A to Z Guide of 14 Towns and Villages in Perthshire
Perthshire is a lovely county also known as Perth and Kinross. This post lists the best towns and villages in Perthshire to visit, in alphabetical order.
Perthshire is uniquely located on the Highland Fault Boundary. There is a wide variety of landscapes, and cute historical villages to visit and the area is a spectacular sight in the autumn when the leaves begin to change colour.
The towns and villages in Perthshire are located quite close together and make a good day or afternoon trip. Perthshire has a little bit of everything, from waterfalls to ski slopes, wineries to Munros, there is something to do for everyone.
Aberfeldy
Aberfeldy is a lively town located on the longest river in River Tay.
Also, in Aberfeldy there is the Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery. On a tour, you can learn about John Dewar and Sons.
The Birks of Aberfeldy is a popular walking trail which inspired Robert Burns to write the poem The Birks in 1787. Along the 2-mile footpath, you will encounter magnificent views of the 150-metre Falls of Moness and Burns Cave.
Head to Aberfeldy Watermill which is an old watermill that has been redeveloped into a bookshop, café and gallery. Castle Menzies is a restored 15th-century castle which is worth visiting.
There is a wide range of outdoor activities in the area. Visitors can enjoy Splash Water Rafting on the River Tay or get a land rover on the Highland Safari.
Also, Aberfeldy is a great place to base yourself to explore the surrounding scenery in Perthshire. Visitors can hike to Drummond Hill and get a lovely view from the Black Rock Viewpoint.
Things to do in Aberfeldy
- Birks of Aberfeldy, Falls of Moness, Burns Cave
- Aberfeldy Watermill
- Dewar’s Distillery
- Splash Water Rafting
- Highland Safari
- Castle Menzies
- Drummond Hill
Auchterarder
Auchterarder is a town located southwest of Perth. It is close to the dual carriageway, Gleneagles Train Station and is a good commuter town for Glasgow, Stirling and Edinburgh.
There is a good selection of cafes and tearooms. Also, the village boasts a unique selection of shops.
Tullibardine Distillery is a whisky-producing distillery which dates back to the 12th century. Also, Highland Spring Water is bottled in this area.
Visitors can enjoy the peace and tranquillity at the Japanese Garden in Cowden. Ella Christie is a Scottish adventurer who returned home from her trip to Japan and planted the Japanese Garden.
Things to do in Auchterader
- Tullibardine Distillery
- Japanese Garden at Cowden
Alyth
Alyth is a small village located five miles northeast of Blairgowrie in Perthshire. The village has a population of 3,000 people.
In the 1860s, Alyth was a popular market town with a thriving textile industry. A photogenic 17th century packhorse bridge goes over the Alyth Burn which runs through the village.
Alyth has a museum which has exhibitions on the rich social history of the rural community and showcase displays about industry, agriculture, cultural life and travelling folk.
Alyth is home to The Arches and a church which was designed by Thomas Hamilton in 1839. Also, visitors can stretch their legs at the Den of Alyth.
Things to do in Alyth
- Hill of Alyth
- Reekie Linn Waterfall
- Loch of Lintrathen
- Den of Alyth
- The Cataran Ecomuseum
Blair Atholl
Blair Castle is an outstanding grand castle located in Blair Atholl. The castle has been owned by the Dukes and Earls of Atholl for 19 generations.
It is easy to spend half a day at the castle. Visitors can walk through the nine acres of ground including Diana’s Grove and a sculpture trail.
Near Blair Atholl is the House of Bruar. The House of Bruar is a shopping centre which sells the finest Scottish clothes, homeware, food hall and restaurant.
The Falls of Bruar is a lovely series of waterfalls located behind the House of Bruar. There is an easy 1.5-mile walk with excellent views over a stone bridge and plunge pool at various points on the river.
Things to do in Blair Atholl
- Blair Castle
- House of Bruar
- Falls of Bruar
- Beinn a’Ghlo
Blairgowrie
Blairgowrie is a small town which is great for nature enthusiasts and is the known as the Gateway to Glenshee. The town is famous for its old Flax mills buildings which can be seen during the Cargill’s Leap River Ericht walk from Blairgowrie Riverside.
Blairgowrie is one of the closest settlements to Glenshee Ski Centre in the Cairngorms National Park. There is a whole wide of attractions in the Cairngorms, it is perfect for hiking and bagging Munros.
