Fortinghall Yew

📌 Tree in Fortinghall, Perth & Kinross
★★★

5,000 years ago, a yew tree seed sprouted in the remote glen of the River Lyon in deepest Perthshire. Astonishingly, this very tree is still alive and thriving (and apparently changing sex according to a recent discovery by staff from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh). This is truly one of Scotland’s great natural wonders; if the age is right then it could be Europe’s oldest tree, though there are other contenders. The yew’s notable age has already attracted tourists for millennia – yes, you read that right – and Pontius Pilate is said to have been born in the village, when the tree could have been a mere 3,000 years old. Unsurprisingly, over the centuries visitors have wanted to take home “souvenirs”, damaging parts of the tree; wooden posts mark the original circumference of the trunk. It’s probably just as well that it’s now protected by a stone enclosure, even if it does slightly limit viewing opportunities. A timeline etched onto the approach path puts it all into context, making the mind boggle if it hasn’t already.