Wed 11 Feb 2009
Perth is one of those wonderful cities in Scotland which I have not, yet, had the pleasure of visiting. I don’t know why I have never made the detour from my usual journey but then I have only ever visited Edinburgh once as I tend to spend most time in the West of Scotland. Maybe this summer I will spend some time in the East and I have started to take a look at the most important places to visit and below I have written a little about three places which I think I will be making a special point of visiting some time sooner rather than later.
Elcho Castle
Elcho Castle can be found about 3 miles from Perth, with views across the River Tay. Elcho is one of the best preserved castles from it’s time, and also one of the most enjoyable to visit. Today’s castle dates back to around 1570, and was built by the Wemyss family. In 1468, James III had granted the land to the family. The head of the family was made both Lord Elcho and Earl of Wemyss in 1633. The family continued to own the castle and estate, and in 1929, the 11th Earl of Wemyss placed the castle in the hands of the state. Today Historic Scotland look after the castle, which has recently been restored.
Elcho Castle
Huntingtower Castle
Huntingtower Castle can be found just west of Perth, and the grounds and castle are beautiful, and well cared for. Huntingtower dates back to the medieval period, but has been redeveloped during it’s colourful history. It has been home to two different families over the years, the Ruthvens and the Murrays. The Ruthvens held the lands from the 1100s to 1600, and the castle was then called House of Ruthven. Originally the castle consisted of two separate tower houses built three metres apart, one for each of the sons of William Ruthven. In the 1600’s, work was undertaken to link the two towers and make it look like one large country home.
Scone Palace
Scone Palace was once the crowning place of the Scottish Kings. Robert the Bruce was crowned at Scone in 1306, and the last coronation to take place at Scone was that of Charles II, when he accepted the Scottish Crown in 1651. The site on which the palace stands was once an important religious gathering place of the Picts, and also the site of an early christian church. The palace is a mysteriously beautiful and powerful place, and the rightful home of the Stone of Scone. At Scone Palace one can enjoy the history, art and antiques, and the superb landscapes and architecture.
If you are looking for somewhere to stay in Perth, Scotland the sites below have listings of Perth hotels and guest houses:
Perth Hotel Scotland - http://www.perthhotelscotland.com/
Accommodation in Perth, Scotland – http://www.virtualscotland.co.uk/accommodation/perthhotels.htm
- http://perth.hotelreservationhelper.com/
