Around Dunkeld
-> Scotland
-> Central Scotland
-> Perthshire
-> Strath Tay to Loch Tay
-> Dunkeld and Birnam
-> Around Dunkeld
Dunkeld and Birnam are surrounded by some lovely countryside, both along the banks of the Tay and into the deep forests which seem to close in on the settlement. A good way to explore the area is by bike - you can rent good-quality mountain bikes, as well as tandems, child seats and maps of local routes, from Dunkeld Bike Hire (tel 01350/728744), based in the Old Police Station on the Perth Road in Birnam.
On the other side of the busy A9 from Birnam, paths lead the mile and a half to The Hermitage, set in a grandly wooded gorge of the plunging River Braan. Here you'll find a pretty eighteenth-century folly, also known as Ossian's Hall, which was once mirrored to reflect the water, but the mirrors were smashed by Victorian vandals and the folly more tamely restored. Two miles east of Dunkeld, the Loch of the Lowes is a nature reserve which offers a rare chance to see breeding ospreys and other wildfowl; the visitor centre (April-Sept 10am-5pm; £1) has video relay screens and will point you in the direction of the best vantage points.
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