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Who built the bridge over the River Tay,which connected the Victorian village of Birnam and historic Dunkeld?

Thomas Telford & Telford. Thomas Telford also designed the Caledonian Canal which was all dug by hand, andhis statue can be seen in the New Town of Telford. Before the bridge was built there was a ferry service over the river and any cattle had to swim. The bridge was built between 1805 and 1809 and one of the arches was once used as a prison, (the one on land of course!!).

Which member of royalty stayed at the now called 'Royal Dunkeld Hotel'?

Queen Victoria.. I take it that is why the hotel is called the 'Royal Dunkeld'. It was built between 1815 and 1820. Its first name was the Duke's Arms and later Culloden House when it became a lodging house. Daniel Fisher brought the Inn and extended it, by 1921 it was known as Fisher's Inn. There is even evidence of stables around the back so it must have been a popular Coaching Inn.

The cathedral at Dunkeld was where the first Kings of Scotland were crowned?

t. Part of the cathedral is in ruins but some still remains and is still used today locally. The cathedral was built between 1260 and 1501 on the site that once contained a wattle monastery, in 848 this was re-built in stone by Kenneth MacAlpin. Part of the cathedral was destroyed in 1560 and again in 1689 when most of Dunkeld was set on fire during the battle of Dunkeld.

Which famous children's author got some of her ideas from the Dunkeld/Birnam area?

Beatrix Potter. Beatrix Potter used to holiday frequently in the area and even named some of her characters after local people. She wrote in her diary when she was about 18: “Even when the thunder growled in the distance, and the wind swept up the valley in fitful gusts, oh it was always beautiful, home sweet home, I knew nothing of trouble then.” You can visit the Beatrix Potter centre and garden in Birnam.

What is Dunkeld House now used as?

A hotel. It is a nice posh hotel now and you enter it through a gatehouse just outside of Dunkeld.

Dunkeld's little white houses are protected by the National Trust for Scotland?

y. After Dunkeld was destroyed by fire the houses were built for the locals and are now protected. Walking down a Dunkeld street is like stepping back in time.

What shop, selling a variety of items, is found in the market square in Dunkeld?

Ell. The Ell shop is open most of the year and sells a wide variety of goods. It is called the 'Ell shop' because of the measuring gauge on the side of the wall. This is dated 1706.

Who was the cross in the very centre of the market square dedicated to?

6th Duke of Atholl. The Cross was erected in 1866 by public subscription money. Today the cross is where many community activities take place.

How high is Britain's tallest tree which is found not far from Dunkeld?

212 ft. In the Hermitage you will find Britain's tallest tree. It measures 212 ft (64.5 m)and is a Douglas fir. Also in Birnam you will find the Birnam oak, it is believed to be over 1000 years old, Europe's oldest tree.

The tomb of 'Wolf of Badenoch' can be found at Dunkeld Cathedral?

t. The Wolf of Badenoch also know as Alexander Stewert was the son of King Robert II. He was not a very nice character at all. He set fire to homes and made people's lives a misery. In 1390 he burnt down Elgin Cathedral which was a disaster as many records were destroyed. According to legend the Wolf was found dead with no marks to his body after a raging storm, his men were also dead, as if they had been all struck by lightening. It was believed the night before, a tall, dark figure played chess with the Wolf and won and after saying 'checkmate' the storm started. He is buried in Dunkeld Cathedral, but that is not local to where he once lived. The Wolf originally came from Strathspey.