Shakespearean Birnam Oak named in ‘quirky site’ shortlist

The remains of a Scottish wood that features in Shakespeare’s seminal play Macbeth has been named as among the five most “quirky regal sites” in the UK.

Wanderlust said what is left of Birnam Wood with its showpiece Birnam Oak was “magical”.

It finished runner up behind The Rufus Stone in the New Forest.

The Birnam Oak is an iconic tree on the outskirts of the Perthshire village and is celebrated in Shakespeare’s tale.

With its neighbour, the Birnam Sycamore, they are thought to be the sole surviving trees of the great forest that once straddled the banks and hillsides of the River Tay.

The prophecy of Shakespeare’s three witches did come true, with the branches of trees from great Birnam Wood, nearly 1,000 years ago, camouflaging the advancing army against Macbeth.

It is believed that Shakespeare got inspiration for this section of “The Scottish Play” during a visit to Perth, Birnam and Aberdeen in 1599 as one of a troupe of comedians. The visit was arranged after King James VI sent a request for entertainers to Elizabeth 1.

The lower branches of the gnarled and ancient Birnam Oak rest on crutches and the first 10ft of the trunk are hollow. The Birnam Sycamore, alongside, is thought to date back around 300 years old and has particularly impressive buttress roots. Both trees appear in the list of Scottish Heritage Trees.

Wanderlust Author Caroline Taggart wrote: “If you studied Macbeth at school, you may be as surprised as I was to learn that ‘great Birnam Wood’...wasn’t a figment of Shakespeare’s imagination.

“Like most ancient woodland, the remains of Birnam are breathtaking and somehow magical.”

Picture: Steve MacDougall. The Birnam Oak, celebrated as part of the Birnam Wood in Shakespeare’s iconic play, Macbeth.