Sitting on the banks of River Ericht and abundantly speckled with raspberries and strawberries, Rattray is the more ancient of the twin burghs Blairgowrie and Rattray. Positioned at the crossroads of historic routes, the town lies at the foot of the Grampian Mountains on the north side of Strathmore, surrounded by vales, hills,and rushing rivers.

Rattray is in the county of Perthshire and is located in the council area of Perth and Kinross, which is at the dramatic juncture where the lowlands meet the highlands. There is an Old Rattray and New Rattray, but both have a long & colourful history. The population of Blairgowrie and Rattray is just over 9000.

Old Rattray dates back as far as the 12th Century and consists of the area around Rattray Kirk established in 1170. New Rattray dates back to the 18th Century and is the area along the Boat Brae and Balmoral Road.

During the 19th Century, textile mills were built along the banks of the Ericht to harness its strong current to power spinning machines and looms to process flax that grew abundantly in the district and later jute.

The rich and fertile land of Blairgowrie and Rattray became a thriving cattle breeding ground, and as a result, attracted raids from cattle rustlers. One such raid started the great Battle of the Clans, which became the backdrop for Sir Walter Scott’s epic poem The Lay of the Last Minstrel. Sir Walter Scott was so taken by Craighall Castle near Rattray during his stay there he used its description for the mansion Tully-Veolan in his first novel, Waverley.

The combination of the southern exposure and the shield of the mountain rampart in the distance creates a healthy and pleasant climate for living, as well as farming. The land in the south is dry, fertile, and entirely arable. The north is chiefly pasture land.

• The River Ericht is famous for salmon, sea trout, and brown trout fishing. The banks provide mesmerising walks any time of the year and grassy picnic areas for families to communion with nature peacefully. The route along the riverbank takes you through delightful woodlands to the Falls of Ericht, a narrow stretch of the river that forms a gorge where the daring Cargill’s Leap happened.
• Bluebell Wood is perhaps the best place in Perthshire to see carpets of bluebells. This circular route from Blairgowrie consists of the fertile countryside, two small lochs, and a wildlife-blessed wood.
• The medieval Castle of Rattray was deluged by a heavy sandstorm in 1720 and was never dug out. Today, the castle remains are hidden beneath a grassy mound. The nearby Craighall Castle, Glamis Castle, Loch Leven, and Scone Palace are a royal treat to visit as well.
• Four miles south of Blairgowrie is the Meikleour Beech Hedge. It is officially recognised as the longest and tallest hedge on Earth. Planted in 1745, it is 530m long and 100ft (30m) high.
• The town is home to the start of the Cateran Trail – a 64-mile circular walking route that straddles Perthshire and Angus. It follows the historic trails used by cattle drovers and takes in impressive sceneries of surrounding glens.
• Glen Isla, the most westerly of the five Angus Glens, is also the only one accessible by car. The head of the glen lies near the Aberdeenshire border and offers wide open spaces for walking and country sports.

• The Blairgowrie Golf Club is one of Scotland's top 100 golf courses. The 9-hole Dalmunzie Golf Course located in Dalmunzie Estate is within the Cairngorms National Park, offering stunning mountain views. It is one of Britain's highest golf courses.
• Highland Games are a colourful sporty Scottish tradition that has been around for hundreds of years, and the Blairgowrie Highland Games annually take place at Bogles Field in Blairgowrie. Locals and tourists flock to see traditional Highland games and dancing all day long.
• Rattray’s Davie Park is a children’s park with a wild area with a pond for bird watching. It also has a multi-sport hard pitch and full-sized grass pitches for all ages.
• Blairgowrie is the gateway to Glenshee, where it is a year-round sports paradise for skiing, golfing, mountain biking, abseiling, hang gliding, and paragliding.

Rattray Arts Festival is held in the Rattray Hall, showcasing hundreds of original paintings and selected three-dimensional designs by local sculptors, jewellers, silversmiths, stained glass artists, potters, and weavers.

There is a Tesco and a Sainsburys for everyday shopping, and farmers' markets and local shops that sell everything from fresh veg and fruit to coffee. Pubs, restaurants, cafes, bakeries, garden centres, butchers, bookshops, chemists, fishmongers, and a post office are available.

Rattray Primary School, Alyth Primary School, Burrelton Primary School, and Blairgowrie high school are the nearest schools. The Blairgowrie Campus incorporates Newhill Primary and St Stephens RC Primary. Perth College University of the Highlands and Islands, Scottish Agricultural College, University of Aberdeen, University of Dundee, and Robert Gordon University are some of the Highland universities in the area.

The city of Perth is easily accessible by train from all major Scottish cities, including direct trains from London. A frequent bus service that reaches Rattray from Perth is available. There’s a Stagecoach bus every 30mins from Perth that reaches Rattray. A school bus also runs on the route three times a day. Rattray has well-established travel links that service the entire area. Dundee is the nearest airport.