20 Attractions to Explore Near The Hermitage

Ossian's Hall of Mirrors is a Georgian structure located at The Hermitage in Dunkeld, Scotland. The Hermitage and Ossian's Hall of Mirrors was originally an unremarkable view-house in a position overlooking the Black Linn falls of the Braan, a tributary of the River Tay. This folly was built on a rocky outcrop for the 2nd Duke of Atholl in 1757.

A delightful multi-purpose arts, conferencing and entertainment facility centrally located in the picturesque Highland Perthshire community of Dunkeld & Birnam. The venue is bright and airy, dominated by natural light and with its imaginative use of internal space and delicious catering, Birnam Arts is a welcoming and inspiring platform for small to mid range events.

The Birnam Oak is an iconic tree on the outskirts of the Perthshire village and celebrated in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Sometimes known as Macbeth's oak, as it is a relic of Birnam Wood, mentioned in William Shakespeare's play, the tree is found in a strip of woodland on the south bank of the River Tay. The trunk is 5.5 metres wide and its large spreading branches have latterly been supported on a number of struts to prevent them from collapsing under their own weight.

Loch of the Lowes is a loch near Dunkeld in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. The loch and the surrounding area are designated as a wildlife reserve, run by the Scottish Wildlife Trust. The loch is also a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, as well as forming part of a Special Area of Conservation. It also hosts a variety of wildlife, including a pair of breeding ospreys, red squirrels, otters and beavers.

Loch Ordie is a classic freshwater hill loch east of the River Tay, and surrounded by wooded hills, in the Forest of Clunie.There are a number of lochs and lochans in the area and Loch Ordie is particular attractive. It is an excellent area for wildlife and you may even be lucky enough to spot an osprey fishing.

The Loch of Clunie has been the site of a fortification for over a thousand years. On its western shore the Hill of Clunie Castle existed no later than the ninth century AD and this was later rebuilt into a motte-and-bailey fortification. In the late fifteenth century this was replaced by an L-plan Tower House known as Clunie Castle.

A beautiful mill complex built in the 1780s. It has harnessed the power of the River Tay to produce textiles. The mill complex was altered many times to keep up with the industry’s changing demands, before it finally closed in 1989. You can learn how engineers harnessed water power. See the machinery that turned raw cotton into products that were exported from Scotland across the globe.

The Meikleour Beech Hedge, located near Meikleour, Perth and Kinross, Scotland, was planted in the autumn of 1745 by Jean Mercer and her husband, Robert Murray Nairne on the Marquess of Lansdowne's Meikleour estate. It is said the hedge grows towards the heavens because the men who planted it were killed at the Battle of Culloden. The hedge is noted in the Guinness World Records as the tallest and longest hedge on earth, reaching 30 metres in height and 530 metres in length.

A stone farmhouse with a woodland garden specialising in Himalayan plants, started in 1950 by Bobby & Betty Masterton. It has an important collection of Asiatic primulas including candelabras and a large collection of Trilliums, Arisaemas, Lilliums, Erythroniums and specimen trees including the widest girthed Sequoiadendron in the UK. The garden is also very important for a population of Red Squirrels. Cluny is cultivated organically with no pesticides or insecticides.

The Birks of Aberfeldy is a 3.2 kilometer loop trail located near Aberfeldy, Perth and Kinross, Scotland that features a waterfall and so more. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching. The Upper Birks is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its importance for the diversity of plants and animals, some which are rare.

Edradour is often described as the smallest Whisky distillery there is in Scotland. There are a few smaller distilleries in Scotland. Established in 1825, the distillery was traditionally run by three men, but now there are just two. Only eighteen casks are produced each week. They have a tour which costs £10 and currently includes two drams and a nosing glass. A variety of whiskies are available from the distillery.

Blair Athol Distillery stands at the gateway to the Scottish Highlands in the picturesque town of Pitlochry, Perthshire. The distillery was founded in 1798 by John Steward and Robert Robertson, originally named 'Aldour', after the Allt Dour burn the distillery draws it water from, but closed soon after opening. The distillery opened again and changed ownership to John Robertson in 1825. It distills Blair Athol single malt whisky. It is used in Bell's whisky, and is also normally available in a

The Pitlochry fish ladder is a fish ladder next to the Pitlochry Power Station, near Pitlochry, Perth and Kinross, Scotland, which allows salmon to travel upstream during the breeding season. The ladder was specially constructed to enable salmon to by-pass the dam and make their way upstream to Loch Faskally above. The ladder is 310 metres long and consists of 34 chambers, linked together by tunnels that the salmon can swim through. It enables around 5,000 salmon to return to their spawning grou

Situated within picturesque Pitlochry Power Station, the Centre features interactive exhibits tracing the history of hydro generation in Scotland from its origins in the 1940s to its current £250m refurbishment programme. There are also opportunities for kids to design their own power station and find out how to help the environment by saving energy. Something we should all learn more about!

Huntingtower is a peculiar building, with an equally peculiar history. It was begun as a pair of fortified medieval tower houses, built only a few paces apart, and later combined into one substantial mansion. It was built in stages from the 15th century by the Clan Ruthven family. It was known for several hundred years as the 'House of Ruthven' or 'Ruthven Castle', or simply 'Ryffane', until the family was forfeited for the Gowrie Conspiracy in 1600 and the Ruthven name was suppressed by Act of

Scone Palace has an exciting and colourful history as one of Scotland's most important stately homes. In the intervening centuries, it has been the seat of parliaments and the crowning place of the Kings of Scots, including Macbeth and Robert the Bruce. The palace houses an outstanding collection of antiques, paintings and rare artefacts and the grounds are renowned throughout the world, making the stately home one of the most popular attractions in Scotland.

Castle Menzies is a spectacular sixteenth century Scottish castle, restored during the twentieth century by the Menzies Clan Society. It was architecturally fascinating and is a splendid Renaissance example of the transition in Scottish castles from earlier rugged Highland fortresses to later mansion houses.

Loch Faskally is man-made reservoir built between 1947 and 1950 by Wimpey Construction to stabilise river flows below the dam at Pitlochry as part of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board's Tummel Hydro-Electric Power Scheme. The loch is popular with anglers. The water holds a good head of brown trout and the native fish are augmented by a stocking in the 1-5lb range. A 7-pounder was recorded in 2001

Faskally Forest is an extensive woodland area within Tay Forest Park on the banks of Loch Dunmore, approximately one mile north west of Pitlochry. The layout of the woodland is largely manmade, having been created in the 19th century in the grounds of Faskally House, which was used as a Forestry Commission school. It can be enjoyed on the many well sign posted paths including the easy access Dunmore Trail with views over the lochside trees or the Foresters' Trail around Dunmore Hill.

The Black Watch Castle and Museum is a 5 star multi-award winning visitor attraction located in the beautiful city of Perth, Scotland. It was housed within the historic Balhousie Castle, the origins of which are said to date back to the 12th century. A visit to the ancestral Home of The Black Watch brings the history of Scotland’s oldest Highland Regiment’s to life, through artefacts, paintings, photographs, personal stories and interactive displays.