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Perthshire is one of the most beautiful counties in Scotland, with fertile farmland, rugged hills,
Scotland's longest glen (Glen Lyon) and attractive towns and villages. At the heart of the county is Perth, widely known as the Fair City, a town which is known for its polite and friendly people, and with a good selection of shops and restaurants.
On the outskirts of Perth sits the Express By Holiday Inn, the perfect place from which to explore the area.
The hotel has three stars, has five rooms which are fully accessible – and an enviable reputation for the friendliness of its staff and the high standards it maintains. The location of the Express By Holiday Inn means that it's easy to head into the countryside, so visitors often base themselves here for their holiday, with no need to packand unpack each day and no hassle of finding different accommodation.
The history of Perth is a microcosm of the history of
Scotland. In 1396 there was a famous battle between two
clans; James I was assassinated here by a group of his nobles
in 1437; and Montrose occupied the town during the Civil War
in 1644. One of the most significant events, however, was a
sermon given by that most ardent of reformers, John Knox, in
1559 – a sermon which is said to have started the Reformation
in Scotland. The Kirk of St. John's is still a place of worship.
Nowadays Perth is a douce town, with a rich agricultural
hinterland (and a farmers' market on the first Saturday of each
month). Each February the world-famous bull sales take place, drawing breeders from all over the world, keen to purchase stock from the pedigree herds of Scotland. 
There's also plenty for the visitor to do, both in the town itself and in the countryside round about. At the Caithness Glass Visitor Centre near the Express By Holiday Inn, you can watch glass paperweight-makers at work and there is also a shop where you can often pick up a real bargain. Nearby is Huntingtower Castle, now a ruin, but still evocative of the turbulent 16th century when the Castle was the scene of the infamous Ruthven Raids, in which rebellious nobles kidnapped the young king, James VI.
On the other side of Perth is Scone Palace, famed as the crowning place for Scottish kings. It was from here that the Stone of Destiny was stolen by Edward I of England in 1296 and taken to London. Inside the Palace is a magnificent collection of clocks and porcelain, furniture and ivories; a treasure chest of treasures! The Perth Concert Hall, due to open in the autumn, will be a major venue for cultural performances and other major events.
You may prefer to head north to Highland Perthshire and visit Aberfeldy, home of Dewar's
World of Whisky, where you can watch a film about the famous Dewar's brand and the family
behind it, journey through the interactive exhibition and have a tour of the distillery, culminating
in a free dram (the driver can 'nose' a few whiskies). Not far away, at Kenmore on Loch Tay, is
the Scottish Crannog Centre, a recreation of a loch dwelling sitting on top of log piles, showing how people would have lived in the Iron Age. 
In the hill-girt town of Pitlochry, just 20 minutes by car from Perth, is Pitlochry Festival Theatre, which now has a kaleidoscope of plays, concerts and performances throughout the year. The theatre and itsrestaurant are fully accessible and adjacent to the theatre is Explorers - the Scottish Plant-Hunters' Garden, which features all the plants that Scottish collectors have brought back from far-flung countries over the past centuries. It is one of eleven gardens in the Perthshire Gardens Collection (Perth is a Britain in Bloom winner).
If you enjoy beautiful scenery, then you can have your fill in Perthshire – but get off the main road and try the Perthshire Tourist Route which you can join on the A9 just north of Dunblane; drive north to Crieff and through the Sma' Glen, to Aberfeldy and on to Pitlochry. From Pitlochry you can take the road over the hills to Blairgowrie and back to Perth.
FURTHER INFORMATION
The Express By Holiday Inn has 81 rooms, five of which are accessible for wheelchair-users, and double beds. The hotel does not have a restaurant but the self-service continentalstyle
breakfast is served in the breakfast area. Next door is the Hungry Horse restaurant which is fully accessible; there are more accessible restaurants in Perth, or staff can recommend places serving good takeaway food which you can eat in the breakfast area or in your room.
Tel: 01738 636666. Email: .
Web: www.hiexpressperth.com/perthscotland.Accessibility:
All places mentioned in this article have full or partial access to for wheelchairs. Perth has a large pedestrianised area, there is a special parking area, whilst several of the shops and restaurants offer good access and there is a taxi service which can take wheelchairs. For full details, call Disability Information Service in Perthshire on (01738) 440099.
For information on Perthshire and the rest of Scotland and for a free copy of Accessible Scotland, with almost 1,000 accessible accommodation establishments and visitor
attractions, call VisitScotland on 0845 22 55 121. Email: . Web: visitscotland.com/library/accessiblescotland. Or go to www.perthshire.co.uk for information
on this area.
COMPETITION:
You can win a short break for three nights for two people sharing a room in the Express By Holiday Inn, Perth, including continental breakfast (to be taken depending on availability). Plus two season tickets for the Perthshire Gardens Collection and a comprehensive information pack
for Perthshire.
All you need to do is tell us how many gardens are in the Perthshire Gardens Collection. Put your answer on the form below, filling in your details, and send to: to DDMC,
Cottingham Way, Thrapston, Northants. NNI4 4PL.
Closing date for entries is March 1 2005. The first correct answer drawn from a hat will win. The editor's decision is final.
Express By Holiday Inn Competition Disabled Drivers' Motor Club
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SPECIAL OFFER
If you don't win the short break, you can still enjoy a short break in the Express By Holiday Inn (above). Until the end of April, there is a special offer of £54 per room (for two people i.e. £27 each) per night, including breakfast. This is dependent on availability. Just quote Disabled Drivers' Motor Club when you book.
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