Dunkeld - The Hermitage - Strathbraan - Dunkeld

Distance	Approximate Time	Height Gain	OS Map
11 kms	03:30 (hrs:mins)	200 metres	Explorer 379: Dunkeld, Aberfeldy & Glen Almond

Description

This varied woodland walk starts from the railway station by heading under the A9 and into Birnam Village, visiting the Beatrix Potter Garden and the Birnam Oak, it then walks alongside part of the Rivers Tay and Braan, before leading to The Hermitage folly.

It then leads up to and across Rumbling Bridge, in Strathbraan, before heading up and over to the Inchewan Burn which leads back down through woodland to the start.

Access Info

By car: Dunkeld and Birnam are just off the A9 Edinburgh Inverness road, about 15 miles north of Perth.
By train: The walk starts at Birnam (for Dunkeld) railway station, on the Perth Inverness line.
By bus: Scottish Citylink operate a regular service (Perth - Inverness.)

Services going north stop just by the railway station, while services going south stop in the centre of Birnam village.

Parking is not recommended at Birnam Station, instead park in the centre of Birnam village (Waymark 02.) The walk starts at the station and immediately leads into the village.

Additional Info

The Beatrix Potter Garden is filled with sculptures of the author's famous characters. Beatrix Potter spent part of her childhood in Dunkeld and Birnam.

The Birnam Oak is said to be the last remaining survivor of Birnam Wood, made famous by Shakespeare's Macbeth. The tree may be over 1000 years old and many of its branches are held up by wooden crutches! The Hermitage was a folly built in the 18th century to entertain visitors and provide a spectacular view of the Falls of Braan.

It is owned by the National Trust for Scotland. Nearby is the tallest tree in Britain, a Douglas Fir over 60 metres high.