The Black Watch Museum – Balhousie Castle and Afternoon Tea
A few hours, from Perth station and back.
The route
The Black Watch Castle & Museum tells the story of Scotland's oldest Highland regiment inside Balhousie Castle, a turreted mansion beside Perth's North Inch.
Afterwards, Effie's on the High Street serves afternoon tea the old-fashioned way, on an antique silver cake stand with a pot of tea.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
Book Afternoon tea at Effies of Perth
Ring Effie's on 01738 634770 to book afternoon tea for about 3pm, after the museum: it's served Monday to Saturday (Effie's is shut on Sundays), £16.95 a person at the time of writing, and cash is preferred.
The day
Perth
An easy afternoon on foot across the middle of Perth. Begin with soldiers' stories in a turreted castle by the North Inch, then wander back into town for tea and cake at a table laid with flowery china.
About four hours
The Black Watch Castle & Museum
An attraction
It's a 24-minute walk from the station through the city centre to Balhousie Castle on Hay Street, beside the North Inch. The museum tells the Black Watch's story through the soldiers who served in it: their medals, uniforms, letters and belongings. Tickets are from £13.25 for an adult at the time of writing, and they let you come back free for a year. From April to October it opens 9.30am to 4.30pm, with last entry at 3.30pm; from November to March it's 10am to 4pm, with last entry at 3pm. Use the level entrance from Hay Street: the way up from the North Inch is 19 steep steps. There's a lift inside. Allow an hour and a half.
13 min on foot
Effie's of Perth
A café
Walk 13 minutes back into town to Effie's at 202 High Street, a tea room of lace and flowery china. Afternoon tea comes on an antique silver cake stand: finger sandwiches, a scone with clotted cream and jam, one of its cakes and a pot of tea or coffee, £16.95 a person at the time of writing. It's open Monday to Saturday, 9.30am to 5pm. Ring 01738 634770 to book for about 3pm, and bring cash, which it prefers. On a Sunday, have tea in the castle's bistro instead.
More about Effie's of Perth
If it rains
Both are indoors: on a wet afternoon only the walks between them, and to and from the station, are out in the rain.
Effie's of Perth, traditional afternoon tea.
Coffee and Things, italian-style coffee bar.