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On the banks of the silvery River Tay, in the very heart of Scotland, you'll find yourself in the Fair City of Perth, your perfect centre for touring much of Scotland. Perth is a city that blends harmoniously with its glorious green surroundings. Indeed it is a city which has won many horticultural accolades including the 1999 Scotland in Bloom Champion of Champions.
Visit the city that inspired Sir Walter Scott to write " The Fair Maid of Perth " which in turn inspired Bizet's opera. Having at one time been Scotland's Capital City you will discover that Perth enjoys an air of elegant prosperity and retains the genuine atmosphere of a true country town with a rich history and tradition of welcoming visitors from all over the world.
A climb or drive through the wooded slopes of Kinnoull Hill is an ideal introduction to Perth. Enjoy the panoramic views to the north and west over the Perthshire Highlands, south to the rolling landscapes of Fife and east along the fruit fields of the Carse of Gowrie.
You can easily explore the centre of Perth on foot. Perth has been a market town for hundreds of years. Today long established businesses, specialist retailers and larger stores sit alongside each other on the traffic-free High Street and in St Johns Shopping Centre. Perth City Hall has regular Craft and Antique shows and the local Farmer's Market set up their stalls almost every Saturday throughout the summer months.
Aside from great shopping, history lovers will find Perth offers unsurpassed delights. There are numerous places to visit including Scone Palace, Elcho Castle, Huntingtower Castle, Megginch Castle and Balhousie Castle, home of the Black Watch Museum.
But, as an experienced Tour Guide, what I love best about Perth is its easy access to St Andrews. Edinburgh, Stirling, Pitlochry and a hundred points of interest in between. The Perth area truly makes for an excellent base from which to tour much of Scotland.
One of the most famous, yet rarely visited glens in all of the Highlands, Glen Lyon is also one of the longest- at least for a mountain cul-de-sac as opposed to a long rift valley. It opens from the Appin of Dull, at Fortingall, and extends 25 miles westwards, roughly parallel with Loch Tay to the south. Just past Loch Lyon, it merges into a high pass which leads to the head of Glen Orchy.
Throughout that long distance it winds in wild beauty amongst ever more solitary peaks, and varies as much in character, as in width and height. Indeed, its constant variety, between gentle beauty and fierce grandeur, is part of the great attraction of Glen Lyon.
West from the village of Fortingall, only a mile up the glen, is MacGregor's Leap, where in 1565, the Chief of the landless Greglach made an incredible leap across the river chasm when pursued by Campbell Bloodhounds. Two miles further up, there are a series of spectacular waterfalls, as the Allt Da-gohb rushes down to the floor of the glen.
At the next hamlet, Innerwick, there is the 18th century Glen Lyon Parish Church. But the hub of the glen is a little farther on, at Bridge of Balgie. Here the road forks, one branch turning south-westwards to climb steeply over the shoulder of Ben Lawers to Loch Tay. The other road continues up the glen, climbing to avoid the lands of Meggernie Castle, a fine late 16th century structure, whitewashed and set amidst ancient trees. It was built by Cailean Gorach, or Mad Colin Campbell in 1580, who amongst other exploits abducted the Countess of Erroll and held her there. Another lady is said to haunt Meggernie. She was the wife of a Menzies laird, who murdered her in a fit of jealously, and then cut up her body into halves for better disposal. Perhaps for the best, it her upper half which haunts the castle.