Perth Scotland - The Fair City

As the county town of Perthshire, Perth is also known as St John's Town or the Fair City.

It was the capital of Scotland up until the mid 1450's when James I moved the capital to Edinburgh.

Although a compact and flat city, which makes for easy navigation, the city has a lot to offer including excellent shopping, eating out, entertainment, culture, leisure and sport all within easy reach of the city centre.

Being as it is in the heart of Perthshire, Perth also makes for a great base from which to explore the surrounding countryside and attractions. Situated, as it is in the centre of Scotland it remains a major transport hub for journeys by car and rail throughout the rest of Scotland.

There is also a small airport; This is located at New Scone, 7 km north east of the city. There are no commercial flights in or out of this airport, instead the focus is on private flights and flying lessons.

There are a number of popular architectural and historical attractions throughout the city and the surrounding countryside, most notably Scone Palace and St. John's Kirk. The regimental Black Watch also has their base here on Dunkeld Road and their museum is located inside Balhousie Castle.

Of the surrounding hills, Kinnoull Hill and Craigie Hill, feature some spectacular forest walks and some great views of the city.

Also within a short distance of the city you can find Huntingtower Castle, which is open all year round and Elcho Castle, which is open during the summer months. Both of these historic buildings are excellent examples of late medieval Scottish tower-houses and very popular venues for weddings.

There may be a wealth of historical attractions in the area but this is also a modern city.

'The Perth Festival of the Arts' is an annual presentation of art, theatre, opera and classical music throughout the city. The festival is held in May and generally lasts for a couple of weeks. In more recent years, the festival has broadened its appeal by adding comedy and popular music acts to the entertainment.

The recently opened state of the art Horsecross concert hall cost around 20 million and it presents entertainment in various forms including theatre, music and comedy.

Perth is the perfect place for a special day out or stay. Walking around the city is a joy. As a consistent 'Britain in Bloom' winner the city's streets and public gardens are filled with colour from Easter to Autumn.