Dunkeld

Dunkeld is a village in the Highland part of Perth and Kinross, Scotland, on the east bank of the River Tay (which here makes an S-bend, so it becomes the north bank.) The village of Birnam is on the opposite bank, connected by the Telford Bridge; the combined population in 2021 was 1350.

The original village was near the cathedral, but was smashed up by a battle in 1689. Dunkeld was therefore rebuilt in the early 18th century, and is the best-preserved example in Scotland of the style of that era. In 1809 the seven-arched Telford bridge was opened across the Tay, and highway and village became re-aligned. Dunkeld and Birnam long stood on the A9 main road north, but were bypassed in 1977.

Get in
Dunkeld is just off the A9 main road from the south towards Inverness. Stagecoach bus 23 / 27 runs hourly from Perth via Birnam and Dunkeld (40 min), continuing to Aberfeldy. But most intercity coaches along the A9 bypass Dunkeld, and there's just one Citylink bus per day from Edinburgh, heading for Inverness.

The A923 climbs east over the hills towards Blairgowrie & Rattray; the bus along this route has been axed.

is across the bridge in Birnam. It has trains every hour or two from Edinburgh and Glasgow via Perth en route to Pitlochry, Aviemore and Inverness.

Get around
Dunkeld is a small village, so you can walk everywhere. Loch of the Lowes (2 miles) can be reached by the Fungarth Path.

Taxi: Birnam Autocabs are based at Perth Road, Birnam, +44 1350 728828.

See

 * Dunkeld Bridge spans the Tay from Birnam. It has sidewalks on both sides, but is often busy with traffic.

Do

 * Walks: two easy strolls follow the river. West bank go from Birnam Oak, under the A9, past Inver and onward to the Hermitage; east bank from the cathedral to the Dunkeld House Hotel.
 * Golf: Dunkeld & Birnam Golf Club is a mile up A923 towards Loch of the Lowes. White tees 5471 yards, par 69, visitor round £36.

Buy

 * Scots luxuries: Malt whisky, smoked salmon, fine cheeses, and anything marketed with pictures of misty glens? Okay, but first check the prices and range available in the Perth supermarkets 15 miles south, which you can do online.

Eat

 * Craft Diner is a fish & chips takeaway in the car park north end of Atholl St, open Th-M 8:30AM-8PM.
 * Scottish Deli (above) has a restaurant open summer evenings.
 * Scottish Deli (above) has a restaurant open summer evenings.

Drink

 * Hotel bars open to non-residents are at Atholl Arms, Royal Dunkeld and Taybank, see "Sleep".
 * Hotel bars open to non-residents are at Atholl Arms, Royal Dunkeld and Taybank, see "Sleep".

Connect
As of March 2024, Dunkeld, Birnam and the A9 have 4G from EE, O2 and Vodafone, but a poor signal from Three. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Pitlochry 14 miles north has a dam and fish ladder, and festival theatre.
 * Aberfeldy amidst Highland scenery was the subject of poems by Robert Burns and William McGonagall.