Perthshire landmarks take shape in cake form as Cake Fest returns to city

Bakers recreate famous buildings with sponge and icing

Well-known landmarks were carefully crafted into mouth-watering cakes to draw crowds to Perth yesterday.

Eager bakers recreated the likes of Perth Concert Hall, Scone Palace and the Crannog Centre at Kenmore as Cake Fest made its return to the city.

The event, which was organised as part of the Perthshire Feast celebration in Mill Street and Horsecross Plaza, also saw cakes depicting the AK Bell Library, Elcho Castle, Huntingtower Castle, Bell’s Sports Centre and the Fergusson Gallery.

Community groups as well as individual bakers were encouraged to take part and each edible sculpture was placed on a map of the area, created by Cake Fest head baker Simon Preston.

This year saw a redesigned, larger map celebrating a range of local events and anniversaries, including the 150th anniversary of Perthshire Rugby Club.

The map was inspired by an ancient tradition which was banned in 1577, when Perth bakers last paraded their goods to celebrate St Obert, the patron saint of their trade.

When the map was complete, the cakes were cut and shared with visitors.

The overall map took shape by early afternoon, when cakes portraying landmarks located outside Perth were moved onto the main table outside Perth Concert Hall.

Gemma Fraser, 35, of Perth, said she found the Cake Fest to be an “amazing” experience.

“I can’t believe the attention to detail of these cakes,” she said.

“They’re so like the actual buildings. The bakers that created the cakes must have spent a long time making them. It seems a shame to eat them.”

Horsecross Plaza and Mill Street also hosted live music and food stalls, along with entertainment yesterday as part of the lights switch-on weekend.

Pictures: Steve MacDougall. Left: Michael White and son Adam, from Perth, admire one of the creations; above: a sweet replica of the Glenshee ski centre.

The cake version of Bell’s Sports Centre in Perth.