Viewpark

The views from Viewpark live up to the name - you're standing on high ground looking out across Perthshire with nothing between you and the horizon. It's a proper nature reserve rather than a manicured garden, which means walking boots are essential and the paths can get boggy depending on the season.

The reserve itself is straightforward. You get woodland and open grassland, the kind of place where you might spot red squirrels or hear woodpeckers if you're lucky and quiet. The main appeal is the elevation - Perth sits in the valley below, and from up here you get a genuine sense of the landscape's shape and scale. It's not dramatic scenery like the Highlands, but it's honest and unpretentious.

This works best for walkers rather than casual visitors. You'll need at least ninety minutes to an hour to make it worthwhile, longer if you want to explore properly. It's free to access, which is refreshing, though facilities are minimal - no café, no visitor centre, no car park to speak of. Come in autumn or early spring when midges aren't at their worst.

If you're staying at Luxury Hideaways nearby, Viewpark fits neatly into a walking day. It's close enough to Perth that you can combine it with town shopping or riverside walks, but feels separate enough to feel like proper countryside. Worth the detour if you're in the area and fancy a morning's work with decent views as your reward.