Facts about Perthshire
Population: Approx. 137,500 Famous for: Home to some of the largest trees in Britain, ‘Gateway to the Highlands’ Distance from London: 9 – 11 hours Highest Mountain: Ben Lawers (1,219m) Local delicacies: Oatcakes, Shortbread Airports: Dundee Airport
The ancient capital of Perthshire is often considered the gateway to the Highlands and features some of the most varied and spectacular scenery in the whole country. The county town of Perth was once Scotland’s capital and much favoured by James I. This is also the town that inspired Sir Walter Scott to pen ‘The Fair Maid of Perth’ which in turn inspired Bizet’s opera.
Perthshire is also home to one of the most northerly Roman remains in the entire world, specifically the command headquarters of Inchtuthil. This site is fairly unique in that it was never built over and therefore was in remarkably good condition when excavated in the 1950s and 60s.
Perthshire is also home to two significant battlesites; The Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689 and the Battle of Dupplin Moor in 1332. There are also a host of castles in the area including Castle Menzies, the seat of the Chiefs of Clan Menzies for over 400 years.
Perthshire is also the home to the medieval village of Scone, the ancient capital of Scotland and the coronation site of Scotland's kings for centuries.
