Find your way around Dunkeld and Birnam
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As well as Pitlochry, Aberfeldy and Dunkeld/Birnam, the street map covers the (fairly) nearby villages of Blair Atholl and Kinloch Rannoch. To order by post direct from the publisher, please click on the 'Map Ordering' button on the left.
Dunkeld, in its delightful riverside setting surrounded by wooded hills, is one of the gems of Scotland. Its historical significance is not reflected in its size, for this is a remarkably compact town, nearly all of the expansion of which has taken place at Little Dunkeld and Birnam on the opposite side of the River Tay. In 1991, the total joint population was only 1,461 inhabitants (including 200 visitors).
In 570, a monastery was built at Dunkeld for St Columba, and, for hundreds of years, the town was effectively the headquarters of the Celtic Church in Scotland; after 1127, the Rome-based Catholic Church took its place, leading to the construction of Dunkeld's great cathedral, most of which still remains. Nearly the whole town was burned down in1689 in the aftermath of the Battle of Killiecrankie; the reconstruction shortly afterwards created much of the town we see today.
As might be expected of such an attractive place, Dunkeld is a magnet for tourists and daytrippers, and, together with Birnam, contains a good range of hotels, guest houses, B&Bs and caravan sites. Atholl Street and Bridge Street, bustling but without the heavy traffic which once pounded through, contain a wide variety of quality gift shops, cafes and restaurants, together with other businesses catering for the day-to-day needs of local people. Dunkeld and Birnam are easily reached by the A9 highway or via their own railway station on the Highland line to Inverness.
Dunkeld Cathedral - Dunkeld's pride and joy is the town's ancient cathedral in its wooded setting by the Tay (photograph on right). The building dates from 1318-1469, but the nave to the west has been roofless since the Reformation when the cathedral was destroyed on the orders of the Regent Moray. The eastern part was, however, re-roofed in 1600 and has ever since been used as the parish church. Interesting features include Pictish cross-slabs and the tomb of the Wolf of Badenoch, surprisingly impressive given his burning of Elgin Cathedral and other aspects of his notorious career!
Woodland Walks - In many of the Perthshire towns and villages, woodland walks are a major attraction, and, in this, Dunkeld is no exception. These range from idyllic strolls along the banks of the River Tay to appreciation of the beauties of the Hermitage, a nearby woodland park owned by the National Trust for Scotland. For the more energetic, there are tree-clad and craggy hills including Birnam Hill and Craigiebarns. Both afford particularly fine views of the surrounding countryside.
Atholl Memorial Fountain - In the centre of the Cross or High Street, where the town's 20 ft. high mercat cross was once located, stands an impressive fountain placed there in 1864 in memory of the 6th Duke of Atholl. Although it has been restored to working order, its period setting is necessarily somewhat marred by the presence of parked cars!
Stanley Hill - Behind the buildings to the north of the Cross is a pleasant wooded park containing Stanley Hill, an artificial mound raised by another Duke of Atholl. The hill was called after the duke's English wife whose name was also applied to the Industrial Revolution village of Stanley, near Perth.
Dunkeld Bridge - The wide River Tay is here spanned by one of Thomas Telford's finest bridges, dating from 1809 and costing the relevant Duke of Atholl £33,000. For a while, one of the landward arches at the north end was used as the town prison. The Georgian streets leading northwards through the town represent an early example of town planning.
Tourist Information Centre - Centrally located at the Cross, Dunkeld's information centre is the place to gather further information on the local area, together with assistance in finding accommodation, etc.
On the opposite side of the River Tay, past Little Dunkeld with its own 1798 parish church, lies the Victorian village of Birnam - sometimes of an evening enhanced by the pleasant scent of wood smoke. Opposite the Birnam Hotel is the entrance to the Beatrix Potter Garden (photograph on right). This special garden, devoted to characters from her books, commemorates her childhood holidays here. 'Birnam Wood' is, of course, famous from Shakespeare's Macbeth, and the ancient Birnam Oak is carefully preserved.
R P A Smith's local map also covers Pitlochry and Aberfeldy. For further information on these places, please click the relevant buttons on the upper left.
R P A Smith's range of Street Plans covers the following towns and villages in Perthshire:
ABERFELDY
Abernethy
Almondbank
ALYTH
AUCHTERARDER
Balbeggie
Bankfoot
Birnam
Blackford
Blair Atholl
BLAIRGOWRIE
Braco
Bridge of Earn
Burrelton
CALLANDER
COMRIE
COUPAR ANGUS
CRIEFF
DOUNE
DUNBLANE
DUNKELD
Dunning
Errol
Gleneagles
Glencarse
Glenfarg
Guildtown
Inchture
Kinloch Rannoch
Luncarty
Meigle
Methven
Muthill
PERTH
PITLOCHRY
Rattray
St Madoes
Scone
Stanley
Woodside
