Railway in the North
Dunkeld Cathedral, Dunkeld
Dunkeld has long since held religious significance ever since it first emerged in the 9th century as a centre for the Celtic Church. While no buildings from this period survive today, Dunkeld’s prominence can still be seen in the Cathedral, where the oldest parts date back to 1318.
Today, much of the Cathedral stands in ruins caused during the reformation, however the Choir of the church was restored and used as a parish church, a duty it still serves in present day. There is an array of interesting things to see at Dunkeld Cathedral, including a 9th century Celtic Bell dubbed “The Little Dunkeld Bell” which is owned by The Parish of Dunkeld.
- Open daily 9:30am – 4:30pm
- Free entry
Dunkeld Cathedral Website >
Aran Bakery, Dunkeld
Owned and run by Great British Bake Off star Flora Shedden, who was a semi-finalist in the 2015 season of the show, Aran Bakery provides a taste of excellence while still keeping it real. The artisan bakery is in a 200-year-old building on the Dunkeld high street and inside you can expect to find an abundance of hand baked goods from sourdough loafs to rye bread, sausage rolls to sweet treats, freshly made daily.
- Open Tuesday – Saturday, 9:30am – 3:30pm (or until stock sells out)
Aran Bakery Website >
Birnam Wood, Dunkeld
The Birnam Wood was once a vast and expansive forest, covering the banks and hillsides of the River Tay. The forest was celebrated in William Shakespear’s story of Macbeth following the writer's visit to Perth, Birnam and Aberdeen in 1599. The 500-year-old Birnam Oak would have been growing at the time Shakespear visited Birnam Wood, and both it and its 300-year-old neighbour the Birnam Sycamore are now thought to be the last surviving trees of the medieval forest. The scenic route around the woods showcases Perthshire’s gorgeous natural beauty alongside its deep cultural history.
- Free
Birnam Arts, Dunkeld
Showcasing both local and national creatives, Birnam Arts is a melting pot for all things arts. Culture and art are promoted in every corner of Birnam Arts, which features an art gallery with revolving monthly exhibitions that shines the spotlight on Scottish artists, as well as a theatre room that puts on live performances ranging from theatre, live music, comedy and so much more. The permanent Beatrix Potter exhibition and gardens tells the story of the renowned author who spent many childhood summers on holiday in Dunkeld and Perthshire.
- Birnam Arts open daily 10am – 4pm
- Beatrix Potter exhibition open daily 10:30am – 3:30pm
- Free entry to main galleries, Beatrix Potter exhibition £2.50 – 3.50
Birnam Arts Website >
Dunkeld Whisky Box, Dunkeld
The independent, family run Dunkeld Whisky Box believes that whisky is for everyone (who is over 18!) and hold a wide range of styles and flavours from mostly independent smaller producers. The Whisky Box welcomes everyone, from whisky experts to beginners (the haters can find craft beers too!) and the friendly staff hope to help everyone find a bottle they enjoy. The tasting area within the shop allows you to sample a regularly changing range of all the best whiskies on offer so you can pop in a find a dram you love!
- Open Monday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm and Sunday, 11am – 5pm
- Tastings for over 18s only
Dunkeld Whisky Box Website >
Blair Athol Distillery, Pitlochry
Why not peek behind the scenes and find out how Scotland’s national drink is made? Standing at the gateway to the highlands, Blair Athol Distillery is the perfect place to stand back and watch the magic happen. Founded in 1798, the distillery creates its own unique whisky by using water from the Allt Dour burn which flows from the slopes of Ben Vrackie, contributing to the drink’s signature mellow quality and smooth finish.
Enjoy a guided tour around the workings of the distillery where you can see each step in the process, then chase it up with a tasting session including three hand choses drams of Blair Athol Distillery’s finest.
- October – March, open daily 10am – 5pm
- April – September, open daily 10am – 6pm
- Tours start at £19 per person
Blair Athol Distillery Website >
Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre & Fish Ladder, Pitlochry
The use of green energy has never been more important, and at Pitlochry Dam visitors can learn all about how Scotland’s natural power is being harnessed in a positive way, as well as our long and fascinating hydro history. The Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre hosts a number of fun and informative exhibitions including one focused on the Dam itself, salmon lifecycle, and the power from the glens. Taking a trip across the dam allows you to experience the power of nature first hand (and take in the spectacular views of the highlands!).
Pitlochry is famous for its fish ladder, a 34 tiered pool system that allows salmon and trout to safely bypass the dam and move up stream to lay their eggs. Since its construction in 1952, 250,000 salmon have passed through the fish ladder, maybe you’ll get lucky and see one on its journey up stream!
- Open daily 10am – 4:30pm
- Free entry
Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre Website >
Explorers Garden, Pitlochry
The Explorers Garden, located next to Pitlochry Festival Theatre, celebrates the contribution of Scottish plant hunters to modern gardens. The mainly woodland garden with stunning highland backdrops was conceptualised as a Theatricum Botanicum and came to life in the late 1990s, and now not only hosts outdoor performances but also rare varieties of meconopsis. And to make it even more special, the garden has its own completely unique version of meconopsis, the Himalayan blue Poppy GSG Explorers which visitors can see blooming during the month of May.
