Crieff

The air up here carries a proper Highland edge, even though you're only an hour from Edinburgh. Crieff sits in that lovely spot where the Lowlands start getting ideas above their station, rolling into proper Scottish hill country. It's one of those market towns that never quite lost its sense of purpose - still feels like somewhere people actually live rather than just visit.

The real draw isn't the high street, though it's perfectly decent. It's what surrounds the place. The Melville Monument lords it over the town from its perch, offering cracking views across Strathearn if you fancy the walk up. More adventurous types will find plenty to occupy them on the surrounding peaks - Ben Halton and Creag na h-lolaire both provide proper hill walking without requiring a full expedition.

History buffs shouldn't miss Cultybraggan Camp, the old POW facility that's now an oddly fascinating slice of wartime Scotland. The archaeological sites scattered about - Easter Tullybannocher, Mill of Ross, Dalchonzie - speak to much older stories, though you'll need to know what you're looking for.

Comrie sits just down the road, worth a detour if you're after a bit more drama in your landscape. The whole area feels properly Scottish without the tourist circus you get further north.

Staying at one of the holiday parks dotted around makes perfect sense. You're well placed for day trips to the Trossachs or even a push north to the proper Highlands. Crieff itself anchors you nicely - close enough to civilization but far enough out to feel like you've properly escaped the central belt's gravitational pull.