Day Trips and Tours from Perth

Once Scotland's ancient capital, Perth is a city with plenty of character, culture and history. From Perth Theatre and Perth Concert Hall to Perth Museum and Art Gallery (one of the UK's oldest museums) this modestly sized city is worth a visit. Located in central Scotland on the banks of the River Tay, it is also a great base from which to travel around the historic county of Perthshire, and even further afield. Often referred to as 'The Fair City', visitors will find glorious countryside and fascinating attractions are within easy reach.

You have lots of options when it comes to travelling from Perth - nearby attractions are only a bike ride away while hopping on public transport is easy too. Here are some ideas on how to have a great day out from Perth.

Perth has regular local bus services to a variety of towns and villages that will give you a real taste of Perthshire. Take a short journey north and you will arrive at the historic villages of Birnam and Dunkeld. Side by side, these two pretty places offer lots of things to see and do including the Beatrix Potter Exhibition & Garden and Dunkeld's medieval cathedral.

Further north, towards the Cairngorms National Park, you will find the resort town of Pitlochry. This bustling town has everything from walks and cycling routes to shopping, spa options and a thriving events scene. Nature lovers can take a trip to the Falls of Bruar via the popular House of Bruar, a short bus ride from Pitlochry.

Travel west from Perth through beautiful countryside and you will find the popular market town of Crieff and the village of Comrie. Crieff has built a reputation for fine food with an amazing choice of cafés, coffee shops and restaurants for fine or casual dining. Whisky enthusiasts can also visit Glenturret Distillery. The village of Comrie offers some attractive walking routes.

Around half an hour away from Perth, to the north east, you'll find Blairgowrie. Visit in summer and you can enjoy the Blairgowrie Highland Games, or try your hand at falconry at Raptor World. If you want to see something completely different then you could take a trip to nearby Meikleour which boasts the Meikleour Beech Hedge - the highest hedge of its kind in the world!

Perth train station is located 10 minutes from the city centre and is an important hub for travellers heading to Scotland's other cities. Within a few hours you could be in Edinburgh, Glasgow or Aberdeen - and nearby Dundee and Stirling are just 20 minutes away.

Jump on a train to Edinburgh and you will be right in the heart of the action as soon as you set foot on the platform. Sights like Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace and Arthur's Seat are all within easy reach of the city's train stations.

A train to Glasgow from Perth takes around an hour. Explore the city's incredible architecture, indulge in some retail therapy or find a great place to eat. Art lovers will enjoy the magnificent Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in the city's west end.

A day trip from Perth to Aberdeen might seem a long way but a train should take just under two hours, with some beautiful coastal scenery along the way. Aberdeen has an endless list of attractions and activities including galleries and museums, shopping and spectacular gardens and beaches.

Fancy a shorter journey? Hop on a train to Dundee and stroll along the city's revitalised waterfront. Here you'll find V&A Dundee, the first design museum in the UK outside London, as well as the famous RRS Discovery that carried Scott and Shackleton to the Antarctic.

History lovers will be pleased to hear that Stirling is also a quick journey by train. In a little over half an hour you'll be gazing at fantastic sights like the Wallace Monument and Stirling Castle. Kids will go wild for Blair Drummond Safari park on the outskirts of the city.

With its tree-lined country roads and rolling farmland, Perthshire is a joy to drive around. Travel in any direction from your base in Perth and you will soon arrive at a top attraction. Whether you like whisky, golf, castles or nature walks you are spoilt for choice!

In the mood for a whisky pilgrimage? Drive north through Dunkeld and Aberfeldy to reach Dewars Aberfeldy Distillery, one of Scotland's most atmospheric distilleries. Take a fascinating tour and bag yourself some whisky for later. While you are in the area you can drive to the village of Fortingall and see one of the oldest living things in Europe - The Fortingall Yew Tree.

If one tree just isn't enough then drive along to Tay Forest Park, a wonderfully varied patchwork of forests across the most scenic parts of Highland Perthshire, featuring some of the country's best loved viewpoints and tallest trees. For more great views and a taste of loch-side tranquility, you could also drive to nearby Kinloch Rannoch.

As well as natural wonders, Perthshire is home to some of Scotland's best loved castles. You'll need a vehicle to get to Blair Castle, home of Europe's last remaining private army, the Atholl Highlanders. Renowned for its nine-acre walled garden, this scenic building also has over 30 rooms for you to explore.

Golf fans will be pleased to know that the home of golf is only an hour's drive away from Perth. St Andrews offers 10 courses, including the world-famous Old Course, along with historic buildings, medieval streets and panoramic views.

There's nothing quite like a holiday bike ride, especially if you haven't been out cycling for a while. The area surrounding Perth is perfect for riders of all abilities, with gentle and more challenging routes that take in some spectacular sights.

A short bike ride from Perth city centre you'll find Kinnoull Hill Woodland Park. Enjoy the open air and many miles of quiet woodland trails. You might have to get off your bike and walk to reach the top of the hill, which has some lovely views of the River Tay and surrounding countryside.

Two miles north of Perth you'll find Scone Palace, which is easily reached by bike via a pretty cycle path that runs alongside the River Tay. The extensive grounds at Scone contain, among other things, a fabulous maze with 2000 beech trees and the celebrated Moot Hill, ancient crowning place of the Kings of Scotland.

For a longer cycle, strap your bikes to the back of the car, and drive south to Loch Leven. The Loch Leven Heritage Trail takes you to a number of beautiful spots by the lochside, through varied woods and marshland, and is a haven for wildlife. Roughly 13 miles long, you will sleep well after this day out!