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A walk · Birnam

Birnam – The Tay, Telford's Bridge and the Birnam Oak

About 3.4 miles on foot.

The Birnam Riverside Path

Below the village of Birnam, a quiet path runs along the bank of the Tay under old and mighty trees.

One of them is the Birnam Oak, said to be the last of the wood in Shakespeare's Macbeth. Farther on come Telford's bridge and a view of Dunkeld Cathedral over the water. It's about three and a half miles, easy going all the way.

Time
About an hour and three-quarters: about three and a half miles.
The path
A riverside path, easy going, with roots and leaves underfoot. The steps at Dunkeld Bridge are only for going up into Dunkeld.
Where to start
Free street parking on Station Road in Birnam, by Birnam Arts, and a car park by Dunkeld and Birnam station, 150 metres along the same road.
When to go
All year. The oak turns russet and gold late in the autumn; from November the light goes by late afternoon.
Children
An easy path with a giant tree to find. It runs along the open bank of the Tay.
Toilets
The Merryburn Hotel on Station Road in Birnam opens its toilets to the public under the council's Comfort Scheme. Public toilets at the Atholl Street car park in Dunkeld.
Before you set out
A low path beside the Tay.

The walk

Start in Birnam and head down to the Tay, where the path sets off upstream along the bank under big old trees. Benches are dotted along it, and the river is wide and quiet here. The greatest of the trees is the Birnam Oak, a vast, gnarled thing with mossy limbs as thick as most trunks. It is said to be the last survivor of the Birnam Wood of Shakespeare's Macbeth.

The young Beatrix Potter spent a childhood summer in a house on the far bank. Kingfishers are often seen along this stretch, a flash of turquoise low over the water. Farther up, the path dips under Dunkeld Bridge, which Thomas Telford finished in 1808. Beyond it, Dunkeld and its cathedral come into view across the river, and steps at the old toll house lead up into the town.

The whole path is about three and a half miles, starting and finishing in Birnam. It's easy going, with roots and fallen leaves underfoot beneath the trees.

If it rains

A shower does little harm under the trees. After heavy rain the path is muddy, so wear boots.

Before you go

  1. Book accommodation nearby

    If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.

    JuniperA mile awayJuniperSleeps 2Pheasant Cottage5 miles awayPheasant CottageSleeps 6Little Pheasant5 miles awayLittle PheasantSleeps 4
Find out more

For further reading, before you go.