Heading north from Edinburgh, it’s about an hours drive on the A91, then turn carefully right off the main highway and you arrive at the charming village of Dunkeld.
Situated on the banks of the River Tay, it’s not a typical tourist destination, but is all the more delightful for that. We were fortunate to stay with friends in a nearby Glen, but pitched in with the catering, so were able to source fare from the butcher – good local sausage, kidneys and bacon, baker – beautiful crusty sourdough and black pudding sausage rolls mmmmm….. all excellent. We were sorely tempted by the Dunkeld Smoked Salmon establishment and did imbibe at a local restaurant.
This Thomas Telford road bridge over the Tay into Dunkeld is stunning. Prior to its construction only a perilous ferry service provided access. The bridge became a significant source of revenue, until locals rebelled against the cost, when the bridge was acquired by the state and crossing became free. Today as you cross from south to north the village and High Street open up, a pretty picture, as is the River Tay flowing below.
Dunkeld Walks
You will gather from our Travel Blogs, that we are keen on modest walks to get to know the local area and to see the sights. Dunkeld has many super walks to enjoy and we combined the Inver Path and Birnam ( Shakespeare followers = Macbeth), Riverside Walks into one mornings ramble, just delightful.
The Inver Path starts from the Hermitage, good car parking if you are not leaving your car in Dunkeld and linking the Inver and Birnam walks, as we did. A pretty wander through the woods following the river until you arrive at Ossians Hall, ( see centre picture above), work out how the door opens and then enjoy the full “ sound and light experience”!!!
The Birnam walk then takes one back down the river to the Telford Dunkeld road bridge, and to the village.
Lowes Wild Life Reserve
Our Dunkeld friends recommended a visit to the Lowes Wild Life Reserve and how amazing it was. Maybe a 15 minute drive from Dunkeld, a modest entrance charge, then red squirrels, lots of bird life including Adult Osprey catching fish, then feeding a young Osprey.
Hides with excellent binoculars enable great viewing of the Ospreys but you just have to have a little luck on your side to see them in full action. We visited in mid August, the adult female Osprey had just left, heading for West Africa, leaving the Male adult to feed the juvenile until it was able to feed itself.
Whisky Tasting & Dunkeld Entertainment
Talking of food and of course drink, we visited this, “ the second smallest distillery in Scotland – Edradour”. It was the smallest distillery until someone became more micro, never mind it was a great experience, very generous tasting and a fascinating tour.
Back at the Royal Dunkeld Hotel at the north end of the High Street, we had turned up one evening seeking a meal, to find their restaurant full, “ but we serve the same meals in the bar if you do not mind”, no we do not!!
Had an excellent supper, a few pints of local beer and then one by one, local musicians began to arrive, unpacked their various instruments and a jam session of wonderful Scottish folk music followed . Over the next three hours, we think in the end there were 13 musicians playing, the bar was packed and a fantastic night had by all.
Travels with My Wife 