Best Landmarks in Perthshire
Planning a trip to Perthshire? Discover the best landmarks in Perthshire with history, expert tips, and routes. Free on web or the Evendo app.
The best landmarks in Perthshire
- Top rated
- Closest to the centre
- Price level: low to high
- Time to spend: shortest first
- A–Z
24 landmarks
-
Tourist attraction4.7★16,039 reviews
Royal Mile
Edinburgh's most iconic thoroughfare stretches nearly a mile from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, forming the spine of the historic Old Town. This atmospheric cobbled street is lined with medieval tenements, hidden closes (narrow alleyways), world-class museums, and atmospheric pubs. Home to St Giles' Cathedral, Mary King's Close, and countless shops and restaurants, the Royal Mile offers an immersive journey through Scottish history and culture in one unforgettable walk.
Open 24 hoursTime to spend 1.5–4 hrs
-
Monument4.7★4,771 reviews
Scott Monument
The Scott Monument is a towering Gothic spire located in East Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh. Built between 1840 and 1846, it honors the celebrated Scottish novelist Sir Walter Scott. Standing 61 meters tall, it is the largest monument dedicated to a writer in the world. Visitors can climb its 287 narrow steps across four levels to reach viewing platforms with panoramic views of Edinburgh, including the castle and New Town. The monument also houses a museum room featuring stained-glass windows and exhibits about Scott’s life and works.
Daily 10:00–12:30, 13:45–16:30Price level $$Time to spend 0.5–1.5 hrs
-
Hotel4.4★1,895 reviews
Atholl Palace Hotel
Nestled in the scenic town of Pitlochry, Atholl Palace Hotel is a grand 4-star Victorian hotel offering luxurious accommodation, spa facilities, and stunning views over the Scottish Highlands. With its rich history, elegant architecture, and extensive grounds, it combines heritage charm with modern comfort, making it a favored destination for relaxation, weddings, and exploring Perthshire’s natural beauty.
Price level $$Time to spend 1–3 hrs
-
Hotel4.5★470 reviews
Ballathie House Hotel
Ballathie House Hotel is a distinguished 19th-century country house hotel nestled on the banks of the River Tay near Perth, Scotland. Set within a sprawling 1500-acre estate, it offers 41 traditionally styled bedrooms across the main house, riverside cottages, and a lodge, blending period charm with modern comforts. Renowned for its award-winning 2 AA Rosette dining and warm Scottish hospitality, Ballathie provides a tranquil retreat amid scenic Perthshire countryside, ideal for relaxation, fine dining, and outdoor pursuits such as fishing and shooting.
Price level $$Time to spend 1–48 hrs
-
Museum4.5★232 reviews
The Cameronians - Scottish Rifles - Exploring The Regimental Collection
Located in Hamilton, Scotland, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Regimental Museum preserves the nearly 300-year legacy of this distinguished infantry regiment. Housed within Low Parks Museum, it showcases an extensive collection of artifacts, uniforms, medals, and memorabilia that tell the story of the regiment’s unique religious origins, its service across global conflicts, and its proud decision to disband in 1968 rather than amalgamate. Visitors can explore the regiment’s history from its 17th-century roots through both World Wars to its final postings.
Tue–Sat 10:00–17:00Price level $$Time to spend 1–2.5 hrs
-
Tourist attraction4.6★215 reviews
Steps to Calton Hill
Calton Hill is a volcanic hill rising dramatically at the eastern end of Princes Street, crowned with neoclassical monuments and offering some of Edinburgh's most iconic panoramic views. This UNESCO World Heritage Site embodies 19th-century ambitions to make Edinburgh the 'Athens of the North', featuring the striking National Monument (modelled on the Parthenon), Nelson's Monument, and the City Observatory. Free to access 24/7, the hill provides a peaceful yet inspiring vantage point over Edinburgh Castle, Arthur's Seat, and the Firth of Forth.
Open 24 hoursTime to spend 1–3 hrs
-
Historical landmark4.3★157 reviews
Hamilton Mausoleum
Hamilton Mausoleum, located in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, is a grand 19th-century mausoleum renowned for its massive dome, intricate sandstone carvings, and one of the longest echoes in the world. Built as the resting place for the Dukes of Hamilton, this historic landmark offers guided tours revealing its architectural grandeur, masonic symbolism, and fascinating history. Access is by pre-booked tours through Low Parks Museum, with the mausoleum surrounded by protective fencing to preserve its splendor.
