Walking trail to celebrate rich history of Dunkeld.

Plaques: 34 to be installed at various landmark buildings in Birnam and Dunkeld

Blue plaques could be installed at 34 landmark buildings, bridges and structures in neighbouring Perthshire villages as part of a drive to lure more tourists.

Historians in Dunkeld and Birnam have won funding from windfarm developers to set up a new walking trail.

They want to highlight the area’s rich – but often hidden – heritage, and offer visitors an insight into local landmarks.

Leaflets and maps will be produced to help tourists explore the area.

The villages’ historical society has now applied for listed building consent to install blue plaques at 34 places, including the gates of the cathedral, the old rectory house in Dunkeld and an old jail at Telford Bridge.

The project has been backed by community councillors and the National Trust for Scotland, with assistance from the Dunkeld and Birnam Tourist Association and conservation teams at Perth and Kinross Council.

Backing comes from the Griffin Wind Farm Fund.

In a letter to council officers, a spokesman for the historical society said: “Dunkeld and Birnam have a wealth of historical buildings and a fascinating history in terms of its townscape devel- opment in medieval and Victorian times.

“Not all of this is readily available to either the residents of this area, or our many visitors and one of the objectives of the Dunkeld and Birnam Historical Society is to research local history and, in a range of initiatives such as talks, exhibitions, booklets and leaflets, widen access to the rich cultural, social and physical history that the community has to offer.

“To this end, members of the Historical Society have been working on a guided walks initiative to promote the ancient city of Dunkeld and the Victorian-planned holiday village of Birnam.”

The group, which has been working on the scheme for more than a year, said that local businesses could benefit from more people exploring the area. Walks around both communities are scheduled to take between one and two hours.

Adecisionontheproposalsislikelytobe made by planners in the coming weeks.

Dougie Nocolson. All pictures: Birnam Hotel, one of the sites for the proposed Dunkeld Historical Society plaques.

Top: the famous Telford Bridge in Dunkeld. Above: St Mary’s Church in Birnam.