- Open May – October, Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm
- £5 entry per adult
- Under 12s go free
Explorers Garden Website >
Heathergems, Pitlochry
One of Scotland’s most unique jewellers, Heathergems create beautiful hand-crafted gems using heather stems harvested from the highlands. They are the only creators of these gems in the world and no two pieces are the same, making their jewellery truly unique and individual. The skilled craftsmen combine traditional Scottish designs with the colourful gems to create jewellery with a flare of the highlands, and you can visit the place where the magic happens in the factory shop in Pitlochry.
- Open daily, 9am – 5pm
Heathergems Website >
Blair Castle & Gardens, Blair Atholl
Take a trip through the three magnificent floors of Blair Castle and witness the over 750 years of Scottish history that is seeped into each of the 30 rooms. The rich history of the stately home spans from the medieval period right to the Great War, with the earliest part of the castle, Comyn’s Tower, dating to 1269. Being home to the Stewarts and Murrays of Atholl for over 19 generations, the castle is a unique combination of many different eras and architectural styles.
- Open daily, 10am - 5pm (last entry 3:45pm)
- From 26th October 2024, the castle will be closed for the winter
- Entry from £11.50 - £17.50 for the House and Gardens
- Book online or buy a ticket at the gate (additional charge of £1 per ticket)
Blair Castle & Gardens Website >
Blair Atholl Watermill, Blair Atholl
Blair Atholl Watermill is one of the last three operational watermills in Scotland, with milling being carried out on the site since the 1590s. You can view how the expert flour millers use traditional methods to stonegrind wheat, oats, rye, and spelt into their own flour which is available for purchase from their shop. The flour made in the mill is also used in their home baking, made daily fresh on site and can be enjoyed in the watermill tearoom.
- Open daily, 9:30am – 3:30pm
Blair Atholl Watermill Website >
House of Bruar & Falls of Bruar, Blair Atholl
The House of Bruar is Scotland’s premier independent country fashion retailer, bringing together the best of Scottish designs and producers, from traditional tweeds and cashmere garments to the latest in rural fashion. Inside the store you can also find a food hall, restaurant, bakery, and whisky shop, all stocked with high quality produce from locally sourced artisans.
You’ll also find the famous Falls of Bruar right on their doorstep, the picturesque beauty spot that has been admired for 200 years now. The falls inspired Scotland’s favourite bard Robert Burns to write his poem “The Humble Petition of Bruar Water” after his visit to the spot in 1787, and the 1.5-mile (2km) walk is still popular among visitors today.
- The House of Bruar open daily, 8:30am – 5:30pm
- House of Bruar and Falls of Bruar can be reached by taking the number 87 bus from Atholl Arms, Blair Atholl towards Struan, lasting 15 minutes
House of Bruar Website >
Kinnoull Hill & River Tay walk, Perth
Overlooking Perth city centre, Kinnoull Hill is the tallest of the five hills in the woodland park. With its summit reaching 222 metres (728 ft), the hill provides panoramic views out towards the Perthshire highlands. There’s also the 18th century castle folly Kinnoull Tower, which can be found sitting dramatically on the edge of the precipice.
Take a walk along the River Tay while on your way up to Kinnoull Hill. The Tay is the longest river in Scotland and makes for a peaceful and beautiful walk.
- Free
- Kinnoull Hill has three trails ranging from easy, moderate, to strenuous in difficulty
Kinnoull Hill Website >
Perth Museum & St John’s Kirk, Perth
Perth’s new museum opened its doors in March 2024 after a refurbishment plan of the old city council building. The crown jewel of the museum is the Stone of Destiny, sometimes known as the Stone of Scone, which returns to Perthshire after 700 years of absence. One of the most significant pieces of Scottish heritage, the stone is free is view and is incorporated in an audio-visual display recounting its history, from its origins to the present day.
Next to the museum you can find St John’s Kirk, Perth’s oldest building which is still standing. The first historical mention of the church was in 1426 in the form of a grant from King David I and since this point it has seen many points of history, from the Scottish Wars of Independence to the Reformation.
- Perth Museum open daily, 10am – 5pm (Except Thursday, open 10am – 7pm)
- Free entry, however booking is essential for viewing the Stone of Destiny
- St John’s Kirk open Monday – Saturday, 10am – 4pm
- As a working church, St John’s Kirk may occasionally be closed to accommodate events
- Free entry with an encouraged donation
Perth Museum Website >
Perth Art Gallery, Perth
Housing one of the UK’s oldest collections, Perth Art Gallery features work from influential classics as well as modern Scottish artists. Displays showcases art from 20th – 21st century Scots, 16th and 17th century Europeans, and the esteemed JD Fergusson and Margaret Morris Collection. Young families can find plenty to do in the interactive Hands-on Art area, while others can visit the temporary exhibitions that change to celebrate a different artist or art style.
- Open Thursday – Monday, 10am – 5pm (except Thursday, open 10am – 7pm and Sunday, open 10am – 4pm)
- Free entry
Perth Art Gallery Website >
The Perth Distillery Co., Perth
Distilled and bottled next to the River Tay, The Perth Distillery Co. is the first producer to ever distil their spirits in the city. The hand-crafted gins are expertly made in small batches and include a range of flavours to suit every palette. Perth’s craftsmen combine tastes of Scotland with flavours from the far corners of the globe to create unique blends that still hold the classic experience of gin. Tasting experiences allow you to sample a range of the distilleries best award-winning flavours in a relaxed and fun environment and can be enjoyed by gin experts and beginners alike.
- Open Wednesday - Saturday, 12pm – 4pm
- Gin tasting experience starts at £24
- Booking is essential for the tasting experience
- Tasting over 18s only