Dunkeld

Visit the colourful, carefully-preserved little houses of Dunkeld and the prominent and romantic-looking Dunkeld Cathedral.

Situated in the “Big Tree Country” of Perthshire on the banks of the River Tay is Dunkeld, a village beautifully restored to its 18th century prime.

Here among the colourful, carefully-preserved little houses is the prominent and romantic-looking Dunkeld Cathedral, dating back to the 1300s. This is a significant church in Scotland, as Dunkeld emerged as a centre of Christianity starting in the 7th century and later became the head of the Celtic Church in the 9th century until a series of Viking raids in the 10th century forced the prime bishopric to move to St Andrews.

The cathedral was partly destroyed during the Reformation in the 1500s, and much of it now lies in ruins, but the renovated part still serves as the town parish. Today, it’s popular among visitors for the arches and pillars of its nave ruins—a stunning photo opportunity especially on a misty day.