Auchterarder

Golf courses stretch endlessly across rolling Perthshire hills, making this the undisputed capital of Scottish golf tourism. Auchterarder sits pretty in the Strathearn valley, a proper Highland market town that's become synonymous with the world-famous Gleneagles resort just down the road.

The town itself keeps things real despite its glamorous neighbour. Local shops line the main street, and you'll find decent pubs serving hearty Scottish fare without the resort price tags. It's the sort of place where you can grab supplies and chat to locals about the best walking routes up Ben Effrey or Coul Hill.

Those peaks are worth the effort - cracking views across the valley and beyond to the Highlands proper. Glenquey Reservoir makes for a gentler walk if you fancy something less demanding. History buffs should seek out the Monument To Janet Jardine and the various archaeological sites dotted about, including Craigmill and the ancient dun at Kay Craig.

Getting here's straightforward enough. The A9 runs nearby, and Gleneagles station puts you on the main Edinburgh to Inverness rail line. Perth's your nearest proper city, about 20 minutes by car.

Staying at one of the local holiday parks makes perfect sense. You get the countryside setting without Gleneagles prices, plus you're ideally placed for exploring the broader Perthshire landscape. The Ochil Hills rise to the south, while the Grampians beckon northward - all proper Scottish scenery without the tourist crowds you'd find further into the Highlands.