Dunkeld House Grounds

Highland Perthshire


Waymarked walks lead upstream from Dunkeld Cathedral through the gorgeous grounds of Dunkeld House Hotel, formerly a seat of the dukes of Atholl. In the 18th and early 19th centuries the 'planting dukes', as they became known, planted more than 27 million conifers on their estates 'for beauty and profit', introducing species such as larch, Douglas fir and sequoia, and sowing the seeds of Scottish forestry.

The abundance of vast, ancient trees here has given rise to the nickname Big Tree Country (www.perthshirebigtreecountry.co.uk). Just west of the cathedral is the 280-year-old 'parent larch', the lone survivor of several planted in 1738, and said to have provided the seed stock for all Scottish larch trees. On the far side of the river is Niel Gow's Oak, another ancient tree, said to have provided inspiration for legendary local fiddler Niel Gow (1727–1807).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Highland Perthshire attractions

1. Dunkeld Cathedral

0.81 MILES

Situated on the grassy banks of the River Tay, Dunkeld Cathedral is one of the most beautifully sited churches in Scotland; don’t miss it on a sunny day,…

2. Beatrix Potter Exhibition & Garden

1.36 MILES

In the middle of Birnam village is the small, leafy Beatrix Potter Garden; the children’s author, who wrote the evergreen story of Peter Rabbit, spent her…

3. Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Centre

1.99 MILES

Loch of the Lowes, 2 miles east of Dunkeld off the A923, has a visitor centre devoted to red squirrels and the majestic osprey. There’s a birdwatching…

4. Aberfeldy Distillery

10.01 MILES

At the eastern end of Aberfeldy, the home of the famous Dewar's blend offers a good 90-minute tour. After the usual overblown film, there’s a museum…

5. Edradour Distillery

10.04 MILES

This is proudly Scotland’s smallest and most picturesque distillery and one of the best to visit: you can see the whole process, easily explained, in one…

6. Blair Athol Distillery

10.14 MILES

Tours here focus on whisky making and the blending of this well-known dram. More detailed private tours give you greater insights and superior tastings.

7. Explorers Garden

10.42 MILES

This gem of a garden is based around plants brought to Scotland by 18th- and 19th-century Scottish botanists and explorers such as David Douglas (after…

8. Watermill

10.48 MILES

You could while away several hours at this converted watermill, which houses a cafe, bookshop and art gallery exhibiting contemporary works of art. The…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "scotland/dunkeld-birnam/attractions/dunkeld-house-grounds/a/poi-sig/1492884/1314731",
      "destination": "Highland-Perthshire",
      "continent": "Europe",
      "country": "Scotland",
      "region": "Highland-Perthshire",
      "position": "superzone"
    }