Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
multilingual information; there are also panels relating histories of some of the Scottish
kings crowned at Scone over the centuries.
Outside, peacocks - all named after a monarch - strut around the magnificent
grounds
,
which incorporate woods, a butterfly garden and a maze.
Ancient kings were crowned on
Moot Hill
, topped by a chapel, next to the palace. It's
said that the hill was created by bootfuls of earth, brought by nobles attending the corona-
tions as an acknowledgement of the king's rights over their lands, although it's more
likely the site of an ancient motte-and-bailey castle.
From Perth's centre, cross the bridge, turn left, and keep bearing left until you reach the
gates of the estate (15 to 20 minutes' walking). From here, it's a half-mile to the palace.
Various buses from town stop here roughly hourly; the tourist office has a printout.
There's a good cafe at the palace.
GALLERY
JD Fergusson Gallery
(
www.pkc.gov.uk
;
cnr Marshall Pl & Tay St; 10am-5pm Mon-Sat, plus 1-4.30pm Sun
May-Sep)
Beautifully set in the round waterworks building, this gallery exhibits much of
the work of the Scottish Colourist JD Fergusson in a most impressive display. Fergusson
spent time in Paris, and the influence of artists such as Matisse on his work is evident; his
voluptuous female portraits against a tropical-looking Riviera background are memorable,
as is the story of his lifelong relationship with noted Scottish dancer Margaret Morris.
CHURCH
St John's Kirk
(
www.st-johns-kirk.co.uk
;
St John's St; 10am-4pm Mon-Sat, to 1pm Sun May-Sep)
Daunting St John's Kirk, founded in 1126, is surrounded by cobbled streets and is still the
centrepiece of the town. In 1559 John Knox preached a powerful sermon here that helped
begin the Reformation, inciting a frenzied destruction of Scone abbey and other religious
sites. Perth used to be known as St John's Town after this church; the football team here is
still called St Johnstone.
MUSEUM
Perth Museum
