Walk: Niel Gow’s Oak & the Fiddler’s Path

📌 Dunkeld, Perth & Kinross
★★★

Follow the River Tay a mile upstream from Dunkeld and you can find the Fiddle Tree: an oak where 18th century composer Niel Gow wrote and played many of his folk tunes. A beautifully-carved wooden bench under its boughs provides the perfect spot for a picnic while gazing out over the Tay. “I’ll sit beneath the fiddle tree, with the ghost of Niel Gow next to me.” – reads the inscription under the sitting platform. This easygoing circuit explores both riverbanks, with plentiful tree cover providing shade on a hot summer’s day and stunning leaf colours during autumn. Dunkeld itself is perhaps the most obvious start point, but beginning at the west end of the circuit (as described here) makes it possible to break midway for lunch or a drink in the village.

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start / finish at Douglas Fir Wood, off A9 2 mi west of Dunkeld / Birnam. Alternative start point in Dunkeld village centre

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NO 003437

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.574741,-3.624079

🚌 Bus to Dunkeld (east side of walk route) | 🚆 Dunkeld and Birnam (0.5 mi from east side of walk route)

🚗 Car park

📝 Key info

▶ 10 km / 6 mi | ▲ 50 m | ⌛ 2.5-3 hr

Features: 💧 River Tay; River Braan; 🏠 Dunkeld ★★★ & village sights

⬤ Easy | Clear paths throughout – some rougher options closer to the river bank.

➡️ Anticlockwise circuit: start – confluence of River Tay & River Braan by path along River Tay – Inver – Dunkeld & village sights – follow north bank of River Tay upstream to A9 – cross A9 bridge over River Tay – start

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Canada geese, mallards & ducklings; bluebells flowering.

Weather: Sunny, around 20ºC with a cool breeze.

May 2026