The next day dawned overcast and cool - perfect cycling weather. It was off to Ballathie via Dunning and Perth, with whatever stops we felt like along the way, including one at Bells distillery in Perth for a whisky tasting and to enjoy the National Heather Collection, with over 900 varieties of heather.

Shortly before entering Dunning, we came across a grave marker for "Maggie Wall - burnt here as a witch - 1657". Those whose curiosity is/was, like mine, piqued, might want to click on the link.

From Bells it was on through Perth (by van) to Scone Palace, home of the Earls of Mansfield. From the time the Stone of Destiny was brought to Scone in AD 838 until the Union of the Crowns in 1603, all the Kings of Scots were crowned at Scone on Moot Hill. (As counterpoint, these days Scone Palace is also home to a nice cafeteria!) Leaving Scone on our bikes, it was another 15 miles to the comfort of Ballathie House Hotel, with only a short detour to view the Meikleour Beech Hedge, reputed to be the tallest hedge in the world.