Perth Vacations, Perth Vacation Reviews, Tourism Guide

Perth Vacation Guide

The name Perth derives from a Pictish word for wood or copse, and links the town to the Picts described by the Romans, who subsequently joined with the Scots to form the kingdom of Alba which later became known as Scotland. During much of the medieval period the town was known colloquially as "St. John's Toun" because the church at the centre of the parish was dedicated to St. John the Baptist. [3] It stands on St. John Street. In addition, the town's original name is still preserved in the town's football club, St. Johnstone.
Finds in and around Perth show that it was occupied by the Mesolithic hunter-gatherers who arrived in the area more than 8,000 years ago.[4] Nearby Neolithic standing stones and circles followed the introduction of farming from about 4,000 BC, and a remarkably well preserved Bronze age log boat dated to around 1000 BC was found in the mudflats of the River Tay at Carpow to the east of Perth.[5] Carpow was also the site of a Roman legionary fortress
Perth has a number of popular architectural and historical attractions, most notably Scone Palace and St. John's Kirk.
Two Historic Scotland properties within a short distance of the town are Huntingtower Castle, former seat of the Earls of Gowrie (open all year; entrance charge), and Elcho Castle, former seat of the Wemyss family (open in summer; entrance charge). Both are excellent examples of late medieval Scottish tower-houses, and are popular sites for weddings.