Dunkeld - The Hermitage - Strathbraan - Dunkeld

Richard Hardy

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This walk was originally contributed by Oliver O'Brien. A section recently had to be closed because of a landslide. This meant that the walk had to be rerouted and rewritten. This has now been done by Richard Hardy as Oliver no longer lives in the area. Our thanks to Oliver and Richard for all their work on this walk.

The walk starts from the railway station by heading under the A9 and into Birnam Village, optionally through the enchanting Beatrix Potter Garden. It then goes down Oak Road to the banks of the River Tay before following the Tay and then the Braan past the Birnam Oak, under the grand Dunkeld Bridge and again under the A9.

The walk follows a road past Inver and then a forest path through to The Hermitage. Just before arriving at the bridge near Ossian's Hall, a beautiful and dramatic place, is Britain's tallest tree – a Douglas Fir over sixty metres high. The Ossian's Hall itself is perched on cliffs overlooking the Black Linn Falls.

The walk continues beside the River Braan before crossing the Rumbling Bridge, an appropriate name as the bridge shudders as the Braan thunders far below it. The route then strikes inland, through Strathbraan, up to the high point at Balhomish Farm, before following a forestry track down to the Inchewan Burn.

Finally, a path beside the burn leads back to the station and the starting point.

Scotland - Northeast Scotland - Perth and Kinross - Tay Forest Park

Features

Birds, Flowers, Great Views, Hills or Fells, National Trust, Pub, Public Transport, River, Toilets, Wildlife
10/13/2023 - Michael Brown

Very nice walk. Be aware of cattle with bull and calves at certain times of year as they are loose in the field. Can be quiet aggressive if get too near the calves This is at point 14 on the route.

5/12/2016 - Gabriele Seidel

I completed this walk fully on 29/04/2016 and it was wonderful! Beautiful views and the directions spot on and even if the looks of some waymarks may be different now you can't miss any. It was wonderful and thanks for all the efforts done.

6/11/2014 - Richard Hardy

having picked up Fiona's comments on monday I took the opportunity to walk the affected part of the route on tuesday night as I was passing. There is no landslip, nor any evidence of one, that part of the route is a short mettaled track and then the pavement alongside the A822, so it would actually cause a road closure if it slipped. I wonder whether Fiona has an old copy of the walk from before I adopted it, as the reason I picked it up was a landslip on Olivers original route which needed a re-route through Inver. Fiona's alternate route is perfectly fine it brings you out just past the Forestry Commission office in Inver shortly before waypoint 8, it's closer to the intrusive noise of the A9 which is why i didn't route it that way when I took the walk over

6/7/2014 - Fiona Dick

The route between points 5 and 8 is no longer passable, due to a landslip. However, if you go across the footbridge mentioned in WP5, there is a clear signpost to Inver and a path across a newly cleared area. This brings you out in the hamlet of Inver, where you turn right again, following the signpost,and then go alongside the A9 for a very short stretch before turning left into the Hermitage. Keep to the pavement on the left through the lower car park and then take the path beside the river to reach the folly. This is a spectacular walk, showcasing some of the best of Perthshire.

9/2/2011 - Richard Hardy

Some road walking but mostly off lead on paths and woods

5/16/2011 - Suzanne Evans

I completed this walk fully on 15/5/2011, although did upto the Hermitage the day before as well. I have to say that this rates as one of the most spectacular walks I have ever done and it incorporates such a variety of scenerey and stunning views. The waterfalls and rapids are amazing, and don't miss going into the Folly at The Hermitage as the balcony view of the falls is amazing. The first time we walked part of the route the sun was shining and skies brilliant blue which added to the depth of colours etc but even the next day when we repeated the walk and did the full 6.8 miles in cloudier conditions it was still wonderful. The map and directions were spot on, so thank you to the person who put this together, it went like clockwork.

4/22/2011 - Fiona Gray

Done this walk 22/04/11 but started from reference 7 The Hermitage as we felt this flowed better by spending time in the villages at the end of the walk rather than the beginning and was able to park easily although there are parking meters £2 but are not in use yet. The directions were spot on and no requirement for a map. Heading down to Birnam there has been a landslide but still very passable. Really enjoyed the walk with beautiful scenery and spotted an osprey although my walking partner is doubting my ornithology knowledge!!

4/11/2009 - Lynda Dobinson

10-04-09 We have recently enjoyed this walk very much although we missed the cave completely as the path leaving the Hermitage isn't all that clear, we did as the instructions said and stayed left when in doubt and sadly missed the cave. The Braams Falls and Rumbling Bridge fall ... spectacular!

6/7/2006 - Ian Cordiner

My wife and I have just done walk 176 and thoroughly enjoyed it. The walk had great variety. The bluebells were in full flower and the colour and perfume were absolutely wonderful. As a minor note, it is obvious that this walk was published some time ago – the picture for waymark 10 is a bit out of date. The open ground referred to in the text is not exactly open any more. Many young seedlings (some at least a couple of metres high) have sprung up to fill the void. In spite of the above it is a great walk. Regards, Ian C Cordiner