Murder, Treason, and Royalty: A Guide to Medieval Perth’s Bloody Past

Perth is one of Scotland’s most important medieval cities. Because of its proximity to Scone, where ancient monarchs were crowned, it was once central to royal life. This walking tour explores the former capital’s royal links and the violence that often accompanied them.

The tour begins at Perth’s former waterworks by the River Tay. There, you’ll explore the city’s almost prehistoric origins, with evidence showing that hunter-gatherers lived here 8,000 years ago, predating the Romans in Britain.

As you continue, you’ll hear the story of King James VI’s alleged abduction by the powerful Ruthven family. I’ll also tell you about his ancestor King James I of Scotland, who was even less fortunate, being brutally murdered in the Blackfriars Monastery. The tour ends close to the Mercure Perth Hotel, a former watermill, in an area that used to feed Perth with its plentiful mills and breweries.

Along the way, you’ll have a chance to:

• See where a violent fight to the death was played out in front of King Robert III and his horrified courtiers
• Pass Perth Art Gallery, one of Britain's earliest purpose-built museums
• Hear about the Stone of Destiny, the crowning stone of Scottish kings, and how it still plays a role in modern-day coronations
• Walk through Greyfriars Burial Ground, containing one of Scotland’s finest collections of medieval gravestones
• Find out how John Knox preached a sermon in the city that kick-started the reformation and changed the face of Scotland
• Be amazed by the story of an avid royal hotelier who missed meeting Queen Victoria when the monarch stayed in his own hotel!
• Find the Fair Maid’s House Visitor Centre (the oldest house in Perth), made famous by Sir Walter Scott in his novel of the same name
• Stroll under Smeaton’s Bridge, which has provided a safe crossing to the city since every bridge 150 years before it was washed away

Join me for a Scottish sojourn beside the River Tay. This is a great introduction to Scotland’s first capital city. If you like history, with a bit of intrigue and murder, this is the tour for you!