility problems. Shopmobility has more than 1,600 registered users and hires out scooters and wheelchairs to more than 400 users every month. Daily hire for a few hours is free, though a donation is greatly appreciated and helps with running costs.

https://www.pkavs.org.uk/shopmobility/

You can explore most of Scotland’s outdoor land thanks to the  Scottish Outdoor Access Code, as long as you behave responsibly. This is known as access rights and is unique to Scotland. This counts for hills, moors, forests, beaches, woods, rivers and some farmland, and gives you rights to walk, cycle, climb, swim, watch wildlife and more.

•    Pick up your rubbish and other possessions
•    Go for minimal-impact camping - no fires please!
•    Keep noise to a minimum
•    Leave things as you found them
•    Don't feed the wildlife
•    Keep your dogs on a lead near livestock and pick up their poo

Find out more on how to be responsible and follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code for visitors.

Responsible travel and tourism protects the landscape and boosts the local economy, culture and diversity of the area you visit, which in turn keeps the landscape natural and beautiful for other people to enjoy in the future. By choosing to think about how you can make your trip more sustainable, you can enjoy Perth and Kinross in an environmentally friendly way. Have a think about the following before you visit us or head out for the day.

• Mode of transport: Can you take the bus or train and walk or cycle from the station?
• Parking: We appreciate some Munros are unreachable without a car! If you are driving, check which car parks and facilities are open before you venture out. Please don't park anywhere but designated parking spaces. If an area is busy, please move on and find another location to park.
•  Accommodation: Have you chosen a provider who promotes green tourism or if camping, are you following eco-camping guidelines?
• Eating Out and Buying Local: Choose a local business to shop with, sample some of our amazing local produce and eat out in one of our fabulous independent eateries. Find them all on our local independents directory.
• Activities: If you're planning a holiday around Munrobagging then check out the other activity providers and local experts in the area. 
• Local Communities: Our local people live here all year round. Please be considerate of them. Thank you!

One of the very best! In fact, it doesn’t get much better than enjoying the area with your dog by your side. All we ask is that you make sure you understand how the Scottish Outdoor Access Code affects you and your dog.

When not kept under proper control, dogs can cause distress to farm animals, may disturb wildlife and could scare other people. What’s more, dog waste spreads diseases that can affect humans, farm animals and wildlife. Simply respect the environment around you and you won’t get your dog a bad name!

• Don't take your dog into fields where there are lambs, calves or other young farm animals
• Don't take your dog into fields of vegetables or fruit unless there is a clear path, such as a core path or right of way, and keep your dog to the path
• If you go into a field of farm animals, keep your dog(s) on a short lead or close at heel and keep as far as possible from the animals
• During the breeding season (usually April-July) keep your dog on a short lead or close at heel in areas such as moorland, forests, grasslands, loch shores and the sea shore to avoid disturbing birds that nest on or near the ground
• When in recreation areas and public places avoid causing concern to others by keeping your dog close at heel or on a short lead

Always, always pick up and remove your dog's poo! 

https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/practical-guide-all/dog-walking
 

Yes, you may. And we can promise a spectacular view wherever you go. In order to make good on this promise we require all visitors to play their part. 

The Scottish Outdoor Access Code rights extend to wild camping and by that we mean camping that is lightweight, done in small numbers and only for two or three nights in any one place. Help us out by ensuring you tick these boxes:

• Do not camp in enclosed fields of crops or farm animals and keep well away from buildings, roadsand historic structures. 
• Take extra care to avoid disturbing deer stalking or grouse shooting. 
• If you wish to camp close to a house or building, seek the owner's permission. 
• Take away all your litter.
• Remove all traces of your tent pitch and of any open fire.
• Always follow the guidance for lighting fires and only light fires if you must.
• Do not cause any pollution.

Remember, The Scottish Outdoor Access Code notes that access rights do not apply to motor vehicles (see guidance on parking).

