Newburgh Parish Church

The church sits in Newburgh village with proper medieval bones - a real working parish church rather than a museum piece, which means you get the genuine article. The stonework speaks for itself if you know how to read it, with hints of 13th-century work lurking beneath the Georgian refurbishments that follow.

You won't spend hours here, and that's the point. This is the sort of stop you make while walking between things, or when you've got an interest in church architecture and want to tick off the local history. The interior has that particular smell all old kirks have - stone and hymn books and time. It's free to wander round, though opening times can be unpredictable with smaller parish churches, so call ahead if you're making a special journey from Perth.

Families with kids won't find it gripping for long, but if someone in your group cares about medieval Perthshire, it's worth twenty minutes. Walkers passing through appreciate the location and the chance to stretch legs properly. The real value comes from pairing it with the nearby parks - Snugs at Logie Farm is three miles south if you're camping, and it's a decent base for exploring the Tay valley properly. You could combine this with a proper countryside walk rather than treating it as a standalone visit.

Best visited on a clear day when the light hits the stonework properly. Winter afternoons feel a bit gloomy in there, even for a kirk.