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The city was previously crowned Scotland’s top place to live(Image: Patrick Donovan / Getty Images)
Scotland’s many cities are popular places to both live and visit. While Edinburgh and Glasgow receive the most attention and welcome the most tourists, the country’s other cities are just as worth checking out.
In fact, one Scottish city that is neither Edinburgh or Glasgow was once named the top place to live in the country. As reported by the Daily Record, Perth was previously crowned the top destination by Muddy Stilettos.
The experts at the travel and lifestyle site described Perth as “brimming with” culture. Receiving particular praise were the Perth Theatre and Concert Hall, which regularly host a varied selection of live shows and performances.
Also praised by Muddy Stilettos was the city’s food scene, which was described as “mouth-watering”. The monthly Perth Farmers’ Market was noted for being a “foodie heaven”, while The Bean Shop coffee shop and the North Port and 63 Tay Street restaurants were also applauded.
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Another highlight of Perth, according to the experts, is its shopping opportunities. In particular, Muddy Stilettos described boutique Evalucia and homewares store Boo Vake as standouts.
Additionally, Muddy Stilettos also named the Meikleour Beech Hedge as the city’s “best kept secret”. With a height of 30 metres and a length of 530 metres, the hedge has been named by the Guinness World Records as the tallest and longest hedge on Earth.
The Meikleour Beech Hedge(Image: Spectrum Colour Library / Heritage-Images)
Finally, Muddy Stilettos singled out Scone Palace and Loch Leven as some of the top attractions in the surrounding area. Scone Palace is an A-listed house dating back to the 12th century that is set within tranquil gardens, while Loch Leven is the biggest natural shallow water body in lowland Britain.
While Perth was named by the experts as Scotland’s best place to live, it is also a great spot for a staycation. There are lots of holiday rentals and hotels in the city and the surrounding area that can be booked.
One property in Perth that can be rented out for a holiday is a handmade cabin in a natural cottage garden, which sleeps up to two people. On Airbnb, the home is available to rent for a price of £223 for two nights.
The handmade cabin is set in a natural cottage garden(Image: Airbnb)
The space features a wood-burning stove, a fridge, a microwave, a toaster, and a kettle. Outside, there is a covered veranda and a garden.
The cabin has earned very positive feedback on Airbnb, with an overall rating of 4.91 after 301 reviews. It has been described as “beautiful” and “peaceful”, though one previous guest noted that “the car can’t be parked nearby”.
Elsewhere, another property in the area that can be rented out for a staycation is Rockdale in the village of Scone near Perth. Sleeping up to four people, the cottage is available to book through holidaycottages.co.uk at a price of around £500 for two nights.
The one-storey property includes a lounge with a fireplace and a Smart TV, a kitchen and diner, and two double bedrooms. Outside, it features a two-part garden with a patio seating area that has garden furniture and a barbecue.
Rockdale(Image: holidaycottages.co.uk)
On holidaycottages.co.uk, Rockdale has earned very positive reviews from past visitors. It has been praised as “very comfortable” and “cosy”, though some holidaymakers may prefer to stay in Perth itself.
Perth is also home to a wide selection of hotels for those uninterested in a self-catered holiday. Popular picks for affordable hotels in the city include the Premier Inn Perth City Centre and the Holiday Inn Express Perth by IHG, while The Townhouse is a five-star bed and breakfast with views over the city’s South Inch Park.