"Our visit to Dunkeld was an absolute delight from start to finish. The town has such a peaceful charm that instantly makes you slow down and enjoy the moment. We began our day at the stunning Dunkeld Cathedral, which sits beautifully by the River Tay. The cathedral’s historic architecture and tranquil surroundings made it a highlight of our visit. We took some time to wander around the grounds, soaking in the atmosphere and imagining the centuries of history that have unfolded there.

From the cathedral, we enjoyed a lovely walk along the riverfront. The scenery was breathtaking — the gentle flow of the river, the trees beginning to turn with autumn colours, and the soft sound of birdsong in the background. It’s one of those walks that feels good for the soul. Along the way, we met some really kind and friendly people who were happy to chat and share local recommendations, which made us feel right at home.

Parking was surprisingly easy, which made the visit all the more relaxed. There were plenty of cafes to choose from too, each one looking as inviting as the next. We eventually settled on a cosy spot for coffee and cake, and it was the perfect way to round off a beautiful day in such a picturesque, welcoming place."

Douglas Reid

"As we were travelling to the Highlands for our holiday, our son recommended we visit Dunkeld, not saying why we should. He left us to find out for ourselves and what a treat we were in for.
It had been a hot drive from Abington Services, where we stopped overnight. We both needed a walking break amongst trees and The Hermitage provided that in abundance.
The Hermitage is managed by NT Scotland, and being members of NT in England, this was free but for a nominal charge, you could park for the day.
We set off, under the narrow railway bridge, as Dumkeld Station is close by. Walking through the trees, we soon came alongside a small slow flowing river with a magnificent waterfall. Unfortunately with the river levels so low, the falls were not as spectacular as they would normally be. Some of the trees were huge, especially the Douglas Firs which were planted over 200 years ago. Eventually we arrived at Ossian's Hall, a small round building overlooking the Falls. It was built by the Duke of Atholl to entertain his visitors.
Amongst the trees, we came across a wooden figure of a large oak leaf big enough fie adults to lie on and look up at the trees. A very peaceful spot.
We continued further along the trail and arrived at an extraordinary cave dwelling. Seeing is believing and you must!! It was building with local stone and the roof design is extraordinarily simple. No mortal, just wedged shaped stones resting against one another to form a dome. There were three windows and a door frame, and a small bench. The reason for the cave is not known or understood.
We continued down through the trees, eventually arriving back at the car. It was a welcome break, lasting about an hour.
From here, we drove in to Dunkeld and parked in the main carpark, with a bus stop and a "manned" toilets, where a fifty pence charge is made for using them.
Feeling hungry, we found ourselves a welcoming cafe for a late lunch. We ordered our food and after a short wait our lunch arrived. Our plates were full of delicious food and our meals were filling and delicious. The staff were very welcoming and it is definitely worth calling in on your visit. It's opposite the Hairy Moo gift shop, another place to visit. They even sold crisps made two miles from where we live, a little piece of Herefordshire.
Suitably full, we walked to the river bridge, intending to walk over it but instead, walked underneath beside the River Tay. Beneath the bridge was the local goal used in the 1800's.
Now the River Tay is in full flow and wide, hence the need for a bridge and what a feat of engineering it is. It is one of Thomas Telfords first great engineering projects, replacing two river ferries. More detailed information can found by looking up Dunkeld online.
From here walked to the Cathedral, which is partially in use. One half is covered with scaffolding with unsafe masonry but the southern half is used for services.
One notable fact we learned is that in the grounds outside, there is the last remaining Larch "parent" tree. Five seeds were brought to Scotland originally, and from these five, millions of Larch trees have been grown.
Quite what happened with the other four, no one is certain as to their fate.
From here, we walked back to our car and continued our journey.
We would definitely recommend visiting Dunkeld, with a huge amount of interest and history on offer."

Anthony Hurdidge

"Been going there since I was a toddler, beautiful place all year round"

Craig Marr