Open 24 hoursPrice level $$Time to spend 1–2 hrs
-
Bridge4.5★137 reviews
Smeaton's Bridge
Smeaton's Bridge, also known locally as Perth Bridge or the Auld Brig, is a distinguished 18th-century stone bridge spanning the River Tay in Perth, Scotland. Designed by renowned engineer John Smeaton and completed in 1771, this Category A listed structure is celebrated for its Georgian architecture, historical significance, and resilience against floods. The bridge connects Perth’s city centre with Bridgend, offering scenic river views and a glimpse into Scotland’s engineering heritage.
Open 24 hoursTime to spend 0.5–2 hrs
-
Historical landmark4.5★137 reviews
The Witches Well
The Witches' Well is a cast iron memorial fountain located just outside Edinburgh Castle, honoring the thousands of people, mostly women, accused of witchcraft and executed between the 15th and 18th centuries. Commissioned in 1894 by Sir Patrick Geddes and designed by artist John Duncan, the fountain features intricate carvings symbolizing the duality of good and evil, with a bronze relief of witches’ heads entwined by a snake, foxglove plants, and healing hands. Though no longer functioning as a water fountain, it remains a poignant tribute to a dark chapter in Scottish history.
Daily 10:00–18:00Time to spend 0.2–1 hr
-
Historical landmark4.5★73 reviews
Abernethy Round Tower
Abernethy Round Tower is a rare medieval Irish-style stone tower located in the village of Abernethy, Perthshire, Scotland. Dating from around 1100 CE, this 22.5-meter tall tower once served as a bell tower and refuge, and is one of only two such towers in Scotland. It features a distinctive Pictish stone mounted on its exterior and offers panoramic views over the surrounding countryside when accessible.
Price level $Time to spend 0.5–2 hrs
Maggie Wall Witch Monument
The Maggie Wall Witch Monument near Dunning in Perthshire, Scotland, is a striking 20-foot-high stone cairn topped with a cross. It bears the inscription “Maggie Wall burnt here 1657 as a witch” and serves as a symbolic memorial to the many women accused and executed during Scotland’s witch hunts. Despite its powerful presence, no historical records confirm Maggie Wall’s existence, making the monument a poignant tribute to all victims of witch persecution.
Open 24 hoursTime to spend 0.5–1.5 hrs
Dunfallandy Stone
An exceptionally well-preserved Pictish cross-slab standing over two metres tall near Pitlochry in Perthshire. Dating to around the 8th or 9th century AD, this red sandstone monument features intricate Celtic knotwork on one side and mysterious Pictish symbols—including warriors, animals, and geometric patterns—on the reverse. Protected within a small shelter, it offers a rare window into the artistic and spiritual life of the ancient Picts and the early spread of Christianity in Scotland.
Open 24 hoursTime to spend 0.5–2 hrs
Brow Well
Brow Well, located near Ruthwell in Dumfries, Scotland, is a historic spring famed for its iron-rich waters believed to have healing properties. This tranquil site is closely linked to the poet Robert Burns, who visited in 1796 seeking relief from illness. Set beside the Brow Burn and near the Solway Firth, the well offers a glimpse into 18th-century folk medicine and Burns’s final days, surrounded by scenic rural landscapes and nature reserves.
Time to spend 0.5–1.5 hrs
Melville Monument
The Melville Monument in Comrie, Perth and Kinross, is a striking 72-foot granite obelisk atop Dun More hill, commemorating Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville. Set in scenic Perthshire countryside, it offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and stands as a testament to Dundas’s political legacy and complex historical impact. The monument is accessible via a steep but rewarding hike, making it a notable landmark for visitors interested in Scottish history and natural beauty.
Open 24 hoursTime to spend 1–3 hrs
Greyfriars Burial Ground
A Category A listed cemetery established in 1580 on the grounds of a former Franciscan monastery, Greyfriars Burial Ground is home to one of Scotland's finest collections of historic gravestones. Located in central Perth near Tay Street, this atmospheric burial ground preserves centuries of local history and features a protective shelter housing thirteen of the earliest stones, including the oldest gravestone from 1580. Now closed to new burials since 1978, it remains a peaceful repository of Perth's heritage.
Daily 8:00–16:00Time to spend 0.8–2.5 hrs
Hirendean Castle
Hirendean Castle, near Heriot in Scotland, is a ruined 16th-century fortress steeped in mystery and history. Once a stronghold of the Kerr family, it sits peacefully amid rolling countryside, offering visitors a glimpse into Scotland’s turbulent past, including tales of witchcraft accusations and tragic suicides. The castle ruins, surrounded by scenic Moorfoot Hills and close to the source of the River South Esk, provide a tranquil yet haunting atmosphere for exploration.
