This leisurely route Southward to Perth from the Eastcoast City of Aberdeen, may take a little longer than more direct paths, but the beautiful scenery and quaint villages of inland Scotland make this journey easy to enjoy.
The granite buildings give Aberdeen one of Scotland's most striking skylines. Duthie Park Winter Garden, with its stunning rose mountain is well worth a visit, and for those children among us, why not delve into the wonderful world of fantasy at Storybook Glen which lies just 5 miles from the city. With a historical old town being complimented by a vibrant modern city, Aberdeen is a lively place with plenty of shops, restaurants and great attractions to visit.
The A93 leads you West from the bright city lights of Aberdeen, to Banchory. This little village lies at the end of the B974 which provides a shortcut across the eastern slopes of the Cairngorm Mountain Range to the village of Fettercairn.
When passing through Banchory, it's well worth it to stop and explore a little, as this village has a surprising amount to do. There's a golf driving range, exciting mountain bike trails or why not visit the local castle. Crathes Castle, which is owned by the National Trust For Scotland, was completed around 1596 and is famous for its Jacobean painted ceilings and beautiful gardens, perfect for a gentle stroll.
The nearest settlement to Balmoral Castle is Ballater, which is situated 45 minutes west of Banchory. The old railway station here has been transformed into a tourist information centre and you'll find details about the village's railway and Victorian links. Like many small communities, there is an assortment of unusual shops, so take your time to explore.
A further 8 miles West of Ballater is The Balmoral Estate. Since 1848, when Queen Victoria bought Balmoral, the estate has been the Scottish home of the British Royal Family. You'll normally find the Royals in residence from August to October. To find out when Balmoral is open to the public visit www.balmoralcastle.com. The estate is fantastic, steeped in history and tradition, with wonderful wildlife, scenery and architecture making it a special place to remember.
Braemar, was a favourite spot of Queen Victoria and you can learn all about this at the Highland Heritage Centre. Perhaps most famous of all is the annual Highland Games event which have been taking place on the 1st Saturday in September for over 900 years. As well as Braemar Castle, which was built in 1628, you can visit the ancient ruin of Kindrochit Castle - built in the 11th Century by King Malcolm III, it was a royal castle for 500 years, try not to miss it.
Travelling south from Braemar on the A93 takes you through the wonderful Scottish countryside to Perth. The city centre in Perth occupies a small area and is very easy to explore by foot. It is a town with an upbeat air and has plenty of shops, restaurants and bars to relax in. Perth is distinctly Scottish, with a slight dash of European Style. With many markets held on a weekly basis throughout Perth, including farmers markets, craft markets and continental markets, shopping in the city comes with a twist. Perth has a lot of cultural activities on offer as well. There are three annual arts festivals held in Perthshire - one at Perth, one in Dunkeld and one in Birnam, and don't forget in the heart of the town there is Perth Theatre - It is here that stars like Ewen McGregor made their debut!
Whilst Perth and its surrounding countryside provides a great destination for all kinds of outdoor activities, it is also rich in history and ancient buildings - these include Roman Forts, Medieval Castles, Pictish Stones and Crannogs. Crannogs were homesteads that were built during the Iron Age by farmers using enormous wooden piles driven into the bed of the loch. You can visit a crannog on loch Tay, near Kenmore and in ancient times it is believed that there used to be 18 crannog dwellings in this loch alone. You will even be able to get a taste of prehistoric life and have an opportunity to try ancient skills first hand such as woodturning, wool spinning and grinding grain.
One of Perth's most visited attractions is Scone Palace, pronounced "Scoon". This is home to the Earl of Mansfield and the ancient crowning place of Scottish Kings. It is a treasure of fine paintings, furniture and porcelain and at the foot of the grounds at Moot Hill you can visit the site of the famous Coronation "Stone of Destiny" this was the crowning site for Kenneth McAlpine and Robert the Bruce. It is easy to spend an entire morning here. As well as visiting the Palace you can walk around the grounds amongst the residential peacocks and there is also an aromatic pine garden planted in 1848 with exotic conifers, a donkey park and an adventure playground for children.
