I had never been to Dunkeld and Birnam before we started The Scot Box. Only a 45 minute drive through the sma' glen from our Crieff head quarter's. I was excited because it was so close and meant I could visit the lower Highlands while working.
When I arrived I quickly realized why Dunkeld & Birnam were married together, the two villages (Dunkeld being the bigger) are connected by a fork in the road (Turn right for Birnam, left for Little Dunkeld). Our first stop was actually to Birnam, I'd heard a lot about the Birnam Arts Centre and the Beatrix Potter Exhibition. Inside we found an interactive and all age friendly exhibition about Beatrix Potter and the Potter Families connection to Dunkeld & Birnam. I never knew her family spent almost half of every year in the two villages, and it was were she found her love of illustration and nature.
We then explored Birnam hotel, a Saxon Gothic style building that has still retained most of its charm. The Chattan Tea room and post-office took me back to my teenage years spent in the North-Carolina mountains of the USA. The wooden lined building, cafe, shop, and post office brought back that small American mountain town charm and made me think of how much maybe that charm originated from the Scottish settlers overseas? Expect to find gifts from this lovely little Tea Room in your March Box.
Our second visit took us to Little Dunkeld over the Tay Bridge. The view as we drove in over the bridge with the River Tay on either side of the panoramic view of the town was stunning! I noted a yellow house above an old church on the right-hand of the mountainside that immediately caught my attention.
Dunkeld is full of beautiful walks, walks of all ranges for all abilities. I was happy to see a map in the carpark by the river detailing all the walks available to explore. But alas, the day was spent wondering the town, I found one of my new favourite shops, called jeffreys interiors, this amazing shop inside of an old church is full of unique items and furniture for the home.
I then walked down bridge street, delighted by all the welcoming faces behind each shop counter, how chatty one or two shop workers were, it was nice to feel included in the town despite being a stranger. I also liked the different range of shops, it tailed from mountain & outdoors, to whole and natural products, and even one shop dedicated to Kettles!
Each shop seemed to have a unique purpose and ethos, inspired by the town and it's history. Going Pottie had to be one of my favourite shop names, and such a wonderful place to visit. Her hand made pottery and keepsakes are unique to the town, and if you wish to have a go at making something yourself she has a pottery painting section for you to get your hands dirty! The shop itself is located in the beautifully historic town square high street which still features the old white cottages that lead to the famous Dunkeld Cathedral, and Dunkeld fountain.
It was safe to say by the end of all our visits, I wanted to stay. Especially if you catch the town on a sunny day!
- Holly (Co-Founder of Bonnie Boxes Ltd.) xx
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