The Hermitage, Dunkeld facts for kids
The Hermitage is a super cool place in Dunkeld, Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It's officially called The Hermitage pleasure ground. It's looked after by the National Trust for Scotland, which protects special places.
You can find The Hermitage right next to the A9 and along the River Braan. It's nestled in the beautiful Craigvinean Forest. This amazing spot was created way back in the 1700s by John Murray, the third Duke of Atholl. He wanted to honor a famous blind poet named Ossian.
The Hermitage is home to some unique buildings called Georgian follies. These are buildings made just for fun or decoration. You'll find Ossian's Hall of Mirrors and Ossian's Cave here. There was even a special cave built around 1760 for someone to live in like a hermit, but no one stayed permanently! Later, a guide named Donald Anderson would dress up with a long beard and animal skins to look like a hermit.
Discovering Amazing Trees
The Hermitage is famous for its incredible trees, especially the Douglas-firs. One of these trees was the very first in Britain to grow taller than 200 feet (61 m)! It was known as the Hermitage Douglas-fir.
This giant tree eventually reached a height of 201.1 feet (61.3 m). Sadly, strong winds blew it down on January 13, 2017. It was planted around the 1750s, so it was about 267 years old when it fell.
You can also see a very old Cedar of Lebanon tree here. It stands right next to a stone bridge from 1770. It looks like it's growing right out of the bridge! People think it's the oldest tree at The Hermitage.
Exploring the Paths
The Hermitage has many paths for visitors to explore. The most popular walk is about 0.75 miles (1 km) long and leads to Ossian's Hall. There's even a special path for wheelchairs, making it easy for everyone to enjoy.
Beyond The Hermitage, there's a huge network of footpaths, about thirty miles long! These paths connect to different parts of Dunkeld and have been around since the 1700s.
The main path along the river was designed in a clever way. About half a mile from the car park, it turns away from the river. This was done on purpose to build up excitement for the amazing waterfall ahead. The waterfall is called the Black Linn Falls.
There's also another path that runs next to the riverside path. This one is wider, and people believe it was made wide enough for horse and carriages to use.
Views of Ossian's Cave and Craigvinean Forest
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The entrance to Ossian's Cave
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The rear of Ossian's Cave
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A path through the trees in Craigvinean Forest
Ossian's Hall
Ossian's Hall is one of the cool buildings at The Hermitage. It's known for its special mirrors and designs inside. It's a fun place to visit on your walk!
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The path leading up to Ossian's Hall
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An image of Ossian, the famous poet, on an internal door inside the hall
