Activity: An Autumn Pilgrimage to Dunkeld
Autumn in Highland Perthshire always feels a little enchanted. As Mabon tips into Samhain, the year crosses a threshold: light wanes, colours deepen, and the land leans into rest. Dunkeld, with its larch-covered hills, rushing waters and quiet forest paths, is one of those places where you can feel the season shift in your bones.
1. Begin with a Slow Morning Treat
Rise early and wander through the still-sleepy streets of Dunkeld. If you’re lucky, you’ll reach Aran Bakery just as the flaky almond croissants emerge from the oven, warm and fragrant. Stop by sister shop Lon Store to gather a simple picnic of bread, cheese or pastries for later—tucked into your basket and tartan blanket, ready for the forest.
2. Walk the Yellow Woods of The Hermitage
Follow the path beneath oak and beech as they blaze into their late-Autumn colours: gold, ochre and copper against the steady green of the pines. Here, the River Braan rushes beneath you and waterfalls thunder through the gorge—nature’s own invocation of the turning year. Pause on the bridge, breathe in the loamy scent of fallen leaves, and feel the grounding calm that this ancient forest offers.
3. Picnic by the Water
Find a quiet spot by the river, wrap up warm and enjoy your picnic from Lon. Let yourself be mesmerised by the movement of water over rock—a rhythm older than any calendar—and savour the simple joy of eating outdoors in the crisp Highland air.
4. Create a Tiny Seasonal Keepsake
Gather a few fallen beech branches or leaves (never picking from living plants in protected areas) and fashion a miniature wreath or posy to mark your walk. A small, tactile reminder of Autumn’s fleeting beauty—something to dry at home and keep on your mantle until Winter settles in.
5. End in Stillness and Perspective
As you wander back through the woods, take a moment to look up at the larch-covered hills rising into the clouds. The Tay flows fast below, offering its own lesson in letting go. This is a place for grounding: a reminder of your place in the turning of the year, and of the quiet magic found in choosing the slower path.
