The new Heart 200 touring route in Scotland offers a wealth of places to visit along he 200-mile drive. There are numerous attractions to visit, too. It would be easy to spend an entire week on a campervan or motorhome holiday in Scotland driving this route and stopping off at different places each day.
The route takes in two cities, Stirling and Perth, as well as many tourist villages and towns, such as Doune, Dunblane, Aberfoyle, Callander, Killin, Aberfeldy, Blair Atholl, Pitlochry, Dunked, Blairgowrie and Kinross.
We reveal 10 of our favourite places and views on this Heart 200 route.
10 great places to visit on Scotland’s new Heart 200
1. Stirling
Stirling is at the heart of central Scotland and offers visitors a wealth of Scottish history. Visit the old town and medieval Stirling Castle, which sits on ancient volcanic rock.
There is also a National Wallace Monument, a 19th-century tower, which overlooks the site of the 1297 Battle of Stirling Bridge, where William Wallace defeated the English.
The Battle of Bannockburn Experience tells the story of the 1314 battle.
2. Perth
Scotland’s ancient capital for five centuries, the “Fair City” of Perth is located on the River Tay with plenty of attractions, shops and places to dine.
3. Creiff
Crieff is a traditional Scots market town set Perthshire’s rolling countryside. It is a busy town with lots of independent businesses offering food and drink, gifts, crafts and arts. There are plenty of places for eating out, too.
Crieff’s attractions include the Caithness Glass Visitor Centre and The Famous Grouse Experience at Glenturret Distillery.
4. Loch Earn
Loch Earn is a freshwater loch near Crieff and is located in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. The loch is the source of the River Earn.
You could try a range of watersports at Loch Earn Watersports Centre such as wakeboarding, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.
The mountain, Ben Vorlich, to the south of the loch is a popular walk and offer s fantastic views of the surrounding countryside.
5. Aberfeldy
Another busy tourist town, Aberfeldy, in Highland Perthshire, sits on the banks of Scotland’s longest river, the River Tay. It is also home to The Birks of Aberfeldy, made famous by Scotland’s famous poet, Robert Burns.
He wrote a poem about The Birks in 1787 and you can follow a path for two miles up to the Falls of Moness.
Also visit Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery, Aberfeldy Watermill and enjoy a range of outdoor adventures nearby such as white water rafting, gorge walking, canyoning, mountain biking and walking.
6. Strathyre
Strathyre is a pretty Victorian village on the shore of the River Balveg and close to Loch Lubnaig. There is a range of place to eat and some small shops.
In the centre of the village is the Buchanan monument, erected in 1883 to commemorate the religious poet Dugald Buchanan.
There is a lot to do in the great outdoors nearby. Strathyre forest has trails for walkers and mountain bikers, while Loch Lubnaig is great for wild swimming, fishing, canoeing, kayaking and other watersports. The village offers access to a popular mountain walk of Ben Ledi.
7. Kenmore
Kenmore is a small village in Perthshire and a good stopping place if you want to stroll the shore of Loch Tay. The loch also offers activities such as sailing, canoeing, wild swimming and fishing.
The main attractions at Kenmore are Taymouth Castle and the Scottish Crannog Centre.
8. Dunblane
Dunblane is located a few miles north of Stirling. The town is claimed to have been founded in 602 by the Celtic missionary, St Blane at a ford in the Allan Water.
It went on to develop as a major stronghold of the pre-Reformation Church, which explains the building of the superb 13th century cathedral. Post-Reformation, the building fell into disrepair but restoration work has since returned it to its original splendour.
There are other historic attractions to see, such as the 17th century Dean’s House, which houses a tiny cathedral museum and the oldest private library in Scotland.
9. Loch Ard
Loch Ard is a freshwater loch located to the west of Aberfoyle. It is the source of the River Forth and one of more than 20 lochs in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.
Scottish author and poet, Sir Walter Scott, mentioned the loch in his 1817 novel Rob Roy and described it as “an enchanting sheet of water”.
On the loch’s southern shore, is the ruins of a castle built by Murdoch Stewart, Duke of Albany, who was executed by James I for treason in 1425.
Loch Ard is a great place for families to visit with the forest offering walks and bike rides on trails, including the Loch Ard Sculpture Trails.
Loch Ard is also home to Go Country Adventure Park with a range of watersports to try.
10. Blairgowrie
Blairgowrie is one of the largest towns in Perthshire and located on the banks of the River Ericht. Blairgowrie area was once a centre for flax growing flax with 12 spinning mills set up by the end of the 18th century. Blairgowrie is now the centre of Perthshire’s soft fruit industry.
Blairgowrie offers access to a wonderful walking route, the 60-mile circular Cateran Trail and a gateway to Glenshee, a mountain sports arena.
Book a campervan hire early
Open Road Scotland has a range of campervans and motorhomes to hire in Scotland and conveniently located close to Glasgow Airport in Central Scotland. It is a great place to start a trip that takes in the Heart 200, so please get in touch if you’d like to know more.