The best cycling routes around Auchterhouse

A pleasant town with the expected shops etc. A good location for a planned break.

A great collection of Pictish stones with some really informative displays.

Glenisla Kirk, a small Gothic church built in 1821, is located at the west end of Kirkton of Glenisla on the B951. Originally part of a religious site dating back to the 13th century, it was first gifted to the Abbey of Cambuskenneth by King William the Lion and later transferred to the Abbey of Coupar Angus in 1311. After numerous repairs, the original church was replaced with the current structure. Now owned by the Glenisla Church Trust, it continues to serve the community with monthly informal evening services (April to December) and a Christmas Eve Watch Night Service. It also offers a venue for weddings and funerals, with local venues providing additional support.

Kirkton of Glenisla, an ancient farming community with Bronze Age and Pictish remains, has a deep ecclesiastical heritage reflected in its name, meaning "church town." From the 14th to 16th centuries, it was part of the lands of Coupar Angus Abbey, which influenced the area's farming development. After the Reformation, the lands were feued to the Ogilvy family, later Earls of Airlie, with Forter Castle remaining as a historical landmark. In the 19th century, the area became a romantic destination, attracting Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Glenisla also saw the construction of Brackny Bridge in 1824, designed by John Justice, marking a significant moment in the area's architectural history.

Forter Castle, built in 1560 by the Ogilvys of Airlie, is a four-storey tower house that was restored in the 1990s after falling into ruin. Its strong defenses made it difficult to capture by surprise, and it withstood various attacks until 1640, when it was besieged by a force of 5,000 men with heavy artillery. The castle was at the heart of a personal feud between the Ogilvys and the Campbells, stemming from land disputes and religious differences. The feud escalated into violent raids, with the Campbells attacking Forter and its lands. In 1640, Archibald Campbell, the Earl of Argyll, led a campaign against the Ogilvys, ultimately razing the castle in an act of personal vengeance. The Countess of Ogilvy is said to have witnessed the destruction from a nearby hill, marking the end of an era for the Ogilvy family in Glenshee.

Alyth, a historic town near the Perthshire–Angus border, has origins possibly dating back to the Picts and was first recorded in a 1200 charter by King William the Lion. It grew through agriculture and linen production in the 1700s, with further expansion after the railway's arrival in 1861, bringing textile mills and increased commerce. Today, Alyth thrives with a mix of local shops, a vibrant arts scene, and a growing tourism sector celebrating its rich natural and cultural heritage.

Alyth, located northeast of Perth and northwest of Dundee, has a rich history that dates back to at least the 6th century. Its name likely comes from a Pictish word meaning "rock" or "cliff," possibly referencing the steep slopes near the town. The earliest record of Alyth is from a 1200 charter by King William the Lion. In 1488, it was granted Burgh of Barony status by King James III, allowing it to hold markets and fairs, which spurred its growth. In the 1700s, the economy flourished with agricultural improvements, cattle droving, and linen production. The arrival of the railway in 1861 brought further expansion, with steam-powered mills, new hotels, and growth in retail. Today, while industry has declined, Alyth remains a vibrant town with a growing tourism economy, a community of artists, and many local businesses.

Alyth is a small town, a little over half an hour’s drive northeast of Perth and northwest of Dundee. It overlooks the broad expanse of Strathmore close to Perthshire’s eastern boundary with Angus. The name is probably Pictish, containing a cognate of Gaelic meaning ‘rock, cliff’, perhaps the steep slope rising from Alyth Burn to the knoll on which the ancient kirk was built, or below the steep ridge of hills immediately to the north of the town. The name would confirm the longevity of settlement in Alyth, perhaps reaching back to the sixth century or earlier. The earliest document to name Alyth is a charter signed in AD1200 by King William the Lion. Several other Scottish kings visited Alyth, notably Robert the Bruce, and probably hunted in the royal forest here. In 1488 it was created a Burgh of Barony by King James III with the right to hold fairs and markets which enabled the town to grow. The economy of Alyth really picked up in the 1700s with large-scale agricultural improvement and cattle droving to the south, and the development of linen production in the town. In the following century Alyth greatly expanded, particularly with the arrival of the railway in 1861. Steam-powered textile mills were established and there was a growth in retailing, while new hotels catered for holidaymakers, golfers and country sports enthusiasts. Today, industry has largely gone but Alyth retains many shops and businesses as part of a varied and vibrant community. It has a flourishing community of artists and a growing tourism economy, which is building on the many natural and cultural heritage sites and places of interest in and around the town.