Birnam, Perth and Kinross
Encyclopedia
Birnam is a town in Perthshire
, Scotland
. The town originated from the Victorian era
with the coming of the railway in 1856, although the place and name is well known because William Shakespeare
mentioned Birnam Wood in Macbeth
.
, in Perthshire
’s 'Big Tree Country' and is located 12 miles north of Perth on the A9 road, the main tourist route through Perthshire
.
Dunkeld
, which is thought to date back to the sixth century when a monastery was founded, and where Kenneth MacAlpin
, the first King of Scotland, moved the bones of St. Columba around the middle of the 9th century, lies on the opposite bank of the river.
and Edinburgh
airports, and two hours from Inverness
by car.
There is access by rail at Dunkeld and Birnam railway station
, on the London
to Inverness
route.
There are regular bus and coach services to Birnam and Dunkeld.
There is an ancient tree, the Birnam Oak
, standing a few hundred metres from the centre of Birnam on Athol Estate. In the past , it was known as "The Hangman's Tree".
John Everett Millais
, who painted many local landscapes, and Beatrix Potter
, who visited regularly with her family from their London home, often visited Birnam.
Exhibition and Garden, and The Birnam Institute, a community run arts and performance centre with library.
The Birnam Highland Games is where the World Haggis Eating Championships are held.
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The town originated from the Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
with the coming of the railway in 1856, although the place and name is well known because William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
mentioned Birnam Wood in Macbeth
Macbeth
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
.
Location
Birnam lies on the bank of the River TayRiver Tay
The River Tay is the longest river in Scotland and the seventh-longest in the United Kingdom. The Tay originates in western Scotland on the slopes of Ben Lui , then flows easterly across the Highlands, through Loch Dochhart, Loch Lubhair and Loch Tay, then continues east through Strathtay , in...
, in Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
’s 'Big Tree Country' and is located 12 miles north of Perth on the A9 road, the main tourist route through Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
.
Dunkeld
Dunkeld
Dunkeld is a small town in Strathtay, Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It is about 15 miles north of Perth on the eastern side of the A9 road into the Scottish Highlands and on the opposite side of the Tay from the Victorian village of Birnam. Dunkeld and Birnam share a railway station, on the...
, which is thought to date back to the sixth century when a monastery was founded, and where Kenneth MacAlpin
Kenneth I of Scotland
Cináed mac Ailpín , commonly Anglicised as Kenneth MacAlpin and known in most modern regnal lists as Kenneth I was king of the Picts and, according to national myth, first king of Scots, earning him the posthumous nickname of An Ferbasach, "The Conqueror"...
, the first King of Scotland, moved the bones of St. Columba around the middle of the 9th century, lies on the opposite bank of the river.
Transportation
Birnam is approximately one hour from GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
airports, and two hours from Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
by car.
There is access by rail at Dunkeld and Birnam railway station
Dunkeld and Birnam railway station
Dunkeld and Birnam railway station serves the towns of Dunkeld and Birnam in Perth and Kinross.- External links :...
, on the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
route.
There are regular bus and coach services to Birnam and Dunkeld.
History
Birnam Oak
The Birnam Oak is an example of Sessile oak at Birnam, Perth and Kinross, Scotland . Sometimes known as Macbeth's oak, as it is a relic of Birnam Wood, mentioned in William Shakespeare's play, the tree is found in a strip of woodland on the south bank of the River Tay...
, standing a few hundred metres from the centre of Birnam on Athol Estate. In the past , it was known as "The Hangman's Tree".
John Everett Millais
John Everett Millais
Sir John Everett Millais, 1st Baronet, PRA was an English painter and illustrator and one of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.-Early life:...
, who painted many local landscapes, and Beatrix Potter
Beatrix Potter
Helen Beatrix Potter was an English author, illustrator, natural scientist and conservationist best known for her imaginative children’s books featuring animals such as those in The Tale of Peter Rabbit which celebrated the British landscape and country life.Born into a privileged Unitarian...
, who visited regularly with her family from their London home, often visited Birnam.
Attractions
Birnam has The Beatrix PotterBeatrix Potter
Helen Beatrix Potter was an English author, illustrator, natural scientist and conservationist best known for her imaginative children’s books featuring animals such as those in The Tale of Peter Rabbit which celebrated the British landscape and country life.Born into a privileged Unitarian...
Exhibition and Garden, and The Birnam Institute, a community run arts and performance centre with library.
The Birnam Highland Games is where the World Haggis Eating Championships are held.