Dunbarney and Forgandenny Parish Church

You'll find this modest parish church sitting quietly in the Perthshire countryside, a few miles south of Perth. It's the sort of place that rewards a detour if you're interested in Scottish ecclesiastical history rather than something you'd stumble upon by accident. The building itself dates back centuries, with that solid, no-nonsense Scottish stone construction you see throughout the region.

Inside, there's genuine character - old wood, worn flagstones, the kind of peaceful silence that actually means something. If you're the type who enjoys tracing local history through gravestones and reading the stories carved into kirkyard stones, you'll spend a good hour here. For casual visitors, twenty minutes is probably enough to get the feel of it.

The real appeal is bundling this into a broader Perthshire explore. If you're based at Maycroft Retreat or the Scone Camping and Caravanning Club Site - both excellent if you're after proper facilities - the church makes sense as a quiet morning stop before heading into Perth or further afield. It's free to visit, which is always welcome, though opening hours aren't always predictable for these smaller rural churches, so ring ahead or check if there's a notice on the gate.

Kids won't find much to do here unless they're already into history, but walkers using the area will appreciate its position in the landscape. It's one of those places that's worth twenty minutes off the main road if you're already in the neighbourhood, but not worth a special journey on its own.