Time to spend 0.5–2 hrs
Tomb Of The Minister Of Scone & Family
The Tomb of the Minister of Scone and Family is a historic landmark located within the grounds of Scone Palace, Perth. This solemn site serves as a mausoleum commemorating the minister and his family, set amidst the rich heritage of Scone Palace, the ancient crowning place of Scottish kings. Visitors can appreciate its historical significance in the context of the palace’s long-standing religious and royal traditions.
Daily 10:00–16:30Price level $$Time to spend 0.5–1.5 hrs
Covington Tower
Covington Tower is a substantial 15th-century tower house located near Biggar, Scotland. Built by the Lindsay family, this historic ruin stands on a prominent saddle of land and features thick coursed rubble masonry walls up to 14 meters high. Once a fortified manor house, it offers a glimpse into medieval Scottish architecture and feudal life, surrounded by earthworks that outline its former defensive position.
Time to spend 0.5–2 hrs
Little Dalton Kirk
Little Dalton Kirk, located near Lockerbie in Scotland, is a roofless ruin of a medieval parish church dating from the 13th to 17th centuries. Once serving a now-abandoned crofting community, the kirk’s evocative remains stand in a tranquil rural setting, surrounded by a historic burial ground with memorials including those of the Carruthers family. Consolidated and partly restored in the early 2000s, it offers visitors a poignant glimpse into Scotland’s ecclesiastical heritage and rural past.
Open 24 hoursTime to spend 0.5–2 hrs
Mungo Park Monument
Located at 9 Back Row in Selkirk, the Mungo Park Monument commemorates the life and achievements of Mungo Park, the pioneering Scottish explorer of West Africa. Erected in 1859, this historic monument features a sculpted column and bronze figures representing the diverse peoples Park encountered during his expeditions. It stands as a testament to Park’s adventurous spirit and enduring influence on African exploration.
Time to spend 0.5–1.5 hrs
Lanark Castle Marker
Lanark Castle, once a royal residence and strategic fortress in medieval Scotland, now exists only as a historic site marked by a stone memorial and a bowling green. Located on a steep earth mound overlooking the Clyde Valley, the castle played a key role in Scottish history, including William Wallace's 1297 uprising against English rule. Though the castle itself was timber-built and later demolished, its site remains a poignant reminder of Lanark's medieval significance and turbulent past.
Time to spend 0.5–1.5 hrs
Inchbrakie Monument
The Inchbrakie Monument in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, stands as a poignant tribute to the vanished Inchbrakie Castle and mansion, once home to the powerful Graeme family. Set amidst rolling fields and marked by the ancient yew tree that sheltered the Marquis of Montrose, this historical landmark invites visitors to reflect on centuries of Scottish history and heritage in a tranquil rural setting.
Time to spend 0.5–2 hrs
Dunkeld Bridge
Dunkeld Bridge, completed in 1809 by renowned engineer Thomas Telford, is a seven-arch stone bridge spanning the River Tay in Dunkeld, Scotland. This elegant humpback bridge connects the parishes of Dunkeld and Dowally to Little Dunkeld, serving as a vital transport link and a historic architectural landmark. Its construction marked a major advancement in Highland infrastructure, replacing unreliable ferry crossings and facilitating trade and travel in the region.
Time to spend 0.5–2 hrs
Clunie Memorial Arch
The Clunie Memorial Arch in Perth and Kinross stands as a poignant historical landmark commemorating the men who lost their lives during the construction of one of the UK's largest water tunnels in the late 1940s. Measuring 6.9 meters across—the same width as the tunnel it honors—the arch symbolizes the sacrifice and legacy of those workers, set amid the tranquil Scottish landscape.
Open 24 hoursTime to spend 0.5–1.5 hrs
Explore Perthshire on the map
A handpicked selection of must-see spots in Perthshire, mapped for you.
More about Perthshire
Perthshire travel guide
Explore Perthshire’s historic towns, forested glens, Highland lochs, riverside paths, castles and mountain landscapes in central Scotland.
Tell me more about PerthshireMore to explore in Perthshire
Best attractions in Perthshire
Best shops in Perthshire
Best bars in Perthshire
Best restaurants in Perthshire
Best nightclubs in Perthshire
Best experiences in Perthshire
Best hotels in PerthshireExplore more
Explore more of United Kingdom
Discover the United Kingdom: A blend of rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant cities, offering a unique travel experience for every visitor.
Explore United Kingdom
Getting your guide ready…
We are putting together a fresh copy of the Perthshire guide. This can take up to a minute.
This can take a few moments. If your browser asks, choose Allow so the download can start. You'll find the guide in your Downloads folder.
Nothing happened? Download it again
Sorry, the guide is taking longer than usual. Please try again in a minute, or get it by email instead.