Meiklour Beech Hedge is the longest hedge in Britain. The hedge is located just outside Blairgowrie, was planted in 1745 and is featured in the Guinness Book of Records.
Things to do in Blairgowrie
Comrie
Comrie is a small village located west of Crieff, in the Glen Lednock. Due to Comrie’s location on the Highland Boundary Fault, the area experiences more earth tremors than anywhere else in the UK.
Visit Deli’s Cauldron cascades into the rocky green amphitheatre on the River Lednock. This can be viewed as a circular walk with an ascent to Melville Monument and Dun More Hill.
Further along in Glen Lednock is the Munro Ben Chonzie. Ben Chonzie is a good Munro to bag for beginners and there are wonderful views from the summit down to Loch Turret Reservoir.
Things to do in Comrie
- Deli’s Cauldron
- Auchingarrich Wildlife Centre
- Ben Chonzie
Crieff
Crieff is a lovely little village that used to be a Scots market town. The growth of Crieff started from cattle droving in the 18th century.
Nowadays, Crieff has a great selection of independent shops and businesses including restaurants and cafes. Innerpeffray Library was established in 1680 and is Scotland’s oldest lending library.
A couple of popular attractions include the Caithness Visitor Centre and Strathearn Art Gallery. Also, Crieff is famous for whisky, visit the Famous Grouse Experience at Glenturret Distillery.
Drummond Castle and Gardens is a stunning castle set in picturesque Perthshire. The gardens date back to the 17th century and are one of Europe’s oldest and most impressive formal gardens.
Also, visitors can enjoy the outdoors and beautiful scenery that is on offer in Perthshire. Head to MacRosty Park for a relaxing picnic, have a stroll on the Lady Mary Walk or get breath taking views from the Knock of Crieff.
Crieff Hydro is a popular resort for tourists, there is a wide range of activities including a high ropes course. It is a perfect destination for a well-deserved break.
Things to do in Crieff
- Drummond Castle and Gardens
- Crieff Hydro
- Knock of Crieff
- Lady Mary’s Walk
- Glenturret Distillery
- MacRosty Park
- Caithness Visitor Centre
Dunkeld
Dunkeld is a picturesque village located on the banks of the River Tay. One of the things to look out for is Dunkeld Cathedral, a majestic building in the village with lovely gardens.
There is a variety of shops, where you can pick up souvenirs from your trip. Also, do not miss the brightly coloured ‘little houses’ of Dunkeld which were built in the early 18th century.
The Hermitage is a woodland located 10 minutes away from Dunkeld. The Hermitage features Ossian’s Hall, Falls of Braan and lovely woodland walks through Craigvinean Forrest.
In the forest there is the magical Pine Cone Point which has lovely views of the River Tay and Perthshire Hills. From here, you can see why Perthshire is known as the Big Tree Country.
For those who are wishing to mix a bit of history with scenery and fitness, head to the Dunled House Tree Trail.
Loch of the Lowes is a wonderful and tranquil RSPB Nature Reserve. There is so much wildlife including ospreys, swans, geese and deer on the loch side.
Things to do in Dunkeld
- The Hermitage
- Pinecone Viewpoint
- Ossian Mirrors
- Falls of Braan
- Loch of the Lowes
- Beatrix Potter Exhibition and Gardens
Errol
Errol is a village in Perth and Kinross situated between Dundee and Perth. It is believed that people have lived in Errol since pre-historic times.
Near Errol is the Cairn o’Mohr Winery. This is a good place to go for a wine tour, some wine tasting and food.
Things to do in Errol
- Cairn O’Mohr Fruit Wines
Kenmore
Kenmore is a small village located six miles outside Aberfeldy in the heart of Scotland. The village is located perfectly on the banks of Loch Tay.
Kenmore is home to one of the top heritage sites – the Scottish Crannog Centre. A crannog is an Iron Age fort located on stilts in the water.
Also, Kenmore has many nature walks that visitors can embark on. One of my favourites is the Falls of Acharn.
Things to do in Kenmore
- Loch Tay
- Scottish Crannog Centre
- Falls of Acharn
- Taymouth Castle
Killin
Killin is a small village on the border of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. This lovely village sits on the west side of Loch Tay.
