Follow in the footsteps of past notable visitors including William Wordsworth, Queen Victoria, Mendelssohn and J M W Turner as you wander through this magnificent landscape.
The Hermitage is a great place for all the family to go for a walk – including four-legged members! It’s easily accessible from the A9, and an attractive woodland trail beside the River Braan leads through towering Douglas firs to the stone bridge and the folly of Ossian’s Hall, which overlooks the spectacular Black Linn Falls. If you continue along the path beside the river you’ll reach Ossian’s Cave (another folly), which is approximately 10 minutes away from the hall.
From the cave you can follow the riverside path towards Rumbling Bridge (in the care of Forestry and Land Scotland), which takes you through another woodland, eventually leading you back to the Hermitage car park. This circular route takes approximately 2½ hours.
Alternatively, you can take the path in front of Ossian’s Cave – this leads you to the other side of the Hermitage woodland. At the crossroads you can turn left through Craigvinean Wood and towards Pine Cone Point (Forestry and Land Scotland).
Or you could stay within the Hermitage and turn right, which takes you on a path to the totem pole and back down towards the Hermitage car park.
For more details on the Rumbling Bridge, Pine Cone Point or walks connecting to Dunkeld, please visit Walk Highlands.
A woodland wander
An attractive woodland trail leads beneath towering Douglas firs to Ossian’s Hall, which overlooks the spectacular Black Linn Falls, and then on to Ossian’s Cave.
If you have parked in the upper car park, please take the stairs down to the lower car park near the information board.
Accessible parking is available in the lower car park next to the railway bridge.
Walk details
-
Difficulty
Moderate
-
Time
1 hour
-
Distance
1¾ miles (2.7km)
-
Ascent
210ft (65m)
-
Start
Lower car park at the Hermitage
-
Finish
Lower car park at the Hermitage
-
Step 1
(1/12)Starting in the lower car park, follow the riverside footpath and head under the railway bridge through the archway.
Continue on this path for a few hundred metres through mixed woodland.
-
Step 2
(2/12)When the path forks, take the path to your left (nearest the river). This route is marked ‘Forest Cathedral’ on the nearby signpost.
[For the step-free, more accessible path, please follow the wider track to your right. This route is marked ‘Ossian’s Hall’. There is a bench here if you would like to catch your breath and admire the magnificent Douglas firs and beech trees that line the paths.]
-
Step 3
(3/12)The wood continues to open out as you head along the trail.
After around 200 metres, the path opens out into a flat grove of Douglas fir trees bordering the River Braan. This is our Forest Cathedral, with numerous benches facing the river and a tree-bathing area to take in the tranquil woodland atmosphere.
-
Step 4
(4/12)To continue, head up the steps to the right of the benches. Be careful on these steps as they are uneven and can be slippery.
A little distance after the first set of steps, there is a picturesque stone bridge over the Black Linn Falls that offers extraordinary views of the gorge.
There is no through path on the other side, so once you’ve admired the view, head back over the bridge and continue up the steps.
-
Step 5
(5/12)Upon reaching the top of the hill, Ossian’s Hall is immediately to your left. Once a summer house of the Dukes of Atholl, the hall is open to the public and affords visitors a world-famous view of the waterfall. Head inside and hear the water roar in the echoing hall before reaching the balcony overlooking the falls.
If the hall is shut for an event, you can still enjoy stunning views of the waterfall by walking past the front door and around the wildflower plot to your left.
This is where the accessible trail ends, so for those wanting to head back, please follow the wide track from the hall back to the car park.
-
Step 6
(6/12)The path now wriggles its way through the woods for around 100m. There is a bench to your left overlooking the rapids.
Shortly after this, there is a junction where you should keep to the left-hand path. This trail takes you through native birch and pine woodland.
In a more open area of Scots pine, there is a bench surrounded by native blaeberry bushes.
After this flatter area, the path narrows again past the river. Take care on the uneven ground here as there are a couple of tree roots on the side of the path.
The path then opens out again.
-
Step 7
(7/12)From here, head up the short slope.
Halfway up there is a prominent track to your left leading to Ossian’s Seat. This large rocky monolith overlooking the rapids was purported to be the seat used by the mythological figure Ossian.
Retrace your steps back from the Seat to the main path, and continue up the slope.
-
Step 8
(8/12)At the top of the hill, the window into Ossian’s Cave will be directly in front of you.
Follow the path around the cave to reach its entrance. The cave was built as a folly by the Duke of Atholl to house a hermit, although it was never occupied. This landmark marks the furthest point on your circuit.
Once you have explored the cave, follow the path to your right to return along the Hermitage Circuit.
[The path on the left continues up the gorge for another couple of miles to Rumbling Bridge.]
-
Step 9
(9/12)The trail snakes its way along, passing dense pines until it reaches a T-junction.
Turn right and head down the slope along a wide path past the totem pole.
-
Step 10
(10/12)After 200 metres, ignore the junction to your right and continue straight along the path.
-
Step 11
(11/12)Upon reaching another T-junction, take a left turn and follow the track down a gentle slope. This will bring you back to the where path forks for the Forest Cathedral.
At this point, simply keep following the wider track to the left, returning along the same track you started out on.
-
Step 12
(12/12)Pass underneath the railway bridge and finish your walk in the lower car park.
Walking in Scotland
More