Crieff

Ancient standing stones dot the surrounding hills like scattered chess pieces, hinting at this Perthshire market town's long history. Crieff sits pretty in the heart of Scotland's adventure playground, where the Highlands begin their dramatic rise from gentler southern landscapes. The town itself has a proper lived-in feel - not polished for tourists but genuinely welcoming.

Laggan Hill offers cracking views across the Earn Valley, while the Mill of Drummond and numerous other archaeological sites tell stories stretching back millennia. These aren't fancy heritage attractions with visitor centres - just honest reminders of the folk who've called this corner of Scotland home for thousands of years.

Crieff Visitor Centre provides a good starting point for understanding the area's heritage, though you'll find the real treasures scattered across the countryside. Sites like Earnbank and Turretbank reward those willing to explore beyond the obvious.

The town makes an excellent base for Highland adventures. You're close enough to Perth for supplies (about 20 miles south) yet properly in hill country. Glen Artney stretches northwest towards Loch Katrine, while Comrie and the Ochil Hills lie within easy reach.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks like Comrie Croft or Twenty Shilling Wood Holiday Park puts you right in the thick of it. No lengthy drives to reach proper walking country - you're already there. Perfect for families wanting Highland scenery without the Highland distances.