Greyfriars Burial Ground

It’s so easy to walk through the city streets and not notice what’s around you, but tucked away in the centre of Perth lies Greyfriars Burial Ground, a historic graveyard and Category A listed structure containing a fascinating collection of ancient gravestones. 

The burial ground is located on the former site of Greyfriars Monastery, a Franciscan monastery which was destroyed at the start of the Scottish Reformation, and you can find it at the eastern end of Canal Street, close to Tay Street.

The earliest surviving gravestones at Greyfriars date back to the year the burial ground opened, 1580. It was subsequently extended, with paths laid out and decorative planting added. Burials continued here until 1978 and, between 1999 and 2001, Greyfriars was  lovingly restored by Perth and Kinross Council.

Beautiful stonework and well-preserved examples of 17th-century iconography and motifs remain in evidence. Particularly notable are stones bearing symbols representing the trades of the individuals interred, dating back to the 1700s. Thirteen stones are protected under a roofed shelter, some of the best examples of early gravestones to be found in Scotland.

Managed as an area of biodiversity, wildlife is encouraged to flourish in Greyfriars Burial Ground and it is a haven for wildflowers, butterflies and insects. This little piece of history lies waiting to be discovered in a natural and peaceful space set back from the hustle and bustle of the city – well worth a visit.