History in Perthshire

Perthshire is steeped in ancient history. The oldest sites to visit are the Pictish Dunfallandy stone and the bronze age Crannog in Loch Tay, and countless stone circles. Pitlochry is currently developing a history trail, which includes the ruined ‘Black Castle’, abandoned after a Plague, disused lime kilns and the bronze age homestead which is being excavated in the Black Spout woods, next to the Atholl Palace.

12 miles to the south lies Dunkeld with its ancient Cathedral and the ‘Birnam Oak’ part of the ‘Birnam Woods’ mentioned in Shakespeare’s famous Scottish Play. More recent history and archives from local families are displayed in the Moulin Kirk which now includes a genealogy centre where volunteers are happy to help anyone tracing their family roots.

And of course, you can visit the Atholl Palace Museum located in the garden level of the hotel, where you can find out stories about the people who built, worked at and visited the Atholl Palace from the time building began in 1874, until today.