Kinross-shire

Kinross-shire is the southern gateway to Perthshire from Edinburgh and boasts its own impressive historical legacy.

Driving north on the M9 motorists can still see Loch Leven Castle where Mary Queen of Scots was held prisoner in 1567-68 before escaping for a brief period of freedom before eventually meeting her fate in the Tower of London.

In 1662 there were a series of witchcraft trials that foreshadowed those in Salem in the United States. Today Kinross-shire is a rolling plain of farmland and quiet villages.

Kinross

Today Kinross is best known as the venue for the ever-popular "T in the Park" pop festival, which has grown into one of Europe's major summer music events. However, the town is also steeped in Scottish history.

Bounded by hills, Kinross enjoys a stunning setting to the south of Perthshire. Loch Leven, the largest loch of the Scottish Lowlands is undoubtedly the main feature of this area. Declared a nature reserve in 1964, the loch today is of international importance attracting around 15,000 geese every autumn.

Sitting peacefully on an islet in Loch Leven lies enchanting Loch Leven Castle. Between April and September, a small boat ferries visitors to the castle in the loch where Mary Queen of Scots was held prisoner in 1567. Her dramatic escape by boat is one of Scotland's most romantic tales.