Ossian's Hall at the Hermitage is a folly overlooking the Black Linn Falls, set amongst some of Scotland's tallest trees

Dunkeld and Birnam is a wonderfully preserved historic town in Highland Perthshire, a favourite area of Queen Victoria herself. The town is small but bustling with cafes and restaurants, and there are endless stunning walks though woodlands all around. In summer, a visiting pair of ospreys can be seen just outside the town.

Dunkeld an Birnam is an attractive town, full of whitewashed cottages, attractive architecture and a grand cathedral dating back to Celtic monks. Before the Cathedral the site was a Pictish monastery, demonstrating the importance of this location, where the rivers Tay and Braan meet, over the centuries.

Just outside the town is Loch of the Lowes Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve, where ospreys nest each summer on the banks of the loch where they can be seen fishing for trout. The centre has a selection of telescopes and binoculars, as well as a camera trained on the nest, so you can get a good look a these incredible birds.

Just two miles from Dunkeld is the Hermitage, a beautiful woodland walk leading to a folly overlooking a tumbling waterfall. The trees are dizzyingly tall, making this an impressive walk from start to finish. If you’re not stopping in Dunkeld but driving the A9, it makes a great ‘pit stop’ to stretch your legs.

Birnam Wood, celebrated in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, is home to two spectacular trees: the Birnam Oak and the Birnam Sycamore. Aged 500 and 300 years respectively, the trees look ancient with their twisted trunks and massive bows.

The town is reachable by train and the town is set just off the main A9 trunk road between north and south Scotland, so accessing it couldn’t be easier – yet with its location nestled in woodland, it feels just as secluded as any Highland town.

The town itself is small but vibrant, with shops, cafes and restaurants and a thriving arts and crafts culture.

Dunkeld and Birnam is every bit the ‘Highland town’, set amongst lush forests teeming with wildlife, yet with a vibrant community spirit and easily accessible from both north and south.