IT is remarkable that some Scots haul themselves overseas in search of spectacular autumn colours.

Why would anyone bother when right here Scotland has its own spectacular explosion of burning orange, smouldering red and shimmering yellow?

And in Pitlochry it has not only an ideal base for exploring Highland Perthshire’s autumnal hues but what has mushroomed into Scotland’s most spectacular autumn event.

As a travel writer who has visited more than 100 countries I’ve seen a few light shows in my time and I genuinely cannot think of anything more striking than Pitlochry’s multi-award-winning Enchanted Forest in John Swinney’s Perthshire North constituency.

The festival has been growing and growing in Faskally Wood since its humble beginnings in 2002. Last year 78,000 people flocked to take in the soaring lights, original music, lasers and projections. Swirl in warming marshmallows and churros, and it’s a brilliant night out.

READ MORE: Scottish currency conference 'plan Yes movement waited 10 years for'

This year the theme of the extravaganza runs on a Symphony of Nature concept and it is set to the biggest yet with an expected 85,000 visitors. The Enchanted Forest runs from October 3 to November 3 and is always wildly popular, so nab your tickets soon. This year there is an interactive map on the website for the first time so you can make your plans in advance.

Nela Popovic, executive director of the Enchanted Forest Community Trust, is as excited as the people who have already booked: “We’re delighted with this year’s show, which brings light and sound together in a unique way to celebrate the incredible abundance of natural life that exists within Faskally Wood.

“Our creative team has been working exceptionally hard behind the scenes to create an extraordinary show which once again raises the bar and will delight every visitor from young to old. We can’t wait to welcome visitors back to the beautiful Faskally Wood.”

The Enchanted Forest has won a series of awards. It was named Best Cultural Event at the VisitScotland Regional Awards in 2018, Best Outdoor Festival at the Scottish Outdoor & Leisure Awards 2017, Best Cultural Event at the Regional Awards in 2018 and Best Outdoor Festival at the Scottish Outdoor & Leisure Awards 2017.

This remarkable autumn special also snared Best Cultural Event at the UK Event Awards in 2016.

Unlike some seasonal specials, the Enchanted Forest is no faceless corporate event, where the proceeds are squirrelled away by a country house or big company. Popovic explains: “Proceeds from the event are pumped into local community initiatives, administered through the Enchanted Forest Community Fund.

“To date the fund has reinvested £430,000 back into the Highland Perthshire region, benefitting more than 175 local community groups, projects, and charities.”

Eddie Thomson, owner of successful tourism business Heartland Tours and a former chair of Enchanted Forest, sees wider benefits for the town too: “Pitlochry’s tourist season used to wind down after the Highland Games in September.

“The Enchanted Forest puts Pitlochry on the autumnal map. Many people stay over and bring lots of money in so everyone benefits. There is never a bad time to come but it looks at its best in autumn.”

The Enchanted Forest is just one string to Pitlochry’s impressive autumn bow. This is not just a gateway to the Highlands for summer forays further north. Unlike some of the Highlands, Pitlochry stays open year-round, with autumn indeed arguably the best time to visit as the summer hordes ease.

Those autumn colours burst around Loch Faskally, which is a joy to walk around, or paddle on with a kayak from the wee lochside boathouse. There is a network of more than 40 miles of trails documented under the Pitlochry Paths Network too.

Then there is the Hermitage, which is managed by the National Trust for Scotland. So much more than just a wee walk along the River Braan, this is one of Scotland’s most impressive collages of trees, with the vaulting Douglas Firs some of the tallest trees in the UK. Easing along here bathed in autumn colour on the lookout for leaping migrating salmon and red squirrels getting ready for winter is one of Scotland’s quintessential autumn experiences.

There is further excitement in Pitlochry’s autumnal air this year too, after it was announced that Alan Cumming will be the new creative director of the Pitlochry Festival Theatre. He was born in nearby Aberfeldy and has often declared his love for the area, so it’s an ideal – and deeply ambitious – fit.

Cumming will officially start curating programmes in 2026, but the news has already given the theatre a real boost. If you stay over when visiting The Enchanted Forest you can catch a play or a gig too.

With Scotland’s most dramatic and rewarding autumn festival bringing its bountiful forests alive, Pitlochry is proof that Scots don’t need to head out of the country in search of autumnal drama. It is a world-class event that well deserves the accolades that have flooded its way. It is an event at the heart of a Highland Perthshire town that shines brightest in autumn.

Tickets for this year’s Enchanted Forest are on sale at www.enchantedforest.org.uk.

Fonab Castle Hotel & Spa (www.fonabcastle.com) has sweeping views over Pitlochry and the autumn colours.