Please also be aware that whilst you might visit a place only occasionally and feel that you cause no harm, the environment may have to cope with the cumulative effect of many people. Acting with awareness and common sense is a small ask that will have a positive impact.

https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/practical-guide-all/camping

Human Waste

If you need to go, it must be at least 30 meters away from any water course. Solids should be buried with a trowel. All Wipes, paper and sanitary products should be doubled bagged and binned.

Put simply, clearways help to ease traffic congestion at popular beauty spots and natural attractions, ensuring that these rural roads remain safe for our visitors and residents. Within each clearway, it is a traffic violation to stop on the road for any reason other than an emergency, making it a parking restriction, rather than an access restriction.

This means that you can still access the beautiful countryside across the whole area, but the road remains clear for emergency vehicles and service vehicles, and is safe for walkers, cyclists, wheelchair users and young families with pushchairs.
Clearway restrictions are currently in place at the following locations:

• Linn Road, Stanley
• Clunie Loch, Blairgowrie
• Marlee Loch, Blairgowrie
• Foss Road, South Loch Tummel
• Invervar, Glenlyon
• Braes of Foss, Tummel Bridge

For more information regarding the rural clearways please visit https://www.pkc.gov.uk/article/21821/Parking-restrictions-on-country-roads
 

First and foremost, plan your route and make sure you know the way from start to finish. It sounds obvious, but there is a huge number of twists and turns on a Perthshire hillside! Visit the Mountaineering Scotland website for a detailed guide to navigation skills and the use of a map and compass. Also, do ensure that everyone in your group is fit enough to complete the route.
 
Check the weather forecast and bear in mind that there may be late-lying snow to consider, or higher than normal stream and river levels due to recent rain.

For the weather to expect on the day, the most reliable mountain weather forecasts can be obtained from the Mountain Weather Information Service (MWIS) and from the Met Office. Check the forecasts in the days before your trip and have a final check on the day itself.

Make sure you have all the right kit for your journey, including both clothing and equipment, and pack adequate food and water – there are no cafes at the top of a Munro!

Hillwalking in winter should be regarded as mountaineering and requires extra precautions. Daylight hours are shorter and weather conditions are more severe. Gain experience in summer conditions before venturing out in winter. See Walk Highlands winter skills and safety.

During the summer months you may find patches of snow. You should avoid these areas unless you have winter skills and equipment. Remember, many mountain accidents result from a simple slip. It can snow during any month of the year in the Scottish hills.

See Walk Highlands for full tips and https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/safety/

Wild swimming is wonderful and here in Perth city and towns and we have some beautiful spots across lochs, rivers and streams. Before you go in though, there are some important factors to consider.

• Do not swim alone. If you’re travelling by yourself then we recommend contacting Willowgate who offer outdoor swimming in their large, open pond by the River Tay.
• Research your spot and understand the water. That means the water conditions, depth, speed, and type of the water, as well as any other nasties that could be waiting. 
• Avoid other water activities such as fishing spots, kayaks, canoes, and boats. 
• Wear the right kit andmake yourself visible in the water by carrying a brightly coloured tow float. Wear a wetsuit if you suffer from the cold – even in summer –  and swim shoes to protect your feet on rocks.
• Have a plan for warming up after your swim, even in summer. Scotland is rarely overly warm! That means having a towel, warm clothes, sugary snack, and a hot drink to hand. Pack a dry robe if you suffer from the cold and try a few star jumps to get the blood circulating!
   

The 2000 square miles of countryside that our visitors and residents love so much is managed by an exceptional team of Visitor Rangers. Our rangers help promote responsible tourism in beauty spots over the tourist season, reminding wild campers of their responsibilities, tidying abandoned campsites and offering a point of contact for local residents who want to raise any concerns.

Although most visitors behave responsibly a small number engaging in littering, dirty camping and other anti-social behaviours, can ruin the environment for other visitors and residents alike. Please report anything you feel is necessary.

ArekNowrotek, Visitor Management Co-ordinator - [email protected]