It is on the face of it unassuming but used to actually be very important in the affairs of a British nation.

13:26, Sat, Aug 1, 2026 Updated: 13:28, Sat, Aug 1, 2026

The Square in the village of Forteviot, Scotland

The Square in the village of Forteviot, Scotland (Image: Richard Webb)

Britain is covered in tiny, pretty villages each with their own fascinating and rich histories. Some have never been that important in the grand scheme of things, while others used to be major trade and administrative hubs. In Scotland, there is a place that was especially significant in that it used to be the country's royal capital. Forteviot in Perthshire was the centre of the Pictish Kingdom of Fortriu and the early Kingdom of Alba - the Kingdom of Scotland between between the deaths of Donald II in 900 and Alexander III in 1286.

The University of Glasgow calls the village the "Cradle of Scotland", adding that monarchs were attracted to it due to its fertile land and sacred landscape, which "expressed ancestral and territorial power". In 1868, The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland stated that Forteviot "disputes with Abernethy the honour of having been the first capital of the Pictish kingdom".

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Schoolchildren perform for Catherine in Forteviot

Prince William and Princess Kate visited Forteviot in 2014 (Image: Getty)

Indeed, the Pictish Chronicle stated that Abernethy was established as a primary religious and royal site during the reign of King Nechtan Morbet - who ruled between 456 and 480 CE.

Forteviot later rose to prominence during the 8th and 9th centuries.

This was a crucial time when the Pictish and Gaelic relams were being merged into the Kingdom of Alba.

Forteviot became a major royal fortress and palace under rulers like Óengus II and served as the central royal estate for Kenneth MacAlpin.

The University of Glasgow adds: "The Chronicle of the Kings of Alba reports that Cináed died in 858 AD in palacio Fothuir-tabaicht, ‘in the palace of Forteviot’.

"The concentration at Forteviot of high quality monumental sculpture, some of it linked to King Constantine (who died in 820 AD) points to the presence of an important church (a monastery?) within the palace complex.

"Even in its fragmentary condition the sculpture reveals wealthy patronage and a rich intellectual tradition.

"The precise location of the palace is unknown but excavation has revealed an extensive Pictish cemetery, including large-scale square barrows."

The village has also played host to modern royalty.

In 2024, Prince William and Princess Catherine attended the Forteviot village fete, taking in its stalls and meeting local residents.