Anything But Dull
This tiny Perthshire spot does not live down to its name
THE village of Dull, Perthshire – twinned with Boring, Oregon – is thankfully not aptly named. In contrast, the village has very much earned its place in the “League of Extraordinary Communities”, founded by Dull and Boring in 2013 when they were joined by Bland, New South Wales, to form an ironic “Trinity of Tedium”.
In the area surrounding Dull you will find some of Perthshire’s best walks and beauty spots, making it an ideal base for adventurous holiday-makers. Travel a few miles, and a beautiful long walk will find you atop one of Scotland’s most recognisable peaks, Schiehallion, or head to nearby Fortingall to see the Fortingall Yew, the oldest tree in Europe at between 2000 and 3000 years old.
Dull and the surrounding area is treasure trove for history lovers, too. After a four kilometre (2.5 mile) walk from Dull, you will be met by the imposing silhouette of Castle Menzies. The 16th-century castle has seen blood-shed, drama and royalty, hosting Bonnie Prince Charlie on his journey to Culloden Moor.
The castle is open again, after a Covid-19 closure, to freely explore and get up close to its history from the original timbers to the bullet hole-riddled walls.
A few minutes down the road is Loch Tay, which is host to one of Scotland’s staple historical attractions. The Scottish Crannog Centre has long been a field trip favourite for any Scottish primary schooler, and it’s easy to see why. Crannogs were Iron Age dwellings, built on stilts and found across the lochs of Scotland, and the replica built on the shores of Loch Tay welcomes visitors from all over.
Ellen Pryde works at the centre and enjoys showing off their site to curious visitors.
“The centre opened following the reconstruction of an Iron Age crannog as an archaeological experiment and has evolved over the years to become a museum with a unique insight into life in Iron Age Scotland,” she says.
“Visitors can walk in the footsteps of the original crannog dwellers and immerse themselves in village life with original artefacts; interactive demonstrations of textiles, cooking and ancient crafts and technologies and guided tours of the reconstructed roundhouse.”
The centre even offers visitors the opportunity to climb
aboard their replica long boats for a paddle around Loch Tay and, in line with its Celtic roots, the crannog is often host to pagan celebrations such as Samhain.
“Regular special events are held at the centre, all based archaeological finds from the period. Many events feature storytelling and music, which would have formed an integral part of Iron Age life.”
Another gem to be found a stone’s throw from Dull is The Scottish Red Deer Centre and Highland Safaris. A visit to the centre is an absolute must for families as it offers an unrivalled chance to get up close and learn about the amazing fauna of Scotland.
Just a five-minute walk outside the village, you can pet and feed the deer, weigh yourself against Zoom the chief stag, have a hands-on meeting with their resident barn owl or an adventure on one of their Land Rover safaris.
Donald Riddell, director of Highland Safaris, has been welcoming people to the centre for years and is proud of everything the centre has to offer, including one very unique activity.
“Highland Safaris offers a journey of discovery and a nature experience within Highland Perthshire,” Donald says. “We even have gold and gem panning!”
The Scottish Red Deer Centre truly is a gem, and if your panning skills are up to scratch, you might even come away with one.
It is clear to see that Dull really is anything but.
Set along a country road and with a population of only around 85, it might not be Perthshire’s biggest tourist destination but it is certainly well worth a visit, to set up base for your Perthshire adventure, or just to get a selfie with the sign!