Welcome to Dunkeld, a very popular tourist destination in central Scotland.
Combined with adjacent Birnam, the population is about 1200.
The name is derived from ‘Fort of the Caledonians’ which, together with archaeology, indicates a history dating back around 2000 years.
Dunkeld is a functioning country town with an ancient cathedral. Superimposed on the town are a wide variety of facilities for tourists including hotels and accommodation, specialist shops and restaurants.
The key attraction is the town’s central location which provides access to Edinburgh, Glasgow, St. Andrews (golf), Perth, Loch Tay, Fort William and Loch Ness.
Adjacent to Dunkeld is the village of Birnam where further hotels and accommodation are available plus an arts and conference centre together with a Beatrix Potter exhibition. (Beatrix Potter took holidays in the region during her early life and obtained inspiration in the locality for her children’s books.)
Specific visitor sites are discussed below.
Dunkeld Cathedral: Built on an early Christian site dating from around AD 570 and subsequently evolved into an important site by the 9th century. Further enlargement occurred but the building suffered serious damage during the Reformation in 1560 when the roof was removed. Now partly roofed and open to visitors.
Stirling Castle: Located about fifty miles to the S.W. This is one of Scotland’s top-ranked visitor attractions.
Kenmore and Loch Tay: About twenty four miles to the west. From Kenmore it is possible to link with the Glen Quaich backroad driving route from Kenmore.
Aberfeldy and Croft Moraig Stone Circle: About seventeen miles to the N.W. Aberfeldy is another country town close to which are white water activities on the River Tay.
Whisky Distilleries: There are three distilleries within range of Dunkeld. These are Blair Atholl and Edradour at nearby Pitlochry and Dewars at Aberfeldy.
Blair Castle: This popular site is about twenty miles to the N.W. This castle is the seat of the Duke of Atholl
Local Sightseeing: Within a mile or so (north) of Dunkeld, along the A9, can be found the Hermitage, Ossian’s Hall and Falls of Braan all of which being in close proximity and accessed via a pleasant woodland walk.
Birnam Oak: Nominally connected with Shakespeare’s Macbeth, this ancient tree can be found on the banks of the River Tay, behind the village of Birman, and within walking distance of Dunkeld.
Golf: There is a welcoming golf course at Dunkeld. The famous courses at St Andrews are about fifty-two miles to the S.E.
Bird Watching: Near to Dunkeld is the Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve which is famous for its migratory ospreys.
For more information on touring Scotland please refer Visitors’ Guide to Scotland, ISBN 978-1-9161332-0-4