Glenisla Parish Kirk

The walk up to Glenisla Parish Kirk is half the appeal. You'll take a quiet single-track road north of Blairgowrie that threads up into proper Highland landscape - rolling moorland, larch plantations, the lot. The church itself sits in a valley, whitewashed and austere, with views that stretch across the glens. It's a working parish church, which means you'll need to catch it at service times or ring ahead to arrange a visit. That said, the setting alone is worth the drive. The kirk dates back centuries and feels genuinely remote, the kind of place where you notice how few people pass through. Inside, it's simple and dignified - no fuss, just solid stone and local history worn into the pews. This is for walkers and history types rather than kids after an afternoon's entertainment, though families won't feel out of place at all. Allow an hour including the drive from Blairgowrie, longer if you fancy exploring the surrounding glens. The area works brilliantly with a park holiday - Glenshee Glamping sits just 3.7 miles away and offers a proper base for hillwalking, while Nethercraig Holiday Park, five miles off, gives you access to the same landscape without going full camping. Come in spring or early autumn when the light's best and the midges aren't unbearable. It's the kind of stop that reminds you why people love the Scottish Highlands.