A walk · Dunkeld

The Fiddler's Path – Dunkeld's Loop of the Tay

5½ miles2¾ hoursa loop

paid parkingdogs on a lead

The Fiddler's Path is Dunkeld's long riverside loop, out from the old cathedral along the Tay among huge old trees and over the river at Jubilee Bridge.

It comes back down the far bank past Niel Gow's Oak, where the fiddler is said to have found many of his tunes. The short Bishop's Path makes a family stroll of the first stretch. Lunch is at ARAN on Atholl Street when you're back.

Where it starts

Atholl Street and Tay Terrace car parks in Dunkeld, pay and display: £1.50 for an hour, £2.50 for two, £4.20 for four.

Directions to the start

Is it for me?

Tap who is coming, or the day you have, for the answer on this walk.

Before you go

On the path

About two and three quarter hours: the council's Fiddler's Path, a 9 km loop from Dunkeld Cathedral by Jubilee Bridge and Niel Gow's Oak. Or the Bishop's Path, 2.5 km, about 45 minutes. A walk. Riverside paths and a short, steep stretch of drive; the Bishop's Path suits most abilities. The Bishop's Path is the family walk; the river bank has drops.

Good to know

All year in daylight; from November to February set off by noon. ARAN closes early on a day it sells out. From November to February, set off by noon to be back in daylight. Dogs on a lead by the river and through the town. Public toilets at the Atholl Street car park.

The walk

The walk starts at Dunkeld Cathedral, a short walk from the town's car parks on Atholl Street and Tay Terrace, which are pay and display: £1.50 for an hour, £2.50 for two or £4.20 for four. Perth and Kinross Council's Fiddler's Path is a 9 km loop, about two and three quarter hours. It runs out past the cathedral and along the bank of the Tay towards Dunkeld House among some very big old trees, past a stand of silver birch where roe deer are often seen.

It crosses the river at Jubilee Bridge and comes back down the far bank past Niel Gow's Oak. That's the spot where the fiddler Niel Gow is said to have composed many of his tunes. Watch the river for salmon rising, goosanders, herons and dippers.

The Bishop's Path starts the same way and curves away before Dunkeld House, 2.5 km and about 45 minutes, and suits most abilities. At the back of the cathedral, read the story of the Parent Larch, the mother of millions. There are public toilets in the Atholl Street car park.

If it rains

On a wet day take the short Bishop's Path under the big trees and go early to ARAN.

Afterwards

About 3 min on foot
ARAN Bakery
Lunch
Lunch is at ARAN Bakery on Atholl Street, a few minutes' walk from the cathedral, for sourdough, pastries, cakes, coffee and lunch from the counter. It opens Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 3.30pm and Sunday from 10am to 3.30pm, and closes early on a day it sells out, so don't leave it late. If it's sold out, the café at Birnam Arts, across the bridge in Birnam, serves soup and sandwiches every day until 4pm.
More about ARAN Bakery

After the walk

Coffee and cake, something to do with the rest of the day, and dinner, nearest the end of the walk first.

Straight after

Dried flower display above a shopfront doorway on Atholl Street

1 min by roadA caféARAN BakeryFlora Shedden's bakery on Atholl Street in Dunkeld, named from the Gaelic for bread, with sourdough loaves, pastries, cakes and lunches.

Iain Burnett shopfront with Gifts & Chocolate Tastings signage and red postbox outside

18 min by roadA caféIain Burnett Highland ChocolatierIain Burnett's chocolate shop and lounge in Grandtully, the home of his Velvet Truffles, made with rare cocoas and fresh Scottish cream, with tasting flights.

White-washed building with slate roof and fish emblem above the entrance

20 min by roadA caféTickled Trout CaféA family-run cafe in an old beetling mill at College Mill Trout Farm by Almondbank, beside the River Almond, with soups, sandwiches and cakes and dogs welcome.

With the rest of the day

Shelves of gifts, baskets and jars fill a small shop interior

1 min by roadA shopLÒN StoreFlora Shedden's deli and homewares shop on the High Street in Dunkeld, with fresh flowers, fruit and vegetables, larder staples and things for the home.

Rabbit statues flank the metal archway reading "Beatrix Potter Garden

3 min by roadThings to doBeatrix Potter GardenA garden at Birnam Arts of bronze sculptures of Beatrix Potter's characters, near Dunkeld, where she first told the story of Peter Rabbit in 1893.

3 min by roadThings to doBirnamA Victorian village on the south bank of the Tay opposite Dunkeld, grown up round the railway of 1856, famous from Macbeth and home to Birnam Arts.

Woman walks towards a stone hut through autumn woodland

3 min by roadThings to doThe HermitageA wooded gorge on the River Braan by Dunkeld, looked after by the National Trust for Scotland, with Ossian's Hall of 1757 above the Black Linn Falls and some of Britain's tallest trees.

Gnarled old oak with sprawling branches amid autumn woodland

5 min by roadThings to doBirnam OakAn ancient oak on the bank of the Tay at Birnam, perhaps 600 years old, its low branches on crutches, said to be the last tree of Macbeth's Birnam Wood.

Bronze stag statue on a flowerbed outside a white turreted country house

5 min by roadThings to doDunkeld House HotelA four-star country house hotel in 280 acres of woodland on the banks of the Tay at Dunkeld, with a spa and pool.

For dinner

Redwood Wines in Dunkeld, a minute by road. A wine shop and kitchen in the old post office on Bridge Street in Dunkeld, with small plates made in-house and the Good Food Guide's Scotland award for 2025.

The Taybank in Dunkeld, a minute by road. A bar, restaurant and hotel on the Tay by Telford's bridge in Dunkeld, once Dougie MacLean's, famous for its live music and its big garden by the river.

Grandtully Hotel in Strathtay, 18 minutes by road. A small hotel and restaurant by Ballintaggart in the village of Grandtully on the Tay, with eight rooms and seasonal Scottish cooking in the Michelin Guide.

Places to stay near the walk

Our places to stay nearest the start, by road.

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