Aberfeldy

Birdsong echoes across the Tay Valley as you approach this Highland Perthshire town, where the rushing river cuts through ancient pine forests and bare hills rise like sleeping giants. Aberfeldy sits perfectly between the Highlands proper and the gentler southern landscapes - close enough to Perth for supplies but far enough north to feel properly wild.

The Black Watch Monument dominates the town square, a reminder of the regiment first raised here in 1740. More dramatic still are the Falls of Moness, where the Urlar Burn crashes down through a rocky gorge just outside town - the path up offers cracking views but it's a proper climb in parts.

What really draws people here is the walking. Farragon Hill provides an excellent half-day hike with panoramic views across Loch Tay, while the more ambitious can tackle peaks like Sron Mhòr or Beinn Eagagach. The network of lochs - from intimate Lochan a' Chait to the larger Loch Derculich - makes for excellent wild swimming if you don't mind the Highland chill.

Getting here couldn't be simpler: the A827 runs straight through town from the A9, about 90 minutes from Edinburgh. Aberfeldy makes an ideal jumping-off point for exploring the wider Tay Valley, from the whisky distilleries around Pitlochry to the castle country further south.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks puts you right in the thick of it. Milton Of Fonab sits beside the River Tay itself, while Tummel Valley Holiday Park offers easy access to both Aberfeldy and the dramatic Pass of Killiecrankie beyond.