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Hermitage
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Follow in the footsteps of notable visitors of the past including Wordsworth, Mendelssohn and Turner as you wander around this magnificent designed landscape with it’s dramatic natural features.
Discover Ossian’s Hall, a folly overlooking the Black Linn Falls. Refurbished in 2007 with sliding panels, secret handle and mirrored artwork to recreate the illusions of shock, surprise and amazement, the aims of its original design.
Marvel at the massive stand of Douglas Fir trees, including one of the tallest trees in the country.
Enjoy the wildlife as you walk along the river Braan, with the dark foaming pool and the spectacular Black Linn waterfall.
Let your imagination run wild as you admire the Totem pole, carved from a Douglas Fir tree by a native Canadian from the Squamish Nation.
Extend your walk by linking in to one of the trails of the Dunkeld walks network.
The Hermitage through the seasons
Spring
The massive conifers put on a growth spurt each spring, sending up a straight shoot and extending their side branches equally, this even growth results in the symmetrical cone-shaped outline of the tree, busy nest building high up in these branches, the high-pitched call of the tiny goldcrest may be heard.
In the first part of the woodland reached from the car parks before the leaves are fully out on the trees, plenty of light reaches the woodland floor, encouraging the flowering of a beautiful show of plants; snowdrops, wood anemone, wood sorrel, dogs mercury and in late spring, bluebells.
Easily seen and heard along the river is the dipper, a small brown bird often spotted flying swiftly along its narrow territory of river. It starts nest building as early as February, building under bridges or banks overlooking the river.
Summer
With the woodland trees now in full leaf only a little sunlight is able to filter down to the woodland floor, creating shady conditions. Few plants can grow in this half light, but species such as wood rush, woundwort and wood sage thrive where enough light does get through.
Ferns and mosses can be seen growing in crevices of trees or rocks, these thrive in cool damp conditions, so are common around the waterfall, pool and rivers edge were conditions are ideal.
The short nights of the summer mean that nocturnal animals emerge earlier in the evening, at The Hermitage there is a good chance of seeing pipistrelle bats in amongst the trees and daubenton’s bats flying over the river. Tawny owls and their young are often heard.
Autumn
The contrast between the properties trees is most marked in the autumn; the amazing colours of the deciduous trees highlight the dark greens of the coniferous giants.
You are almost guaranteed to come across some of the over 270 species of fungi of all shapes and sizes recorded at The Hermitage, even the red squirrels will feed on some varieties.
This is the time of year when you have most chance of seeing the squirrels, their numbers are at a peak, and they are actively searching, often on the ground, for nuts and other food to see them through the winter.
As the River Brann picks up pace after the summer, the waterfall can be spectacular. The hall and bridge both offer good vantage points from which to spot salmon trying to leap the falls, often in good numbers.
Winter
During periods of heavy rain or snow melt the River Brann turns into a ranging torrent, the waterfall is a sight not to be missed. Spray fills the air, in frosty weather it freezes on the surrounding rocks and trees forming a magical scene.
Solitary herons can often be seen fishing in the river and the beautiful long warble of liquid and grating notes of the dipper can be heard above the rushing river.
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