Birnam is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It is located 12 miles (19 km) north of Perth on the A9 road, the main tourist route through Perthshire, in an area of Scotland marketed as Big Tree Country.[1] The village originated from the Victorian era with the coming of the railway in 1856, although the place and name is well known because William Shakespeare mentioned Birnam Wood in Macbeth:
Birnam
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|---|---|
  Birnam Location within Perth and Kinross | |
| OS grid reference | NO032417 |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area |
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| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
MACBETH: Till Birnam wood remove to Dunsinane/ I cannot taint with fear.
— Shakespeare, Macbeth, Act 5, scene 3.[2]
Prior to the construction of the railway, the only substantial building on the site of the present village was the church of Little Dunkeld parish, which still stands in its ancient position within a graveyard within the village. Dunkeld, to whose monastery Kenneth MacAlpin, the first King of Scotland, moved the bones of St. Columba around the middle of the ninth century, and which is notable for its cathedral, lies on the opposite bank of the river.
Governance
editBirnam is in the Perth and Kinross council area, and in the Community Council area of Dunkeld and Birnam, which also includes Amulree, Butterstone, Dalguise, Kindallachan, Loch Ordie, and Strathbraan.[3][4]
It is in the Perthshire North constituency for the Scottish Parliament where as of 2024[update] has been represented since 2011 by John Swinney for the SNP.[5] It is in the Angus and Perthshire Glens constituency for the UK Parliament, where as of 2024[update] it is represented by Dave Doogan for the SNP.[6][7]
Transport
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In 1977, Birnam, along with neighbouring Dunkeld and Little Dunkeld, was bypassed by A9.[8] The village is now approximately one hour from Glasgow and Edinburgh, and two hours from Inverness, by car. There are regular bus and coach services to Birnam and Dunkeld along the A9, with long-distance coaches operated by Scottish Citylink.[9] There is access by rail at Dunkeld & Birnam railway station on the Highland Main Line route between Perth and Inverness. Most services on the route extend to either Edinburgh Waverley or Glasgow Queen Street; on Sundays only a southbound train operated by the East Coast Main Line operator extends to London King's Cross via Edinburgh, although there is no corresponding northbound service from London.[10] A daily (except Saturday) London service is offered by the overnight Caledonian Sleeper trains to and from London Euston.[11]
Notable people
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John Everett Millais, who painted many local landscapes, and Beatrix Potter, with her family, often visited Birnam. Potter drafted her first book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, at Eastwood House whilst writing a story and picture letter to child friend Noel Moore on 4 September 1893.[12][13] There is an exhibition and garden dedicated to Potter and her characters in Birnam.[14]
Dr George Smyttan FRSE HEIC (1789-1863) was born and raised in Dunkeld, and retained links to Birnam all his life.
Attractions
editThere is an ancient tree, the Birnam Oak, standing a few hundred metres from the centre of Birnam on Murthly Estate. Traditionally, it was known as "The Hangman's Tree".[15] The Birnam Oak is believed to be the only remaining tree from the Birnam Wood of Macbeth.[16]
In addition to The Beatrix Potter Exhibition and Garden, Birnam also has a community-run arts and performance centre and library, Birnam Arts and Conference Centre.[17]
The Birnam Highland Games is the location of the World Haggis Eating Championships.[18]
Gallery
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Birnam Wood in 1800
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Main Street, Birnam
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The Birnam Hotel
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The Birnam Arts and Conference Centre
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The Birnam Oak
References
edit- ^ "Tay Forest Park: Tall Trees & Big Views" (PDF). Forestry and Land Scotland. 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
- ^ "Macbeth, Act 5, scene 3". Folger Library. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- ^ "Find your Community Council". Perth & Kinross Council. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
Area 32 - Dunkeld and Birnam
- ^ "Dunkeld & Birnam Community Council". Facebook. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
- ^ "Perthshire North - Scottish Parliament constituency". BBC News. 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
- ^ "Angus and Perthshire Glens - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
- ^ "Angus and Perthshire Glens - MapIt". mapit.mysociety.org. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
- ^ "Thomas Telford's Bridge". Dunkeld & Birnam Tourism Association. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
- ^ "Timetable:Edinburgh/Inverness" (PDF). Scottish CityLink Coaches Ltd. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
- ^ "Timetable: Edinburgh & Glasgow - Inverness (20 May 2018 – 8 Dec 2018)" (PDF). ScotRail. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
- ^ "Timetable: London - Inverness (20 May 2018 – 8 Dec 2018)". Caledonian Sleeper. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
- ^ "Beatrix Potter's hidden Scottish link". BBC News. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- ^ "History". Eastwood House. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- ^ "Beatrix Potter Exhibition and Garden". Dunkeld & Birnam Tourism Association. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
- ^ Smout, T. C., MacDonald, R. and Watson, Fiona (2007) A History of the Native Woodlands of Scotland 1500-1920. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 978-0-7486-3294-7. p.78.
- ^ "The special qualities of the National Scenic Areas" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. 2010. pp. 127–135. Retrieved 2018-05-14.
- ^ "About Birnam Arts". Birnam Arts. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
- ^ "Scot claims haggis eating crown". BBC News. 30 August 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2020.