Tour Dunkeld

Dunkeld (Gaelic Dun Chaillin, meaning ‘fort of the
Caledonians’) Ancient cathedral city and former royal burgh In an attractive setting on the River Tay, north
of Perth. In the 9th century relics of St Columba were
brought here from Iona for safekeeping and it became an
important Pictish religious site. The Gothic Dunkeld Cathedral dates from the 12th century but is mainly 15th century and the choir is used as the parish church. The roofless but otherwise fairly complete nave is in the care of Historic Scotland.

In 1689, after the Battle of kllllecrankle, Jacobites
besieged Dunkeld, which was held by Covenanters, but they were repulsed and much of the town was burned.
The houses rebuilt after the siege have been restored by the National Trust for Scotland, which also looks after Stanley Hill, a wooded hill to the west. Dunkeld Bridge is a 7-arched bridge and tollhouse built in 1809 by Thomas Telford. A riverside path from here leads to Birnam Oak, the last remnant of Macbeth’s Birnam Wood. Dunkeld House, former seat of the Dukes of Atholl, is now an opulent hotel; its grounds have a splendid 18th-century arboretum and grottoes along the river bank.

If you would like to Tour Dunkeld on a highly personalized small group tour of my native Scotland please e-mail me: Sandy Stevenson

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