Perthshire, Stirlingshire, Angus and Fife

Perthshire, Angus, Tayside and Fife

Perthshire is perhaps the best known of these regions and occupies the central highland area of Scotland. Known for its verdant hills and glens and its leafy tree-lined salmon rivers, it is generally recognised as one of the richest and most diverse areas of Scotland in terms of wildlife, flora and woodland. Gardens to visit are plentiful, and the towns of Pitlochry, Blair Atholl and Dunkeld are a big attraction for visitors from all over the world.

The Kingdom of Fife is best known for St Andrews and golf and the necklace of fishing villages strung along the coast. Inland, the Fife villages also reward exploration and offer a relaxing, tranquil holiday location. No dramatic mountains or steep sided glens but plenty of quaint fishing villages, cafes, attractive shops in the ancient university town of St Andrews, and golf courses. There is an excellent rail and road network through Fife, giving easy access to the capital city of Edinburgh.

Fly/drive
Airports: Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee.

Roads: Excellent dual-carriageway roads from north to south and east to west allowing easy touring of many areas of central Scotland.

Climate: The east enjoys a much drier and sunnier climate than the west of Scotland, which has led to this area becoming Scotland's premier fruit growing country. Perthshire encompasses every kind of landscape from mountainous to lush, green glens and straths. Consequently, it experiences a wide range of weather conditions. In winter, snow is more likely on the higher ground.

Tayside stretches from Perth to Dundee, essentially following the river Tay and up into the little known Angus Glens which lie between the Braes of Angus, taking in hills of 3000ft down to sea level. The coast has some of the cleanest beaches in Scotland which are popular for holidays - Lunan Bay, Carnoustie and Broughty Ferry. Glamis Castle, with its association to Macbeth, is near Kirriemuir where J M Barrie was born. The town of Kirriemuir is fascinating, in architecture and history, and we recommend reading the novel Sunset Song by Lewis Grassick Gibbons, before venturing into these glens. This is a superb book which portrays life in the glens in the early 19th century. Golfers will be delighted with all the good courses which can be enjoyed in the area, including the championship course at Carnoustie.