Blairgowrie

Raspberry fields stretch endlessly around this Perthshire market town, earning it the unofficial title of Britain's soft fruit capital. Every summer, the hillsides blush red with acres of canes, and the sweet scent drifts through the streets during picking season.

Blairgowrie sits comfortably in the valley of the River Ericht, with the Grampian foothills rising dramatically to the north. The town itself has a proper working feel - this isn't a tourist trap dressed up for visitors. Allan Street bustles with independent shops and cafes, while the twice-weekly market brings farmers down from the glens.

Golfers make pilgrimages here for Blairgowrie Golf Club, which many reckon serves up some of Scotland's finest heathland courses. The Rosemount course particularly gets hearts racing with its mix of heather, silver birch, and devilish bunkers. Less energetic souls can wander through Druidsmere Wood or explore the ancient Craighall Stone Circle, though you'll need to ask locally for directions.

Perthshire's dramatic landscape unfolds in every direction. Head north and you're quickly into proper Highland territory - the Cairngorms loom on the horizon, while ski runs at Glenshee are barely a half-hour drive. South takes you through gentler farmland towards Perth.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense. You're ideally placed for day trips into the Highlands while having a proper town on your doorstep. The A93 whisks you north to Braemar and Balmoral, or south to Perth in forty minutes. Plus, come berry season, you can stock up on the finest raspberries in Scotland without paying tourist prices.