Perth (Scotland)

Perth is a city in Perth and Kinross in North East Scotland, with a population in 2016 of 47,430. It stands at a point where the River Tay channels between hills, turns sharply and becomes tidal and navigable. It lost its "city" status in the late 20th century but local signage remained in denial about this until 2012 when Perth's status was restored. Its chief attraction is Scone Palace.

Understand
You think you've reached the Highlands as you approach the ridge south of town, but it's just a spur of the Ochils, with the true boundary another ten miles north. Nevertheless it does make Perth a "Gateway to the Highlands", an over-used tourist phrase but well justified here. Cattle drovers, traders and warriors all came this way, following the Tay valley to the lowest point it could be forded. Medieval Scottish kings did the same: they didn't have a fixed capital but their usual abode was "Saint John's Town" at nearby Scone - that name lives on in the local football team St Johnstone. The writer Sir Walter Scott wove the royal dynastic intrigues and adventures into his novel The Fair Maid of Perth, and the place became known as "The Fair City". Perth in Western Australia takes its name from here, as do Perth, Ontario and  Perth, Tasmania.

Visit Scotland iCentre is the tourist information office, at 45 High Street. It's open M-Sa 9:30AM-5PM.

By plane
 Edinburgh Airport  is usually best choice for its connections across Europe and within UK. It's 50 miles (80 km) south of Perth, and west of Edinburgh city so with a hire car you turn onto M90 and avoid city traffic. Jet 747 bus runs from the airport to Inverkeithing for the train, or to Halbeath for an onward bus. Otherwise take the tram from the airport to Edinburgh Haymarket for trains and buses towards Perth.

 Glasgow Airport  has a similar range of flights. It's 70 miles (120 km) southwest of Perth, but west of Glasgow so you have to cross city traffic. Take the airport bus to Buchanan Bus Station in city centre then train or bus to Perth.

 Dundee Airport  is closer but only has flights from Stansted, London City and Belfast City.

Perth's own airfield at Scone north of town has no commercial flights, though it's busy with private aviation and flight training.

By train

 * Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in Great Britain

Trains run to Perth from Glasgow Queen Street (High Level) hourly via Stirling (one hour), from Edinburgh hourly via Fife (80 min) plus others changing at Stirling, from Aberdeen hourly via Dundee (90 min), and from Inverness every hour or two via Aviemore (2 hr 15 min).

There is one direct daytime train from London Kings Cross, taking six hours to Perth via York, Newcastle and Edinburgh, and continuing to Inverness, but it's usually more convenient to change in Edinburgh.

Caledonian Sleeper trains run overnight Su-F from London Euston. The Highland Sleeper for Inverness leaves around 9PM and reaches Perth before 6AM, so you'll be woken by 5AM and ejected onto a cold platform with no public transport or amenities available. The return train picks up around 11:30PM to reach Euston for 8AM. You might prefer to take the Lowland Sleeper from Euston towards midnight, and change to a day train in Glasgow or Edinburgh. Returning south, you need to leave Perth around 9PM to join the southbound Lowland Sleeper at Glasgow Central near midnight, and reach Euston shortly after 7AM.

is at the southwest edge of city centre on Leonard St. The station is staffed and fully accessible by wheelchair. There are two entrances, both of which allow car parking. The ticket office, newsagent and café are between platforms 2 and 3. The original main concourse was between the current platforms 4 and 7 and the station was covered by a large overall roof, which still exists in a reduced form. At one time there were nine platforms as the station served a leash of branch lines across the county.

By bus
Perth bus station is on Leonard Street, 200 yards north of the railway station.

Megabus and Citylink buses run from Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Stirling. There are buses to Oban from May until October. Megabus does not call at the bus station: it drops you at Broxden service area at the A9 / M90 junction, which has a frequent Park & Ride bus into town.

Megabus and National Express Bus NX590 (daytime) / 592 (overnight) takes 11 hours from London Victoria via Carlisle and Glasgow to Perth, continuing to Aberdeen (another 2 hr). The overnight bus also calls at London Heathrow.

By car
From Edinburgh and the east side of England follow M90; from Glasgow and the Midlands follow M80 onto M9 / A9; from Dundee and Aberdeen follow A90 west.

The historic Edinburgh to John O'Groats road passed through Perth but the modern A9 is now a bypass to the west. There's a Park & Ride at Broxden roundabout where the M90 terminates onto A9. There's another on A94 at Scone but you're less likely to approach that way.

Get around
Walking will get you round city centre and out to Branklyn Garden.

By bus: Stagecoach are the main operator, no surprise as the company was founded and maintains its headquarters here. For the football ground take Bus 15 (for Crieff) or 23 (for Aberfeldy). For Scone Palace take Bus 3 (circular) or 58 (for Blairgowrie M-F only). For Falkland Palace take Bus 36 towards Glenrothes.

Taxis are plentiful around town, with ranks outside the station, the Caledonian Cinema and next to Tesco Metro on South Street. Local firms include Ace Taxis +44 1738 444000, A & B Taxis +44 1738 446688 and Thistle Taxis +44 1738 441122.

Car hire: you don't need a car in town, but you will to explore rural Perthshire. There's several agencies, mostly clustered at Inveralmond near the north end of the city bypass. Europcar have a base on Glasgow St 200 yards north of the railway station.

