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Dunkeld

Quick travel guide on Dunkeld in Perthshire offers information travellers needed to know on Dunkeld, which includes tourist information about Dunkeld and Birnam, attractions and Self- Catering Cottages in Dunkeld.


Twelve miles north of Perth is the attractive village of Dunkeld, standing right on the Highland line.

Dunkeld was the 9th century capital of Scotland thought to have been founded by the son of the King of the Picts and has many historically interesting structures. Dunkeld is surrounded by crags, woodlands and  beautiful scenery offering excellent walking opportunities, details of which are available from the Tourist Information Centre at The Cross, Tel. +44 (0)1350 727688, in the heart of the village. All year round: Apr-Jun, Sep and Oct Mon-Sat 0930-1730, Sun 1100-1600; Jul and Aug Mon-Sat 0900-1830, Sun 1100-1700; Nov and Dec Fri-Mon 1000-1600.

Phone code: +44 (0)1350

Eating Out

Eating In Dunkeld

Finding a comfortable and clean place to eat is very difficult if you are new to one place. Here is our guide on Eating in Dunkeld to help you to find the ideal eatery in the area.

Region

Perthshire

Travel Directions to Dunkeld

Transport To Dunkeld

Citylink buses between Perth and Inverness stop at the train station by Birnam several times daily in either direction. Stagecoach buses from Perth to Pitlochry and Aberfeldy stop in Dunkeld, and Strathtay Scottish buses between Blairgowrie and Aberfeldy also stop in the village (twice daily Mon-Sat). There are several trains daily, Tel. 08457-484950, to and from Perth and Inverness.

Activities

Local Sights & Activities for Dunkeld

Cathedral

It's definitely worth making a stop here, if only to admire the cathedral, in the most idyllic situation on the banks of the fast-flowing, silvery Tay. Half of it is still in use as a church and the other half is in ruins. The oldest part of the cathedral is the 14th-century choir, which now forms the parish church, while the 15th-century nave and tower are also still standing. Much of the original was damaged during the orgy of ecclesiastical destruction that accompanied the Reformation. It was damaged again in the Battle of Dunkeld in 1689, fought between supporters of the protestant William of Orange and the Stuart monarch James VII and the musket ball marks can still be seen in the walls of the gothic style medieval Dunkeld Cathedral. Apr-Sep 0930-1830 (HS). Free. The Cathedral Museum in the former chapter house has an impressive collection of elaborate monuments from 17th and early 19th centuries including two early Christian cross-slabs.

On your way to the cathedral you'll pass a collection of lovely little whitewashed cottages, beautifully restored by the National Trust of Scotland (NTS) and The Hermitage, an 18th century folley. More details are available at the Ell Shop nearby.

Dunkeld is a popular tourist resort with ample outdoor fun activities like fishing and walking trails. Make a stopover at the Scottish Liqueur Centre, where you can pick up some hand made  original Scottish liqueurs made using the finest natural ingredients ( tel : 44 (0) 1738 787 044)

Beatrix Potter Exhibition

Across the bridge from Dunkeld is Birnam, made famous in Shakespeare's Macbeth, though the play's protagonist was in reality a very different character from the evil villain portrayed by the Bard. Birnam was the inspiration for another famous literary figure, Beatrix Potter, who spent her childhood summers here. Visitors can explore the origins of the Peter Rabbit stories at the Beatrix Potter Exhibition. Daily 1000-1700. Free. Tel. +44 (0)1350 727674.

The Hermitage

A short distance north of Dunkeld on the A9 is the turning to The Hermitage. A marked woodland walk starts from the car park and follows the river Braan to the Black Linn Falls, overlooked by Ossian's Hall, an 18th-century folly built by the Duke of Atholl. It's a lovely spot, which has inspired the likes of Wordsworth and Mendelssohn. Further on is Ossian's Cave. Buses to Pitlochry stop at the turning for The Hermitage.

Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre

A few miles northeast of Dunkeld, off the A923 to Blairgowrie, is the Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre, managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust. There's a hide with binoculars for viewing a pair of ospreys which breed here and which can be seen on the loch from early April to early September. Apr-Sep daily 1000-1700; £2.50, £1.50 concession.Tel. +44 (0)1350 727337.

Local Visitor Attractions

  • Stewart Tower Farm (ice creams!)

    Enjoy a day at the farm and delicious local ice creams from dairy farm turned gelato maker. If you are travelling north on the A9 from Perth you can temporarily silence the bleat of Are we there yet...

Dunkeld Hotels & Accommodation

Accommodation in Dunkeld

This guide on Accommodation in Dunkeld will help you to find the ideal accommodation after food in the area.You'll find information on hotels, B & B's and Self- Catering Cottages in Dunkeld.

Eating options are mostly limited to the hotels. Kinnaird House is particularly good. Bar meals are offered by the Atholl Arms and the Birnam House Hotel, Tel. +44 (0)1350 727462, on the main road through Birnam. There is a café at the Beatrix Potter Exhibition.

Hotels

A wonderful hotel with excellent, friendly staff is the Atholl Arms. Recommended.

The top hotel in the area is Kinnaird House, at Dalguise, about 8 miles north via the A9 and the B898, Tel. 01796-482440. The setting, the style, the service and the restaurant are all excellent. In the village is the luxurious Hilton Dunkeld, Tel. +44 (0)1350 727771, former home of the Duke of Atholl, now with full leisure and outdoor activity facilities.

B&Bs

More modest options include The Bridge B&B, 10 Bridge Street, Tel. +44 (0)1350 727068, or B&B at The Pend, 5 Brae St, Tel. +44 (0)1350 727586, and Birnam Guest House, 4 Murthly Terr, Birnam, Tel. +44 (0)1350 727201.

There's also a hostel, the Western Caputh Independent Hostel, at Caputh, 5 miles east of Dunkeld, on the A984 to Coupar Angus, Tel. 01738-710617. It has 18 beds and is open all year.