4-Bedroom Hot Tub Cottage in Glenfoot

Falkland Palace, in the Fife village of Falkland, is a royal palace of the Scottish kings and was one of the favourite places of Mary, Queen of Scots. It began as a royal hunting lodge, grew into a castle, and was later transformed by James IV and James V into a Renaissance-style palace.

Tip: Look out for the Chapel Royal, dedicated to Thomas the Apostle, within the palace.

Scone Palace is a Category A-listed historic house near the village of Scone and the city of Perth. Built in red sandstone with a castellated roof, it is a fine example of Gothic Revival style. For centuries the site held the Stone of Scone, on which early Scottish kings were crowned, and Robert the Bruce was crowned here in 1306.

Tip: To follow the Stone of Destiny story further, Perth Museum displays it; tickets for that are booked through the museum's own website.

Perth Museum sits in the former Perth City Hall, an Edwardian building that once hosted markets, concerts and political conferences. At its heart is the Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone, used to crown Scottish monarchs and still used in coronations of the UK's kings and queens. It has returned to Perthshire after more than 700 years.

Tip: The Stone of Destiny experience needs a timed ticket, which you book at the front desk, so sort this out early in your visit.

Deep Sea World is an aquarium at North Queensferry in Fife, set in a disused quarry below the Forth Rail Bridge. Its star feature is a 112 metre transparent underwater tunnel, one of the longest of its kind in the world. Most animals in the main tank come from British waters, alongside a large collection of sand tiger sharks.

Tip: Check the talk and feed times when you arrive and allow a couple of hours before closing so you don't miss them.

Loch Leven Castle is a ruined fortress on an island in the middle of Loch Leven, reached by ferry. Its five-storey tower house dates from the 14th century or early 15th, making it one of the oldest surviving tower houses in Scotland. The castle is a scheduled monument in the care of Historic Environment Scotland.

Huntingtower Castle sits about 5 km north-west of the centre of Perth, beside the A85, and is in the care of Historic Scotland. Mary Queen of Scots stayed here in 1565 while on honeymoon with Lord Darnley, and the castle has seen plenty of other dramatic episodes, including the Raid of Ruthven in 1582, when the young James VI was seized here.

Tip: Tickets can be booked online for a set date and time, so book ahead before you go.

Elcho Castle is a fortified mansion built around 1560 and one of Scotland's best-preserved 16th-century tower houses. It sits close to the south bank of the River Tay, about four miles south-east of Perth, and was the Wemyss family's country retreat.

Blair Drummond is a family safari park just outside Stirling, set in a 120-acre estate with over 300 animals. You can set out on a drive-through safari past the African reserve, home to Grant's zebra and southern white rhinos, the lion reserve and the Asian reserve with Bactrian camels and Père David's deer.

Tip: Tickets are online only and none are sold at the gate, so book ahead, especially at weekends and school holidays when it often sells out.