Pitlochry

Scotland's most theatrical town sits pretty in the Tummel Valley, where Victorian ambition meets Highland drama. Pitlochry owes much of its charm to the railway that brought well-heeled tourists north from the 1860s onwards, transforming what was once a modest Highland village into a proper resort town with grand hotels and manicured gardens.

The Festival Theatre remains the town's crown jewel - catch a show here and you'll understand why people travel from across Scotland for a cultural fix in the mountains. Between performances, The Perthshire Gallery showcases local artists whose work captures the surrounding landscape rather well.

Those peaks aren't just pretty wallpaper. Ben Salachill offers the most rewarding climb for moderate walkers, while Craig Lochie provides cracking views over the valley without the full mountain commitment. The more adventurous tackle Creag Bhreac, though it's a proper slog on wet days.

Archaeology buffs should seek out the Dane's Stone and the remains at Moulin - reminders that people have found this valley appealing for centuries. Dr Duff's Monument tells a more recent tale of Victorian civic pride, though the climb up Dunfallandy Hill to reach it will test your commitment to local history.

Train connections make Pitlochry brilliantly accessible - the railway station sits right in the town centre. From Edinburgh or Glasgow, it's a scenic two-hour journey through increasingly dramatic countryside.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes excellent sense. Faskally Woods Holiday Park puts you within walking distance of the town's shops and restaurants, while the River Tilt Park offers a more secluded base for exploring the wider Perthshire hills. Either way, you're perfectly positioned for both Highland adventures and civilised evenings at the theatre.