Central Scotland - Scotland - page 421

Nearby, on the main street, Roxburghe Guest House ( 01577-864521;
www.roxburgheguesthouse.co.uk ; 126 High St; s £45-65, d £65-75; ) is welcoming
home away from home with a good attitude and lovely garden. The owner is a profession-
al masseuse and acupuncturist if you need any creases ironed out. It's a fair bit cheaper
outside of high summer.
Citylink ( www.citylink.co.uk ) runs bus ser-vices between Perth (30 minutes, hourly)
and Kinross. In the other direction buses go to Edinburgh (1½ hours, hourly).

Perth

POP 43,450
Sedately arranged along the banks of the Tay, this former capital of Scotland is a most
liveable place with large tracts of enticing parkland surrounding an easily managed centre.
On its outskirts lies Scone Palace, a country house of staggering luxury built alongside the
mound that was the crowning place of Scotland's kings. It's a must-see, but the town it-
self, ennobled by stately architecture, fine galleries and excellent restaurants, merits ex-
ploration, and is within easy striking distance of both Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Sights

Scone Palace
( www.scone-palace.co.uk ; adult/child/family £10/7/30; 9.30am-5pm Apr-Oct, closed
4.30pm Sat) 'So thanks to all at once and to each one, whom we invite to see us crowned
at Scone.' This line from Macbeth indicates the importance of this place (pronounced
'skoon'), 2 miles north of Perth. The palace itself was built in 1580 on a site intrinsic to
Scottish history. Here in 838, Kenneth MacAlpin became the first king of a united Scot-
land and brought the Stone of Destiny , on which Scottish kings were ceremonially inves-
ted, to Moot Hill. In 1296 Edward I of England carted the talisman off to Westminster Ab-
bey, where it remained for 700 years before being returned to Scotland.

PALACE