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Human settlement in Scotland
Photo: W. L. Tarbert, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Birnam is a village in the Highland part of Perth and Kinross, which grew up in the 19th century as a resort town when the railway reached it. It's on the west bank of the River Tay, which here makes an S-bend, so it becomes the south bank. It's connected by the 200-year old Telford Bridge to Dunkeld on the east bank. Their combined population in 2021 was 1350.
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A multi-purpose building with a cafe, Beatrix Potter exhibition and shop, workshops, Wi-Fi, visiting music and drama and the Library. Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) spent several childhood holidays at nearby Dalguise, and it was on a later holiday to Eastwood, just across the river in Dunkeld, that she created the basis for Peter Rabbit. She was also a notable naturalist (Perth Museum displays her paintings of fungi) and conservationist. This exhibition recreates the creatures and environment that inspired her.
Unusual building in American Frontier style with herring-bone timber, built in 2004. You half-expect Rin Tin Tin to come bounding out, so yes, the Tea Room is dog-friendly, with a good selection of refreshments.
Trad hotel near railway station, comfy enough. Amenities include a bar and pizzeria.
Small guesthouse with 5 rooms, clean and comfy.
Clean friendly B&B.
Clean well-run site by river, open April-Oct. Dogs welcome.
By bus
Most of the inter-city buses along the A9 rush past Birnam, so you need to change either in Perth or at Broxden P&R on its outskirts.
By car
Access from the A9 Edinburgh to Inverness road is from junctions at the north and south ends of the village.
By plane
Edinburgh Airport is an 80-min drive from Birnam.
Walking is fine for Birnam, Little Dunkeld and Dunkeld. Buses and trains run up the valley from Perth through Birnam to Pitlochry and Aberfeldy - see "Get in" - but you'll need your own transport to get anywhere else.
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