It was thankfully a mild start to December for our walks this weekend, Saturdays walk started in Dunkeld walking along the banks of the River Tay to the Birnam Oak.
Close to the village of Birnam, on the banks of the River Tay, are two trees of immense size, age and legend. The Birnam Oak and its neighbour the Birnam Sycamore are thought to be remnants of the great forest that once straddled the banks and hillsides of the Tay. This forest is celebrated in Shakespeare's Macbeth as the famous Birnam Wood.
" Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him" The prophecy of Shakespeare's three witches DID come true, with the branches of trees from great Birnam Wood, nearly 1000 years ago, camouflaging the advancing army against Macbeth. It is believed that Shakespeare got inspiration for
this section of `The Scottish Play` whilst on a visit to Perth, Birnam and Aberdeen in 1599 as one of a troupe of comedians. The visit was arranged after King James IV sent a request for entertainers to Elizabeth 1.
Both trees look medieval. The lower branches of the gnarled and ancient Birnam Oak rest wearily on crutches and the first 3 metres (10ft) of its trunk are hollow. The Birnam Sycamore, alongside, is thought to be just about 300 years old and is a mere youngster in comparison to its ancient neighbour. The sycamore has particularly impressive buttress roots and both trees appear in the list of the one hundred Scottish Heritage Trees.
Dunkeld and the River Tay
Lesley and Sitka trying the Great Oak out for size
Dunkeld
It was nice of some vandal to brighten up our day with graffiti
On Sunday we headed to the outskirts of Stanley for a local forest walk, a 4.5 mile return route. The first stop was at the loch, not knowing that it was home to a load of swans, they soon made their presence known with the calls back and forth.
Some icy puddles still around
A load of swans
After the loch we continued our walk, not knowing of the house and its gardens contents that lay ahead. See how many models of cars and vans that you can name. Thankfully no one was around, proper Scooby Doo house.
Unknown bike fairing with box section brackets
Beetle bonnet with a few axe marks in it
Triumph Herald with a Beetle back wing
Beetle remains rising from the depths
Kinclaven Secession Church
This congregation originated in 1733 in the secession from the Established Church of its minister, one of the founders of the Secession Church. He was joined in his secession not only by the whole parish but by a number of persons residing in neighbouring parishes, particularly that of Cargill, where a portion of that congregation withdrew from the Established Church and placed themselves under the Kinclaven minister. They continued to worship in the parish church until forcibly ejected from it by virtue of a Sheriff's warrant. They worshiped in the open air in summer, as they could not get ground to build a church, and in the winter they met in a barn. This arrangement continued until 1744 when they took possession of a place to worship which they erected for themselves in “The Muir” of Kinclaven.
Front door of the Manse
Thankfully we saw this on the way out
A beautiful sky on the way home
