The Hermitage, Dunkeld
Also in its grounds are several Douglas-fir trees — one of which was the first tree in Britain to reach 200 feet (61 m) in height. Known as the Hermitage Douglas-fir, it eventually reached a height of 201.1 feet (61.3 m). The tree was blown over due to high winds in the early hours of 13 January 2017. Thought to have been planted in the 1750s, it was, therefore, around 267 years old at the time it fell.
Visitors to the site can undertake various walks. The most popular walk is the 0.6 miles (1 km)-long journey to Ossian's Hall. Wheelchairs are accommodated via a pass-for-all route. There is also a link to a thirty-mile network of footpaths beyond The Hermitage to various parts of Dunkeld. These paths date back to the 18th century.
Originally, the popular riverside path purposely deviated away from the river at about a half-mile from the car park. This was to build up the visitors' anticipation for the waterfall (the Black Linn Falls) that is to be found a short distance ahead. Another path, running parallel to the riverside path, is wider, the purpose for which, it is believed, was to accommodate horse-drawn carriages. Hermitage Bridge, dating from 1770, is located nearby. Standing next to it, and appearing to be growing out of it, is a Cedar of Lebanon, which is believed to be the oldest tree at The Hermitage.
Hermitage Bridge
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Hermitage Bridge, with Ossian's Hall of Mirrors on the left, in 2012
Views of Ossian's Cave and Craigvinean Forest
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The entrance to Ossian's Cave
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The rear of Ossian's Cave
Ossian's Hall
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Ossian's Hall
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The path up to Ossian's Hall
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An image of Ossian on an internal door
References
- ^ Trust Walks: "Dunkeld and The Hermitage Archived 2009-02-27 at the Wayback Machine," a podcast by the National Trust for Scotland; 27 June 2009
- ^ Holder, Geoff (2007). The Guide to Mysterious Perthshire. Stroud : Tempus. ISBN 978-0-7524-4140-5. p. 113.
- ^ "Britain's tallest tree is 209ft Douglas fir" - The Telegraph, 25 February 2009
- ^ Bonn, Melanie (20 January 2017). "What to do with the Hermitage's giant fir after it blows over in storm". dailyrecord. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
External links
- OutdoorScotland.co.uk
- ScottishTowns.co.uk
- Walking in Perthshire Big Tree Country - Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust