Birnam, Perth and Kinross
From Wikipedia, the free 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.
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[edit] Background
It is claimed that Birnam Wood was used as camouflage for Malcolm Canmore’s army before the battle at Dunsinane with MacBeth. There is an ancient tree, the Birnam Oak, standing a few hundred metres from the centre of Birnam. It may well have been part of Birnam Wood at the time of the battle 900 years ago, and remains part of the legend.
Well-to-do Victorians took their holidays in the Perthshire area, including John Everett Millais, who painted many local landscapes, and Beatrix Potter, who visited regularly with her family from their Lake District home. Birnam and Dunkeld are said to have inspired Potter to write her stories of Peter Rabbit during her countryside walks in the area.
[edit] Location
Birnam lies on the bank of the River Tay, in Perthshire’s 'Big Tree Country' and is located along 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.
[edit] Transportation
Birnam is approximately one hour from Glasgow 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.
[edit] Attractions
Birnam has The Beatrix Potter Exhibition and Garden, and The Birnam Institute, a community run arts and performance centre with library.
[edit] References
- ^ Stoddart, John (1800), Remarks on Local Scenery and Manners in Scotland. Pub. William Miller. London. Facing P. 199
