Towns and villages vie to be named most beautiful in Scotland

TOURISM: Seven Courier Country communities in the running for the Hidden Scotland award

Towns and villages across Courier Country are competing to be named the most beautiful in Scotland.

Crieff, Comrie, Dunkeld, Killin, Pitlochry, Crail and Broughty Ferry are all in the running for the award, organised by the Hidden Scotland tourism group.

They have made it on to a 36-strong shortlist, whittled down from more than 7,000 communities across the country by Hidden Scotland’s followers on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

The local contenders are up against the likes of Portree, Oban, Forres and Peebles in the race for the title.

Caroline Warburton, VisitScotland regional leadership director, hopes the nominations will help boost tourism,

She said: “With their picturesque surroundings, rich heritage and warm welcomes, the towns are some of the most beautiful and charming places in the world.

“I am delighted, but not surprised, to hear that Crieff, Crail, Dunkeld, Broughty Ferry, Comrie, Killin and Pitlochry have been named as finalists in Hidden Scotland’s Most Beautiful Town or Village competition.

“I hope this competition will help bring even more visitors to the region to see these wonderful places for themselves and bring major benefits which will touch every community, generating income, jobs and social change.”

Stuart McLaren, manager of Crieff Visitor Centre, said: “I feel very proud that Crieff has been shortlisted and I believe it is well deserved.

“The local community work has to make Crieff not only a visitor destination but a welcoming and thriving place to live.”

Since launching in 2015, Hidden Scotland has helped to drive tourism across the country and has almost 100,000 followers across its social media channels.

Founder of Hidden Scotland, Jack Cairney, said: “I am excited to start our search for Scotland’s most beautiful town or village.

“Our audience have picked some of the most charming and picturesque places you can visit in Scotland and it is a delight to be able to showcase some of these places.”

Voting has opened on the Hidden Scotland website, with a winner due to be announced on August 10.

To vote go to hiddenscotland.co.uk/ scotlands-most-beautiful-town

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Our audience has picked some of the most charming and picturesque places you can visit in Scotland. HIDDEN SCOTLAND FOUNDER JACK CAIRNEY

Picture: Steve MacDougall. A view of the cathedral in Dunkeld, one of the nominated towns in the Hidden Scotland competition.