Perth Vacations: Things To Do

The town of Perth, in Scotland, is also widely called the ‘Gateway to the Highlands’. Built on the River Tay’s banks, Perth was Scotland’s capital and back in the medieval period the bustling little town was known by local folk as St. Johnstone or St. John’s Town. Perth’s name, or, in Gaelic, Peairt, is a derivative of a Pictish word for a copse or wood. Today  this idyllic little town is the perfect location for a Scottish vacation with a supreme choice of Perth bed and breakfast accommodation to choose from ranging from the reasonably priced establishment to the amazingly extravagant finest luxury hotels with spas and the likes with masses of facilities and  services.

Whether you choose to stay for a single day or a fortnight you will find that there is a large choice of exciting things to see and do in  the immediate vicinity of Perth and the surrounding region. Tourist attractions range from; sport and leisure pursuits, historical attractions, shopping and restaurants and many other entertainments. Not that long ago the town was an extremely successful port chiefly involved in exports of linen, bleached products, leather and whisky. In more modern times tourism creates income and much appreciated jobs for the local youth who happily take employment in the large number of Perth guest houses and hotels and similar enterprises.

One aspect of Perth that is astoundingly difficult for any other location to outdo is the nearby countryside which is far greater than simply amazing, words fail. Dotted around are countless places to visit including country houses, fortified houses, castles and historical buildings.

Just a small distance west of Perth can be discovered the medieval Huntingtower Castle. Located in amazing the castle has undergone many alterations and redevelopments over the centuries. The castle began life as 2 clearly separate towers but located close together.

Approximately 3m away, from the town of Perth, one will discover the sixteenth century Elcho Castle, which has the most spectacular vistas across the River Tay. Elcho Castle dates back to around fifteen seventy when the Wemyss family commissioned it’s construction who owned it until 1929. It is now in the hands of Historic Scotland.

One of the most popular places of interest, nearby Perth, is one of the finest historical Scottish country homes, Scone Palace. Here you can study the exciting history of the palace, the place where the early Scottish kings were crowned including, Robert The Bruce who was crowned here in 1306.

Besides the attractions mentioned earlier the town of Perth has countless more, which means that it is an excellent town for a family vacation. Tourist attractions and places, to see, found in and around Perth include the following; Kinnoull Hill, Perth Ice Rink (for curling etc.), Perthshire Visitor Centre, Branklyn Gardens and Bell’s Cherrybank Gardens.

If you are planning a city break in charming Perth please visit my site where you will discover a superior selection of Perth hotels and guesthouses.