The Falls of Dochart is a gentle waterfall with fast-flowing rapids after a period of heavy rainfall. This is a very picturesque area and it is a lovely place to get a beer at the Falls of Dochart Inn.
Finlarig Castle is an eerie 16th-century castle ruin. The ruin is very fragile and you can recognise parts of the building including the old cellar, staircase and beheading pit.
Killin is a good place to base yourself to bag some Munros and others hills in the Ben Lawers range.
Things to do in Killin
- Falls of Dochart
- Finlarig Castle
Kinross
Back in the 18th and 19th centuries Kinross was the centre for weaving. By the end of the 20th century it was the central hub for cashmere weaving.
Loch Leven is the largest loch in the Scottish Lowlands and is located next to Kinross. Lochleven Castle sits on an islet on the loch and it acted as a prison for the Mary Queen of Scots in 1567.
Loch Leven Heritage Trail is a circular path that covers 13 miles around the loch. The path is very good and is perfect for walkers, cyclists and wheelchair users.
There are various car parks around the loch – Kinross Pier, Burleigh Sands, Loch Leven’s Larder, Findatie, the Cashmere Factory, Kirkgate Park and the RSPB Loch Leven car park. In addition, there is a visitor centre which has a shop, cafe and marked trails leading to bird hides.
Things to do in Kinross
- Loch Leven Heritage Trail
- Kirkgate Park
- Lochleven Castle
Pitlochry
Edradour Distillery is a whisky-producing distillery based in Pitlochry. This is one of the smallest distilleries and longest-run distilleries in Scotland.
Blair Atholl Distillery is also located in Pitlochry. The water from Allt Dour flows from Ben Vrackie and helps the production of the Pitlochry.
One of the most stunning and tallest waterfalls in Perthshire is located in Pitlochry. Black Spout Waterfall is a short 500-metre walk from the car park.
For a restful stay, visit Atholl Palace and explore the award-winning gardens or relax in the Lavender Spa.
During the production of the hydroelectricity schemes in 1950, Pitlochry Dam was one of the many dams produced. There is a visitor centre which shows the construction of the dam, and how the fish ladder works and explores Scotland’s hydro heritage.
Not far from Pitlochry is a series of waterfall rapids known as the Linn of Tummel. At Loch Tummel, you can get admire the amazing scenery at Queens View.
For adrenaline seekers, it is possible to bungee jump off Garry Bridge with Highland Fling. Highland Fling is based at Killiecrankie Visitor Centre and also has the option to try a bridge swing or zip-line through Killiecrankie.
Things to do in Pitlochry
- Edradour Distillery
- Black Spout Waterfall
- Pitlochry Dam
- Ben Vrackie
- Faskally Wood
- Queens View
- Linn of Tummel
- Highland Fling
- Schiehallion
Scone
Scone is a beautiful village in Perthshire with a population of 4,000 people. The village is close to the city of Perth and there is a diverse range of local businesses, places to eat and visitor attractions.
Scone Palace is a majestic reminder of Scotland’s royal past and is known as the ‘crowning of the kings’. Visitors can explore the 100 acre grounds including gardens and a maze or book onto a tour to explore the interior of the castle.
Things to do in Scone
- Scone Palace
What towns are in Perth, Scotland?
There are nine towns in Perthshire, Scotland. These towns are Aberfeldy, Dunkeld, Pitlochry, Alyth, Blairgowrie, Crieff, Scone, Auchterader and Coupar Angus.
Kenmore, Blair Atholl, Inchture, Comrie, Errol and Killin are all villages located in Perthshire.
What is the nicest village in Perthshire?
There are so many nice small settlements in Perthshire it is difficult to choose one. Killin is a lovely village on the edge of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.
Many tourists love Kenmore and Pitlochry as they are charming small towns. Crieff, Comrie, Pitlochry, Dunkeld and Killin have all be nominated for various awards including the ‘Most Beautiful Town or Villiage in Scotland’.
Final Note
This post is an A to Z guide of 14 towns and villages in Perthshire. Perthshire is a picturesque part of Scotland, with plenty of trees, gorges, mountains and beautiful towns.
The small villages in Perthshire will be the perfect place to spend an afternoon or you can spend a whole day here. Perthshire is an easy county to access from Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Highlands.
Perthshire can be explored on a long-distance driving route known as the Heart 200.