PERFECT PERTHSHIRE

Beautiful Perthshire has a variety of great experiences to enjoy over the shorter days.

Twosome tunes

A surprising number of musical duos will be stopping off in Perthshire this autumn, beginning with the ethereal Swedish sisters of First Aid Kit (Oct 27), who will perform their country folk jams at Perth Concert Hall. The Proclaimers (Nov 22) will be falling down at your door to bring their feel-good Caledonian anthems to Perth Concert Hall.

What a laugh

Have your funny bone tickled by some of the best professional jokesters on the circuit at Perth Concert Hall. Absolute Radio presenter Jason Manford (Sep 14) explores the confusion of being a middle class adult from a working class background in Muddle Class, while Sarah Millican (Sep 20) brings more of her filthy, warm-hearted gags in Control Enthusiast.

Perthshire palates

Taste the best of Scotland’s larder along the Perth Food and Drink Tour, which runs from the city centre on the first Saturday of every month (Sep-Dec). The four-hour tour nips by a number of restaurants, bars and shops to sample their wares, and introduces visitors to local producers at the Farmer’s Market. For a boozier alternative, the Trossachs Beer Festival (Aug 24-26) at Callander’s Lade Inn features over 160 Scottish ales from the surrounding area.

Culture vultures Experience the great outdoors

Take advantage of the last glimmers of sunshine and explore Perthshire’s natural beauty before the chill of winter sets in. The Crieff & Strathearn Drovers’ Tryst Walking Festival (Oct 6-14) is an entirely volunteer-run celebration of the people and landscape of Crieff, built around a programme of guided walks and evening social events. And Faskally Wood near Pitlochry will be transformed into the Enchanted Forest (Oct 4-Nov 4), with stunning light trails running through a themed audio-visual show.