The Hermitage

The Hermitage

The Hermitage, located in Dunkeld, Perth and Kinross, is a National Trust for Scotland protected site nestled along the River Braan in Craigvinean Forest. Created in the 18th century by John Murray, the third Duke of Atholl, to honour the blind bard Ossian, the site features notable Georgian follies, including Ossian’s Hall of Mirrors and Ossian’s Cave. The Hermit’s Cave, built around 1760 for the third Earl of Breadalbane, was initially intended to house a permanent hermit. The grounds of The Hermitage are home to remarkable trees, including several Douglas-firs. One such tree, the Hermitage Douglas-fir, became the second tallest tree in Britain, reaching 63 meters (207 feet) in 2009. Tragically, it was blown over during a storm in January 2017. This self-sown tree germinated from a seed blown from one of the older trees at the site in 1887 (Wikipedia Contributors, 2024). Climate change and increasing storm frequency pose significant risks to ancient and towering trees like those at The Hermitage. Strong winds and unpredictable weather patterns are more likely to damage or uproot such trees, threatening the stability and longevity of these historical landmarks.

is51102025

2011:10:14 13:55:15

Haiyin XU

Site

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24/03/2025

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current,56.55762046438249,-3.6134784895920737;

The Hermitage

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Building

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hx36@st-andrews.ac.uk

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