St Serf's Church & Dupplin Cross

The real draw here is the Dupplin Cross - a chunky ninth-century Pictish stone that stands in the churchyard like something the Vikings forgot to steal. It's properly impressive in person, covered in intricate carved figures that take a good ten minutes to decipher if you're into that sort of thing. St Serf's Church itself is modest, a simple medieval kirk that feels genuinely old rather than over-restored. You're not looking at hours here; more a satisfying twenty-minute wander from Perth, especially if you're passing through on the A9 corridor.

This works best for history nerds and anyone with a genuine interest in early Pictish carving. Families with restless kids might find it a bit sparse - there's nowhere to run about, and the church interior is fairly plain. That said, the churchyard itself is peaceful and the cross is the sort of thing that sticks with you.

It's free to visit and you can turn up whenever. The real value comes if you're basing yourself at one of the nearby parks - Greenhill Farm Glamping and Maycroft Retreat are both excellent and only a few miles off - and want to string together a few cultural visits rather than just doing theme parks. Combine it with Scone Palace or a walk along the Tay, and it slots in nicely. Go on a grey day if you can; the light on the carved stones is actually better.