The Hermitage (officially The Hermitage pleasure ground) is a National Trust for Scotland-protected site in Dunkeld, Perth and Kinross. Located just to the west of the A9, it sits on the banks of the River Braan in Craigvinean Forest. It was created by John Murray, the third Duke of Atholl, who lived in nearby Dunkeld House (demolished in the early 19th century),[1] in the 18th century to honour the blind bard Ossian. It is home to the Georgian follies Ossian's Hall of Mirrors and Ossian's Cave. The hermit's cave was built around 1760 for the third Earl of Breadalbane, who unsuccessfully advertised for a permanent eremite. The guide in 1869, Donald Anderson, dressed up with a long beard of lichens and clothes of animal skins.[2]
Also in its grounds are several Douglas-fir trees — one of which was the first tree in Britain to reach 200 feet (61 m) in height.[1] Known as the Hermitage Douglas-fir, it eventually reached a height of 201.1 feet (61.3 m).[3] The tree was blown over due to high winds in the early hours of 13 January 2017.[4] Thought to have been planted in the 1750s,[4] it was, therefore, around 267 years old at the time it fell.
Visitors to the site can undertake various walks. The most popular walk is the 0.6 miles (1 km)-long journey to Ossian's Hall. Wheelchairs are accommodated via a pass-for-all route.[1] There is also a link to a thirty-mile network of footpaths beyond The Hermitage to various parts of Dunkeld. These paths date back to the 18th century.[1]
Originally, the popular riverside path purposely deviated away from the river at about a half-mile from the car park. This was to build up the visitors' anticipation for the waterfall (the Black Linn Falls) that is to be found a short distance ahead.[1] Another path, running parallel to the riverside path, is wider, the purpose for which, it is believed, was to accommodate horse-drawn carriages.[1]Hermitage Bridge, dating from 1770, is located nearby.[1] Standing next to it, and appearing to be growing out of it, is a Cedar of Lebanon, which is believed to be the oldest tree at The Hermitage.[1]
^ abcdefghTrust Walks: "Dunkeld and The Hermitage 2009-02-27 at the Wayback Machine," a podcast by the National Trust for Scotland; 27 June 2009
^Holder, Geoff (2007). The Guide to Mysterious Perthshire. Stroud : Tempus. ISBN978-0-7524-4140-5. p. 113.
^"Britain's tallest tree is 209ft Douglas fir" - The Telegraph, 25 February 2009
^ abBonn, Melanie (20 January 2017). "What to do with the Hermitage's giant fir after it blows over in storm". dailyrecord. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Hermitage, Perth and Kinross.
Walking in Perthshire Big Tree Country - Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust
January 01, 1970
hermitage, dunkeld, hermitage, officially, hermitage, pleasure, ground, national, trust, scotland, protected, site, dunkeld, perth, kinross, located, just, west, sits, banks, river, braan, craigvinean, forest, created, john, murray, third, duke, atholl, lived,. The Hermitage officially The Hermitage pleasure ground is a National Trust for Scotland protected site in Dunkeld Perth and Kinross Located just to the west of the A9 it sits on the banks of the River Braan in Craigvinean Forest It was created by John Murray the third Duke of Atholl who lived in nearby Dunkeld House demolished in the early 19th century 1 in the 18th century to honour the blind bard Ossian It is home to the Georgian follies Ossian s Hall of Mirrors and Ossian s Cave The hermit s cave was built around 1760 for the third Earl of Breadalbane who unsuccessfully advertised for a permanent eremite The guide in 1869 Donald Anderson dressed up with a long beard of lichens and clothes of animal skins 2 The Hermitage DunkeldOssian s Hall at the HermitageMapLocation of The Hermitage in ScotlandGeographyLocationPerth and Kinross ScotlandCoordinates56 33 32 N 3 37 16 W 56 559 N 3 621 W 56 559 3 621 Also in its grounds are several Douglas fir trees one of which was the first tree in Britain to reach 200 feet 61 m in height 1 Known as the Hermitage Douglas fir it eventually reached a height of 201 1 feet 61 3 m 3 The tree was blown over due to high winds in the early hours of 13 January 2017 4 Thought to have been planted in the 1750s 4 it was therefore around 267 years old at the time it fell Visitors to the site can undertake various walks The most popular walk is the 0 6 miles 1 km long journey to Ossian s Hall Wheelchairs are accommodated via a pass for all route 1 There is also a link to a thirty mile network of footpaths beyond The Hermitage to various parts of Dunkeld These paths date back to the 18th century 1 Originally the popular riverside path purposely deviated away from the river at about a half mile from the car park This was to build up the visitors anticipation for the waterfall the Black Linn Falls that is to be found a short distance ahead 1 Another path running parallel to the riverside path is wider the purpose for which it is believed was to accommodate horse drawn carriages 1 Hermitage Bridge dating from 1770 is located nearby 1 Standing next to it and appearing to be growing out of it is a Cedar of Lebanon which is believed to be the oldest tree at The Hermitage 1 Hermitage Bridge edit nbsp Hermitage Bridge with Ossian s Hall of Mirrors on the left in 2012Views of Ossian s Cave and Craigvinean Forest edit nbsp The entrance to Ossian s Cave nbsp The rear of Ossian s CaveOssian s Hall editMain article Ossian s Hall of Mirrors nbsp Ossian s Hall nbsp The path up to Ossian s Hall nbsp An image of Ossian on an internal doorReferences edit a b c d e f g h Trust Walks Dunkeld and The Hermitage Archived 2009 02 27 at the Wayback Machine a podcast by the National Trust for Scotland 27 June 2009 Holder Geoff 2007 The Guide to Mysterious Perthshire Stroud Tempus ISBN 978 0 7524 4140 5 p 113 Britain s tallest tree is 209ft Douglas fir The Telegraph 25 February 2009 a b Bonn Melanie 20 January 2017 What to do with the Hermitage s giant fir after it blows over in storm dailyrecord Retrieved 15 March 2017 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Hermitage Perth and Kinross OutdoorScotland co uk ScottishTowns co uk Walking in Perthshire Big Tree Country Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Hermitage Dunkeld amp oldid 1206512568, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
