Perth and Kinross is a council area in central Scotland, covering 5,286 square kilometres (2,041 sq mi) and stretching from the Carse of Gowrie to the watershed at Rannoch. It had a population of 150,953 at the 2022 census and is run from Perth, which regained city status in 2012.
The area combines two former counties, Perthshire and Kinross-shire, merged in 1996. It is the fourth largest council area in Scotland by land and one of the least densely settled outside the Highlands.
| Country | Scotland, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Status | Council area |
| Former counties | Perthshire and Kinross-shire |
| Area | 5,286 km2 (2,041 sq mi) |
| Population (2022) | 150,953 |
| Population (2011) | 146,652 |
| Largest settlement | Perth |
| Administrative centre | Perth |
| Council | Perth and Kinross Council |
| Main rivers | Tay, Earn, Isla, Tummel |
Towns and Villages in Perth and Kinross
The council area has 284 named settlements on record. Perth is the only city; Blairgowrie and Rattray, Crieff, Auchterarder, Kinross, Scone and Pitlochry are the main towns. Beyond them the pattern is small: farm clachans in Strathmore, estate villages along the Tay, and single-street settlements strung up the Highland glens.
- Aberargie
- Aberdalgie
- Aberfeldy
- Abernethy
- Abernyte
- Aberuthven
- Acharn
- Airntully
- Aldclune
- Almondbank
- Alyth
- Amulree
- Ardler
- Ardtalnaig
- Ardvorlich
- Arngask
- Arthurstone
- Auchmuirbridge
- Auchnafree
- Auchterarder
- Balado
- Balbeggie
- Baledgarno
- Balgowan
- Ballathie
- Ballindean
- Ballinluig
- Ballintuim
- Balmacneil
- Balnaguard
- Balnald
- Baluain
- Bandirran
- Bankfoot
- Birnam
- Blackcraig
- Blackford
- Blacklunans
- Blair Atholl
- Blairforge
- Blairgowrie and Rattray
- Blairingone
- Bolfracks
- Braco
- Bridge of Balgie
- Bridge of Cally
- Bridge of Earn
- Bridge of Gaur
- Bridge of Tilt
- Buchanty
- Burnbank Park
- Burrelton
- Butterstone
- Calvine
- Camasericht
- Camghouran
- Campmuir
- Camserney
- Camusvrachan
- Caputh
- Cargill
- Carie
- Carnbo
- Carroglen
- Carsebreck
- Carsie
- Cashlie
- Chapelhill
- Chesthill
- Clackavoid
- Clathy
- Cleish
- Clunie
- Coldrain
- Collace
- Comrie
- Corsiehill
- Coshieville
- Coupar Angus
- Craig
- Craigdallie
- Craigend
- Craighall
- Cray
- Crieff
- Crook of Devon
- Dalclathick
- Dalginross
- Dalguise
- Dall
- Dalreoch
- Deanshaugh
- Delvine
- Dowally
- Dron
- Drum
- Drumcroy Lodges
- Dull
- Dunalastair
- Dunan
- Duncrievie
- Duncrub
- Dunira
- Dunkeld
- Dunning
- Dunskiag
- East Coldrain
- Easter Bohespie
- Elm Mews
- Enochdhu
- Errol
- Findo Gask
- Finegand
- Finnart
- Forgandenny
- Forneth
- Forteviot
- Fortingall
- Foss
- Foulford
- Fowlis Wester
- Gairney Bank
- Gairneybridge
- Gallin
- Gallowhill
- Gellyburn
- Gilmerton
- Glenalmond
- Glencarse
- Glendevon
- Glenfarg
- Glenfoot
- Glenlomond
- Glenshee
- Glenshee Village
- Grandtully
- Grange
- Grange Park
- Greenloaning
- Guay
- Guildtown
- Harrietfield
- Hosh
- Huntingtower
- Inchture
- Inchyra
- Innerwick
- Inver
- Invergeldie
- Invergowrie
- Inverhadden
- Invermearan
- Invervar
- Keillour
- Keltneyburn
- Keltybridge
- Kenmore
- Kettins
- Killichonan
- Killiecrankie
- Kilspindie
- Kiltyrie
- Kinclaven
- Kindallachan
- Kinfauns
- Kingoodie
- Kingswood
- Kinloch
- Kinloch Rannoch
- Kinnaird
- Kinnesswood
- Kinnochtry
- Kinross
- Kinrossie
- Kirkmichael
- Kirkton
- Kirkton of Collace
- Kirkton of Lethendy
- Lair
- Lawers
- Leetown
- Leys
- Little Ballinluig
- Little Glenshee
- Loch Leven Lodges
- Logierait
- Longforgan
- Longleys
- Luncarty
- Lurglomand
- Madderty
- Markethill
- Maryburgh
- Meigle
- Meikleour
- Methven
- Middleton
- Middleton Fossoway
- Mill of Fortune
- Milnathort
- Milton
- Milton of Abercairny
- Milton of Cultoquhey
- Milton of Edradour
- Moneydie
- Monzie
- Morenish
- Moulin
- Murthly
- Muthill
- Netherton
- New Fowlis
- Newton of Balcanquhal
- Newton of Buttergrass
- North Corston
- Oakwood
- Old Struan
- Over Blelock
- Path of Condie
- Pathstruie
- Perth
- Pitcairngreen
- Pitlochry
- Pitnacree
- Powmill
- Pubil
- Quarterbank
- Quoig
- Rait
- Rattray
- Redgorton
- Remony
- Rhynd
- Riechip
- Roromore
- Rosemount
- Rumblingbridge
- Ruthvenfield
- Saint Fillans
- Saint Martins
- Saucher
- Sawmill Cottages
- Scone
- Scoonieburn
- Scotlandwell
- Spittal of Glenshee
- Spittalfield
- St David’s
- St Madoes
- Stanley
- Stewartfield
- Stormontfield
- Straloch
- Strathtay
- Strathtummel
- Stron-fearnan
- Stronachie
- Strowan
- Struan
- Tarsappie
- Templehall
- The Balloch
- Tibbermore
