Things you didn't know about... Perthshire

Perthshire: well, is it a county or isn't it?

Perthshire, or the County of Perth, was abolished in 1975 and split between the Central and Tayside Regions. However, Perthshire continues to exist as a "registration county". This means that, while it isn't a local government county, it is considered a county for the purposes of census taking.

Perthshire—Scotland's crowning glory

For centuries, Scottish kings were crowned at Scone, on the Stone of Destiny. Edward I stole the stone in 1296 and, while the English agreed to return the stone under the terms of the 1328 Treaty of Northumberland, the stone would have to wait almost another 700 years before returning to Scotland.

Mass duel in Perth

Perthshire county capital Perth was once the site of one of the biggest duels in British history. In 1396, 30 members of the Clan Chattan and 30 members of the Mackays fought a huge duel in front of Robert III. 29 Mackays were slain but 10 Chattans survived.

Perthshire, cradle of empire-builders

Many say that Perthshire is the centre of Scotland, but during the days of the British Empire, sons of Perthshire exerted their influence right the way across the world.

For instance, Perthshire-born General Edward Braddock was commander-in-chief for North America during the French and Indian War and Perthshire son Alexander Mackenzie served as the second Prime Minister of Canada from 1873 to 1878. Perthshire-born general Charles Menzies founded the city of Newcastle in New South Wales.

Perthshire—a fairway to heaven

The Gleneagles Hotel near Auchterarder was opened by the Caledonian Railway in 1924. The name Gleneagles has become synonymous with golf, thanks to the hotel's world-class golf course, which includes the PGA Centenary Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus.

Ewan McGregor is a Perthshire lad

Ewan McGregor, famed for his role in Danny Boyle's Trainspotting and his portrayal of Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequels, hails from the small Perthshire town of Crieff.

Guinevere was here

According to local legend, King Arthur's queen Guinevere was imprisoned in a fort to the north-east of the town of Altyth. Historians believe the hill fort (known locally as Barry Hill) dates back to Pictish times.

Perthshire has the only legal private army in Europe

The Duke of Atholl is permitted to garrison his private army, the Atholl Highlanders, in his ancestral home, Blair Castle. The regiment has never seen action and is used primarily for ceremonial duties. However, many of its number served with Perthshire yeomanry regiments during World War I and World War II.

Perthshire's Birnham Wood was the undoing of Macbeth

The Perthshire town of Birnham is said to be the location of Birnham Wood, the wood in which Malcolm Cranmore hid his army before the battle at Dunsinane ended Macbeth's reign and life.