Take a day trip from Edinburgh to the Southern Highlands and explore the natural beauty of the county of Perthshire, all within easy reach of Scotland's capital city. Perthshire is considered to be the very centre of the country and has an abundance of culture and natural heritage, including iconic, ancient castles, sparkling lochs, mountains and famous salmon rivers such as the River Tay.

After leaving Edinburgh you will cross the River Forth on the Queensferry Crossing allowing you a bird's eye view of the famous Forth Rail Bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and then onwards to the historic small city of Perth, on the banks of the River Tay. After which you have the option of visiting Scone Palace, ancestral home to the Earls of Mansfield and one of the finest stately homes in the region. We then travel north into the Highlands, visiting the quaint town of Dunkeld with its 17th century square, historic cathedral and beautiful riverside walks. A short drive further north brings us to Pitlochry, a pretty Victorian era spa town which offers good eating and shopping opportunities. 

Continuing north through the Pass of Killiecrankie, a wooded gorge and site of a famous battle in 1689 we arrive at the village of Blair Atholl where you have the option of visiting Blair Castle and Gardens,one of the finest privately owned castles in Scotland, and ancestral home of the Dukes of Atholl, who is still permitted to keep a small private army!

Turning in a southerly direction now with a drive along the side of Loch Tummel and a stop at one of Queen Victoria's favourite viewpoints - the Queen's View. From here we head over the hills to Aberfeldy and then on to either; Glasgow via Loch Tay and the Loch Lomond National Park or to Edinburgh, via Crieff and Dunning, where resides the marvel that is the 9th century Dupplin Cross from the Pictish era.

For whisky lovers, I can incorporate a visit to one of the following distilleries into this tour; Blair Atholl, Edradour, Aberfeldy, Glenturret and Deanston.