A mile and a half north of Auchterarder, on the east side of the Ruthven Water, lies the village of Aberuthven. The Ruthven falls into the Earn a short distance away, hence the name of the village "Abe-(mouth)-ruthven".

Until the 19th century Aberuthven was "Smiddyhaugh", a blacksmith's forge by the bridge over the Ruthven - a convenient halt for travellers. This old resting place still survives in the form of The Smiddy Haugh Hotel, where a warm and hospitable welcome greets all travellers.

Aberuthven was also "Graham country", the demesne of the Montrose family of Kincardine Castle.

St. Kattans, an ancient Celtic chapel, was unused as a church after 1697, but sheltered the Montrose Mausoleum. The great Marquis himself, after dramatic turns of fortune, was not buried here, being executed in Edinburgh in 1658 as a supporter of Charles I.

The village was a hive of industrious home weavers during the last century, most of the villagers being employed in the Auchterarder textile mills after they were built in 1872, the weaving being done by hand-looms previously. The cloth was exported as far afield as China, New Zealand and India as well as having a healthy local trade.