Pitlochry

Pitlochry itself is the landmark - a Victorian spa town that sits bang in the heart of Perthshire with the River Tummel running through it. The place has real character, the sort of town that still feels like people actually live here rather than exist for tourists. The main draw is the famous salmon ladder at the dam, where you can stand and watch Atlantic salmon doing their acrobatic thing against gravity from May through October. It's genuinely compelling - not as dull as it sounds on paper.

Walkers will find themselves in heaven. Trails fan out in every direction, from gentle riverside strolls to proper hill routes that'll test your fitness. The town centre has proper shops, cafes that aren't chain operations, and a theatre if the weather turns. Most people allow a full day here, longer if you're keen on hiking. The salmon ladder is free to watch, and that's the main free attraction. Everything else - theatre tickets, meals, attractions - will cost you.

For families with younger kids, the ladder keeps them entertained for maybe an hour before they get twitchy. Teenagers and adults who actually like walking will get far more mileage. Milton Of Fonab and Faskally Woods are just minutes away if you're basing yourselves at a caravan park, making Pitlochry ideal as a day out or a longer base camp for exploring the Tay Valley. It's the sort of place that rewards wandering about rather than ticking boxes.