Perth, Scotland Tourist Attractions

Scone Palace (2mi/3.2km to the north of Perth) is situated near the old but now non-existent abbey of Scone where Scottish monarchs from Kenneth II to James IV were crowned. In the ninth century Kenneth MacAlpin chose Scone as the royal residence and brought the Scottish coronation stone ("Stone of Scone") here, but in 1297 Edward I took it to Westminster Abbey in London where it has remained. The stone was once placed on Mote Hill, a spot where, according to legend, earth from all parts of the kingdom had been scattered. The major part of the palace was built at the beginning of the 19th C and it is now the seat of the Earls of Mansfield, whose ancestors are shown in the portraits which line the Long Gallery. Porcelain from Meissen, Sèvres and Derby, fine Chippendale furniture, 17th and 18th C ivory carvings and some extremely unusual papier mâché objets d'art (c1730) by the Parisian Martin brothers are the principal art treasures on view inside. The surrounding parkland boasts a number of rare trees.

Huntingtower Castle (2mi/3.2km to the west of Perth), formerly known as Ruthven Castle, originally consisted of two single towers (15th C) which were joined together in the 17th C. The most striking aspects of the interior decor are the wall and ceiling paintings in the Hall. According to legend, the daughter of the first Earl once jumped the 10ft/3m gap between the two towers to avoid being caught with her lover, hence the name "Maiden's Leap".

Balhousie Castle by the North Inch documents over 250 years of British military history. The museum is devoted to the achievements of The Black Watch (Royal Highland) Regiment, Scotland's oldest Highland regiment.

Although Perth was the capital of Scotland until the 15th century, there are very few historic buildings to see. An exhibition in the medieval Round Tower, once used as a watertower, displays work by the Scottish artist J.D. Ferguson, while Perth's Art Gallery and Museum in George Street focuses on local history and also serves as a venue for temporary art exhibitions.

This annual festival takes place in mid-late May and includes over 30 different events in a span of two-weeks. Operas, orchestral, choral and chamber concerts, recitals, dance performances and visual arts exhibitions are only some of the events offered every year. The repertoire is varied, as are the venues, which include the Perth Theatre and City Hall, the Scone Palace and St John's Kirk.

The parish church of St John which was built in the 15th century and then restored in 1923/1924 by Sir Robert Lorimer was the stage for the reformer John Knox to launch his campaign against idolatry. His sermon culminated in a iconoclastic crusade in which the majority of art treasures in Scotland's churches were destroyed.

Branklyn Garden is located on Dundee Road in Perth. This small garden is regarded as one of the most beautiful in Scotland. It has a wide variety of trees, alpine and ericaceous plants, herbaceous borders and dwarf rhododendrons.

Elcho Castle is a fortified mansion (3mi/4.8km to the southeast of Perth) in Scottish baronial style (16th C). It was once the seat of the Wemyss family. Note the small corner towers and projecting round oriel windows.

"Fair Maid's House" on Curfew Road which was acclaimed by Scott is now a handicraft shop.

A footpath leads up Kinnoul Hill (729ft/222m) which affords a fine view over the surrounding countryside.

Lower City Mills is of interest, as an early 20th century watermill has been faithfully restored and corn is still ground in the traditional style.

The Old Granary in Perth dates back to the 18th C. It has been restored by the National Trust of Scotland, creating six flats for seniors on the upper floors.