This beautiful and tranquil garden is located just off Dundee Road, and set on the side of Kinnoull Hill with a striking view over the city. Only a short walk away from Perth city centre, the National Trust for Scotland’s two-acre garden area was founded in the 1920s by John and Dorothy Renton after they built their arts and crafts-inspired house nearby. The garden was first established with the use of rare seeds that had been gathered by plant hunters such as Frank Ludlow and George Forrest. One of the most beautiful hillside gardens in Scotland, the serene haven that we see today is testament to Dorothy Renton’s legendary gardening skills. Home to several National Collections of plants, Branklyn Garden is greatly admired by horticulturalists and is the ideal place to unwind in exquisite surroundings.

Opening on Perth High Street in 1900, Perth Theatre has been renovated and expanded many times in its history. Over the years it has been the venue for countless stage dramas, musicals, revues, pantomimes and variety shows, and the theatre has featured performances by some of the great luminaries of the acting world such as Donald Sutherland, Ewan McGregor, Edward Woodward and Alec Guinness. Since 1966 the theatre has been home to the celebrated Perth Youth Theatre. Reopened in 2017 after a wide-ranging programme of redevelopment, the building now features a new entrance from the city’s Mill Street to mark the restoration of the Edwardian Auditorium. The building also offers a 200-seat studio theatre in the courtyard style, spaces for creative learning activities, and dedicated community areas.

Popularised by Sir Walter Scott’s novel The Fair Maid of Perth, the Fair Maid’s House at North Port is thought to be the oldest surviving secular building in the city, and is now home to the Royal Scottish Geographical Society visitor and education centre focusing on the fascinating subject of earth sciences. Visitors can learn about continental formation, environmental variations and cartography, amongst many other topics, with informative exhibitions and interactive presentations. Sightseers are recommended to check the centre’s opening times ahead of their visit, to make sure that access will be available during their stay in Perth.

Situated on the east side of the River Tay, close to the city centre, Norie-Miller Park is an amazing attraction where natural beauty and artwork come to life. Named after famous Perth figure Sir Stanley Norie-Miller (son of the similarly-eminent Sir Francis Norie-Miller), this beautiful park is a popular venue for walks thanks to its combination of the beautifully maintained Rodney Gardens and a unique art trail featuring sculptures from artists such as David Wilson, Kenny Munro and Phil Johnson which tells the story of Perth through the accomplishments of its people. The park has also been popularised thanks to its seasonal ‘Light Nights’, where the riverside walk is enhanced by beautiful artificial lighting in the evenings for the perfect romantic stroll.

Not to be confused with Edinburgh’s Greyfriars Kirkyard (now immortalised due to the fame of a certain Greyfriars Bobby), Greyfriars Burial Ground in Perth’s Tay Street contains the final resting place of many honoured people from the city’s long and illustrious history. A cemetery since the 16^thcentury, the peaceful grounds are now also a biodiversity bank with wildflowers, butterflies and other insects making their home on the premises. Follow the footpaths to discover the sights of the famous Buchan Stone, the weeping lady of the Kennedy Monument, and the remarkable 1782 Adam and Eve Stone.

Outdoors enthusiasts will be keen to visit Perth’s two Inches; famous green spaces at the heart of the city. The North Inch is the larger of the Inches, and has an area of around 54 hectares. It is situated between the Bell Sports Centre, the River Tay and a nearby residential zone. Often used for outdoor events such as festivals, the park includes sporting facilities and a children’s play area as well as a number of memorial statues. The South Inch is a smaller park at approximately 31 hectares. It can be found between Perth railway station (a short walk away) and the River Tay. Like its larger counterpart, it is used to host outdoor events, and also features a skate park and sports pitches as well as a play park for younger visitors and a scenic pond.

Just to the west of Perth, and formerly known as the Palace of Ruthven, Huntingtower Castle is a 14^thcentury castle which has been restored and renovated over the centuries. The building has a long and colourful history, including times where it housed inhabitants who were accused of royal kidnap; was a destination of Mary Queen of Scots during her honeymoon with Lord Darnley; became the home of the 1^stDuke of Atholl in the 18^thcentury; and its modern-day role as a family home until 2002. Today, Huntingtower Castle is in the care of Historic Scotland, which invites visitors to view the Eastern Tower’s wonderful 16^thcentury ceiling paintings (thought to be one of the earliest examples of its kind to survive in Scotland), learn about the various periods of restructuring that the castle has undergone, and discover the numerous entertaining legends associated with the building over the centuries.

For visitors wanting to stretch their legs and take an energetic walk, the trip up Kinnoull Hill will afford great views looking down onto the city as well as the River Tay stretching out to the east as the estuary widens on its way to Dundee and the North Sea beyond.

If you want to experience Scottish Premiership football, then a visit to McDiarmid Park to watch St Johnstone could be on your itinerary. Or, if you want to be in the action, rather than watching it, the Perth parkrun on a Saturday morning or Perth junior parkrun on Sunday morning might be just what you’re looking for. Any parkrun tourists out there?

If watersports and adventure activities are what you are looking for, then head over to the Willowgate Activity Centre on the River Tay, just downstream from Perth.

Elcho Castle, four miles south east of Perth, is a remarkably well preserved 16^thcentury castle at Rhynd on the banks of the River Tay. Boasting three soaring towers, this fortified mansion house (which once belonged to the Wemyss Family) is a must-see destination; visitors can explore its interior and take in the astonishing views from its upper levels. Elcho Castle has also become well-known for its expansive orchard, which contains many traditional varieties of fruit. The castle provides a matchless chance to learn more about the lives of the Perthshire gentry in the late 16^thcentury; the interior retains a number of authentic period features including decorated plasterwork. A visit is highly recommended, though it is advisable to call ahead in order to check that the site is open as it may be closed at short notice at times of harsh weather conditions.