Scone Palace has unveiled three walking routes that will allow visitors to follow in the footsteps of notable historic characters.
The paths have been built by the gardens and maintenance team under the watchful eye of head gardener Brian Cunningham.
Each of the three routes will be detailed on a map given to visitors upon arrival to Scone Palace and two are fully accessible to wheelchairs.
The Kings Walk will showcase the Moot Hill, the ancient crowning place of Scotland’s leaders and home to the Stone of Destiny.
From the ninth century, when Kenneth MacAlpin established himself as the King of Scots, to the final coronation in 1651, the mound was the site of several key events and these will be outlined in the special map.
Meanwhile, the 3rd Earl’s Walk concentrates on the natural beauty of Scone Palace and its medieval past.
The route will explore the vistas and planting created by David Murray, 3rd Earl of Mansefield.
As well as creating a stunning garden, he was also responsible for instructing architect William Atkinson to carry out restoration work on the palace.
Visitors can also take a look at the kitchen garden before getting lost in the unique Murray star maze, which is made up of 2,000 beech trees.
Although the name harks back to a time when an abbey stood in the grounds, the Friar’s Den Walk actually offers budding ornithologists the chance to spot one of the 50 bird species that breed in the gardens.
There have been recorded sightings of woodpeckers, warblers, owls and siskin, as well as of the nuthatch one of Scotland’s rarest birds.
Due to the rough terrain and fixed gates, visitors are advised that this route is not suitable for wheelchair users or those with prams.
They form part of ambitious development plans for the grounds, which started last year.
Mr Cunningham said: “In 2013 we began with the construction of new pathways in the kitchen garden.
“This enabled visitors to wander through the vegetable and cut flower beds, along with the building of a link from an existing path through the flower garden to the Murray star maze.
“This year we have already gone into two areas, clearing rhododendron ponticum and sycamore trees that have self-seeded.
“This has now made the Minister’s Tomb at the site of the Old Scone Church accessible.
“The second area was home to a network of paths over 100 years ago and we now have plans to develop a collection of acers there.”
The full details of the work will be unveiled during monthly tours led by Mr Cunningham. These will take place on the first Wednesday of each month between June and August, with places costing £3 per person.
For further information, go to www.scone-palace.co.uk.