The pretty village of Dunkeld lies among rolling wooded Perthshire hills as they rise to become the Highlands, which made it a stop-off for cattle drovers for generations.

Battle of Dunkeld

The village’s strategic significance also drew military attention in what became the 1689 Battle of Dunkeld. It was a day of much bloodshed between Jacobite and Union forces, which proved a pivotal setback for the Jacobites and near-Armageddon for the village. All but a handful of houses were burnt to the ground, making today's rows of pretty white-washed houses the result of early 18th-century rebuilding.

Much of the battle took place among the idyllic lawns and trees around the impressive 14th-century Dunkeld Cathedral part of which is ruined and mangaged by Historic Environment Scotland (daily: April–Sept 9.30am–5.30pm; Oct–Mar 9.30am–4pm; free).

Birnam