See

 * is the 1020 ft / 310 m hill that Birnam Wood marched upon, according to Shakespeare's Macbeth. Its summit has the remains of a late Iron Age hillfort, badly mucked about by bungling Victorian antiquarians. Follow B953 then ascend from the north by Collace.
 * Bandirran Stone Circle is in the woods just before the Collace turn-off. Eight of an original ten are visible, the tallest about 1.5 high.
 * is the 1020 ft / 310 m hill that Birnam Wood marched upon, according to Shakespeare's Macbeth. Its summit has the remains of a late Iron Age hillfort, badly mucked about by bungling Victorian antiquarians. Follow B953 then ascend from the north by Collace.
 * Bandirran Stone Circle is in the woods just before the Collace turn-off. Eight of an original ten are visible, the tallest about 1.5 high.
 * is the 1020 ft / 310 m hill that Birnam Wood marched upon, according to Shakespeare's Macbeth. Its summit has the remains of a late Iron Age hillfort, badly mucked about by bungling Victorian antiquarians. Follow B953 then ascend from the north by Collace.
 * Bandirran Stone Circle is in the woods just before the Collace turn-off. Eight of an original ten are visible, the tallest about 1.5 high.
 * Bandirran Stone Circle is in the woods just before the Collace turn-off. Eight of an original ten are visible, the tallest about 1.5 high.

Do

 * Golf courses in town are North Inch, King James VI and Craigie Hill. A few miles east is Murrayshall. Noah's Ark driving range remains open though the rest of that leisure facility has closed down.
 * is the abrupt 728-ft (222-m) hill east of the city, around which the river makes a tight left-hand turn. Walk or off-road bike to the top for good views over the city and county. Just east of the summit, Kinnoull Tower is an 18th century folly teetering on the cliff edge. Kinfauns Castle east of Kinnoull Hill is privately owned and can't be visited.
 * is the ridge south of the river and city that makes visitors think they've reached the Highlands, as the M90 climbs from lowland fields towards bluffs and woods. At 732 ft (223 m) it's almost the same height as Kinnoull on the other side of the river, but the views are restricted by the trees until you reach the top. Reach it along Rhynd Road off A912 near M90 jcn 10. Elcho Castle is further down this lane.
 * Football: St Johnstone FC (aka "The Saints") play soccer in the Premiership, Scotland's top tier. Their home ground (capacity 10,700) is McDiarmid Park on Crieff Rd PH1 2SJ, two miles northwest of the centre. Take any bus along Crieff Rd A85.
 * Fingask Follies are cabaret. Their next season is 26 April to 5 May 2024 at Fingask Castle 10 miles east of Perth.
 * Scottish Game Fair is held at Scone Palace. It has clay pigeon shooting, gun dogs, fishing, ferreting and falconry, plus exhibitions, children's activities, lots of eating and drinking places, and of course plenty of marketing of the relevant equipment. The next Fair is 5-7 July 2024.
 * Rewind is a music festival at Scone Palace in mid-July, with the next on 19-21 July 2024.
 * Perth Highland Games are held in August at Scone Palace, with the next on Su 11 Aug 2024.
 * Fingask Follies are cabaret. Their next season is 26 April to 5 May 2024 at Fingask Castle 10 miles east of Perth.
 * Scottish Game Fair is held at Scone Palace. It has clay pigeon shooting, gun dogs, fishing, ferreting and falconry, plus exhibitions, children's activities, lots of eating and drinking places, and of course plenty of marketing of the relevant equipment. The next Fair is 5-7 July 2024.
 * Rewind is a music festival at Scone Palace in mid-July, with the next on 19-21 July 2024.
 * Perth Highland Games are held in August at Scone Palace, with the next on Su 11 Aug 2024.

Work
There is potential for picking up summer work in the many restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions, and the rural areas need labour picking fruit or vegetables. Jobs in town are in retail or hospitality and don't pay great wages. The biggest employers are Scottish and Southern Energy, Perth and Kinross Council and Aviva Insurance.

Buy

 * Farmers Market is held first Saturday of every month except Jan, with an extra market third Sat in Dec. It's in King Edward St and High St 09:00-14:00.

Drink

 * Cullach Brewing and tap room is at 50 Princes St, open W-F 4-11PM, Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-9PM.
 * Lindores Abbey is a scrappy ruin on the south bank of Tay, across the boundary into Fife, but it's now home to a whisky distillery. Tours available.
 * Cullach Brewing and tap room is at 50 Princes St, open W-F 4-11PM, Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-9PM.
 * Lindores Abbey is a scrappy ruin on the south bank of Tay, across the boundary into Fife, but it's now home to a whisky distillery. Tours available.
 * Cullach Brewing and tap room is at 50 Princes St, open W-F 4-11PM, Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-9PM.
 * Lindores Abbey is a scrappy ruin on the south bank of Tay, across the boundary into Fife, but it's now home to a whisky distillery. Tours available.
 * Cullach Brewing and tap room is at 50 Princes St, open W-F 4-11PM, Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-9PM.
 * Lindores Abbey is a scrappy ruin on the south bank of Tay, across the boundary into Fife, but it's now home to a whisky distillery. Tours available.
 * Cullach Brewing and tap room is at 50 Princes St, open W-F 4-11PM, Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-9PM.
 * Lindores Abbey is a scrappy ruin on the south bank of Tay, across the boundary into Fife, but it's now home to a whisky distillery. Tours available.
 * Cullach Brewing and tap room is at 50 Princes St, open W-F 4-11PM, Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-9PM.
 * Lindores Abbey is a scrappy ruin on the south bank of Tay, across the boundary into Fife, but it's now home to a whisky distillery. Tours available.

Stay safe
Perth is mostly safe even at night.

Connect
Perth has 4G from all UK carriers. As of March 2021, 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Go east to rejuvenated Dundee, then explore the coast towards Aberdeen.
 * Southwest brings you via Gleneagles to Stirling.
 * The Highlands start a few miles north at Birnam. The road leads through Pitlochry and Blair Atholl then climbs over the bleak moor to Aviemore.
 * The road west also enters the Highlands at Crieff.