Blairgowrie

Raspberries made this Perthshire market town famous, and the soft fruit fields still stretch across the rolling countryside in summer. Blairgowrie sits where the Ericht and Black Water rivers meet, creating a proper Highland gateway feel despite being just 16 miles north of Perth.

The town centre retains its Victorian character around the Old Marketplace, with independent shops and cafes that actually stay busy year-round. Local history runs deep here - the Town Cross marks centuries of market trading, while memorials like the Alfred Anderson Memorial and various war monuments remind you this community has seen plenty.

Archaeology buffs will find plenty to poke about. Ancient sites dot the landscape, from standing stones to old mill workings like Coupargrange Mill and the Mill of Fyal. These aren't grand tourist attractions - more like quiet reminders of how people have worked this land for generations.

Outdoors, the Hill of Loyal offers cracking walks with views across Strathmore to the Sidlaw Hills. The Commonty of Alyth Hill provides gentler rambles through mixed woodland and moorland.

Getting here couldn't be simpler. The A93 runs straight through town, connecting Perth to the Cairngorms. Regular buses link to Perth and Dundee if you're car-free.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense for exploring both the immediate area and the wider Perthshire Highlands. You're close enough to nip into town for supplies or a proper meal, but positioned to tackle day trips to the Cairngorms, Loch Tummel, or even a run up to Royal Deeside. The combination of small-town convenience and Highland access is hard to beat.