- Tigh na Cruaiche
- Tomnacroich
- Trinafour
- Trinity Gask
- Trochry
- Tullibardine
- Tulliemet
- Tullybannocher
- Tullybelton
- Tummel Bridge
- Turrerich
- Watergate
- Weem
- West Netherton
- West Tofts
- Wester Balgedie
- Wester Keltie
- Westown
- White Bridge
- Wolfhill
- Woodside
Geography
The Highland Boundary Fault cuts diagonally across the council area, and the change is visible from the road. South and east of it lie the fertile lowlands of Strathearn, Strathmore and the Carse of Gowrie; north and west the ground rises into Highland Perthshire, forestry and deer country reaching over 1,000 metres at Ben Lawers.
The Tay is Britain’s largest river by volume of water. It gathers the Tummel, Lyon, Earn and Isla and passes Perth as a tidal river. Loch Tay, Loch Rannoch, Loch Earn and Loch Leven are the largest inland waters; Loch Leven is a national nature reserve and a major wintering ground for geese.
Neighbours are Highland and Aberdeenshire to the north, Angus and Dundee to the east, Fife and Clackmannanshire to the south, and Stirling and Argyll and Bute to the west. The northern third falls inside the Cairngorms National Park.
Demographics
The 2022 census counted 150,953 residents, an increase of 4,301 on 2011. Density is about 29 people per square kilometre, but the figure hides a sharp split: roughly a third of residents live in Perth and its immediate ring of villages, while Highland Perthshire has fewer than five people per square kilometre.
The area has an older age profile than Scotland as a whole, driven by retirement moves into Perthshire and by young adults leaving for Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Perth itself grew fastest, with new housing at Bertha Park and around Scone and Bridge of Earn.
Economy and Local Life
Farming remains central. Strathmore grows soft fruit at scale, and Blairgowrie was the raspberry capital of Britain before polytunnels moved the crop; seed potatoes, barley and beef come off the lowland ground.
Whisky is the other signature industry, with distilleries at Aberfeldy, Pitlochry, Crieff and Blair Athol drawing steady visitor traffic. Perth is a financial and insurance centre, home to Aviva’s Scottish operations and to SSE. Tourism, forestry, hydro generation on the Tummel and Garry, and the Gleneagles resort at Auchterarder fill out the rest.
History
Scone, two miles north of Perth, was where Scottish kings were made. The Stone of Destiny sat on Moot Hill until Edward I removed it in 1296; it returned to Scotland in 1996 and is now displayed at Perth Museum.
Perth served as a de facto capital in the medieval period and hosted parliaments and church councils. James I was murdered there in 1437. In 1689 a Jacobite force beat a government army at Killiecrankie, and the pass above Pitlochry still carries the battlefield paths. Nineteenth-century estates reshaped the glens, planting the woodland that now covers much of Highland Perthshire.
Getting There
The M90 runs north from the Forth to Perth. The A9 carries traffic on towards Inverness through Dunkeld, Pitlochry and Blair Atholl, and is being upgraded in stages. The A85 links Perth to Crieff and Crianlarich, the A93 climbs Glenshee to Braemar, and the A94 heads for Forfar.
Perth station is a junction on the Highland Main Line and on the Edinburgh and Glasgow routes to Dundee and Inverness. Other stations are Gleneagles, Dunkeld and Birnam, Pitlochry, Blair Atholl, Rannoch and Invergowrie. Edinburgh and Glasgow airports are both about 90 minutes by road; Dundee Airport is 25 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Perth and Kinross?
150,953 at the 2022 census, up 4,301 on 2011.
What is the largest town in Perth and Kinross?
Perth, which is a city. Blairgowrie and Rattray, Crieff, Auchterarder, Scone and Kinross are the largest of the towns.
Is Perth and Kinross the same as Perthshire?
Not quite. The council area merged Perthshire with Kinross-shire in 1996, and parts of the old Perthshire went to Stirling and to Clackmannanshire.
How many towns and villages are there?
284 named settlements are on record across the council area, most of them villages and hamlets of under 500 people.
What postcodes cover Perth and Kinross?
Mainly PH1 to PH18 around Perth and Highland Perthshire, with KY13 covering Kinross and parts of DD covering the eastern fringe.
Which national park covers part of Perth and Kinross?
The Cairngorms National Park takes in the northern glens, including Blair Atholl, Glenshee and upper Strathardle.