Great outdoors - Perthshire

Described by Sir Walter Scott as ‘the fairest portion of the Northern Kingdom’, Perthshire has always been a place of remarkable beauty.

Discover for yourself why Perthshire is known as ‘Big Tree Country’. Stand in the shadow of Britain’s tallest tree at the Hermitage, a beautiful grove of arboreal giants situated beside the spectacular Falls of Braan, and visit the oldest – the Fortingall Yew – believed to be at least 2,000 years old.

You can even see the Birnam Oak, an ancient tree said to be the last survivor of Birnam Wood, the great oak forest immortalised in Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

Perthshire looks beautiful all year round, but is always spectacular in autumn when the trees turn a kaleidoscopic sequence of crimson and golden hues before finally shedding their leaves. Admire this visual spectacle from the Garry Bridge which overlooks the Pass of Killiecrankie, or on a leisurely stroll along Lady Mary’s Walk beside the picturesque River Earn.  

Visit in spring and you’ll find thousands of snowdrops flourishing in gardens and damp woodland areas such as at the Birks of Aberfeldy and Pitlochry’s Black Spout Wood.

Head to Darroch Wood in summer when the ground is carpeted with a sea of sweetly-smelling bluebells. Explore inside magnificent formal gardens such as the Hercules Garden of Blair Castle to see its colourful herbaceous borders in full bloom, and Drummond Castle Gardens which boasts dazzling displays of roses.

Winter sees thousands of greylag geese descend on the Loch of the Lowes, a secluded nature reserve that is home to an osprey eyrie.

Embark upon an alpine adventure up into the snowy hills and mountains of Perthshire in a Land Rover for the chance to see elusive creatures such as white ptarmigan, mountain hare and the majestic red deer.