Perthshire

Travelers come for lochside walks, glen drives and distillery stops, with Perth as a practical base for the trip.

Find a room in Perthshire Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Perthshire

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Perthshire is a historic county in central Scotland, where the Lowlands meet the Highlands. Its scenery is built around lochs, river valleys and hills, including Ben Lawers, the highest mountain in the Southern Highlands. Perth, on the River Tay, is the largest town and a natural base for the region. Smaller towns such as Pitlochry, Aberfeldy and Killin sit along the lochs and glens, and Scone Palace, just north of Perth, has grounds and gardens to explore.

The region suits a road trip or an unhurried itinerary built around walks, boat trips and short drives. Most of the countryside is best seen from late spring to early autumn, when days are longer and paths are clearer. Winter brings short days and weather that can close some routes. Plan at least two or three nights to cover Perth, a loch and a glen without rushing.

Perthshire in five

Get a rental car for the glensTrains reach Perth and Pitlochry, but buses to Loch Tay and Glen Lyon run less often than city services. A car lets you stop at lochs and viewpoints when you choose.Getting around
Download offline maps before the glensMobile signal drops out on many single-track roads in the glens. Save the map area in your app before you leave Perth.Phones and eSIM
Check whether you need an ETAVisitors from many visa-free countries need an electronic travel authorization (ETA) to enter the UK, which covers Scotland. Apply on gov.uk before you fly.Visas and entry
Check Scone Palace's season before you goScone Palace and its grounds follow a seasonal schedule. Check the dates on the palace website before you set a day aside for it.
Base yourself in Perth for the trainsPerth sits on the main rail lines from Edinburgh and Glasgow, and the trains to Pitlochry leave from its station. Compare it with Pitlochry or Aberfeldy for a quieter base.Where to stay

Things to do in Perthshire

See all attractions in Perthshire

Sight · PerthshireMeigle Museum

Museum · PerthshireThe Black Watch Castle & Museum

Church · PerthshireSt. John's Kirk

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to PerthshirePut the places you like in Perthshire on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Currency: Pound sterling (GBP)
Entry: Visa-free for some passports; others need an ETA before flying Read more
Emergency: 999 or 112 for police, fire and ambulance
Tipping: Around 10% at restaurants if no service charge is added
Time: UTC+0, UTC+1 in summer (daylight saving)

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh5°Low2°Cold, short days
FebruaryRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low2°Cold, short days
MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh8°Low3°Cool, changeable
AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh10°Low4°Spring, quiet
MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh14°Low7°Long days
JuneRain13 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Long days, midges
JulyRain16 rainy daysHigh18°Low11°Warm, busy
AugustRain15 rainy daysHigh18°Low11°Busy, midges
SeptemberRain14 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Mild, quieter
OctoberRain15 rainy daysHigh12°Low7°Autumn colour
NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh8°Low4°Dark, quiet
DecemberRain16 rainy daysHigh6°Low3°Dark, festive

Average daily high and low in Perth, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Perthshire

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 1°
Humidity: 93%
Wind: 8 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Perthshire

08:37 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+0

Today6°0°0%Monday: Fog. High 6°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue8°5°7%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 7%.
Wed6°3°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu6°3°2%Thursday: Drizzle. High 6°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 2%.
Fri6°3°10%Friday: Drizzle. High 6°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 10%.
Sat6°3°14%Saturday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 14%.
Sun6°3°12%Sunday: Drizzle. High 6°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 12%.

Updated 07:58 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.7469 GBP

Amount

Converted to

GBP · British Pound

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Perthshire

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Every year

JulTRNSMTGlasgow, a day trip
AugEdinburgh International Book FestivalEdinburgh, a day trip
AugEdinburgh International FestivalEdinburgh, a day trip

Day trips by train

Scone Palaceabout 10 minutes by carA palace and grounds a short drive north of Perth, easy to add to a city day.
Pitlochryabout 30 minutes by trainA small Highland Main Line town with river walks and a dam at Loch Faskally.
Edinburghabout 1 hour by trainThe capital, a full day of castle, old town and museums.
Aberfeldyabout 45 minutes by carThe gateway to Loch Tay and the glens, better as a half day than a rushed loop.

Before you go to Perthshire

eSIM for PerthshireSignal drops in the glensRead the guide

Insurance for hill walksCover for a fall on a hill walkRead the guide

Money and cards in ScotlandCards, cash and typical costsRead the guide

Stay in Perth or the glensCompare Perth, Pitlochry and AberfeldyRead the guide

Rules for Perthshire, checked

Check entry rules on gov.uk before you fly, since many visa-free visitors need an ETA to enter the UK.Source
Declare meat, dairy and plant products on arrival, since UK biosecurity rules restrict bringing them in.
Give way at passing places on single-track roads in the glens, and pull in for faster cars.
Scotland's drink-drive limit is lower than in England and Wales, so do not drink and drive.

Plan around Perthshire

All of Scotland

Regions, entry rules, transport and money for a Scotland trip

Read the guide Perth

The city at the centre of the county

Read the guide Getting around Scotland

Trains, buses and car hire for the glens

Read the guide Money and costs

Prices, cards and tipping in pounds sterling

Read the guide Visas and entry

Who needs an ETA and how to apply

Read the guide Where to stay

Perth, Pitlochry and Aberfeldy compared

Read the guide

Perthshire FAQ

Is Perth worth visiting?

Yes, as a base for Scone Palace, the riverside and North Inch park, and the trains to the Highlands. The city itself is small, so one or two nights is enough.

How many days do you need in Perthshire?

Two to three days covers Perth, Scone Palace and one glen. Add days for Loch Tay or Pitlochry if you want walking, since each trip out takes most of a day.

How do you get from Edinburgh to Perth?

By direct train from Edinburgh, about an hour, or by bus or car along the M90 and A9. Check times on Traveline Scotland or the ScotRail site before you book.

When is the best time to visit Perthshire?

May, June, September and October suit most trips. Summer has the longest days but also midges, and winter days are short.

Are midges bad in Perthshire?

They can be, from late spring to early autumn, especially in the glens and beside lochs on calm, damp evenings. Bring a repellent that works on midges and wear long sleeves.

Is Perth the same as Perthshire?

No. Perth is the city, and Perthshire is the wider historic county around it, which includes Pitlochry, Aberfeldy and Loch Tay.