Dunkeld Cathedral

The basics

Dunkeld Cathedral features on a variety of full-day and multi-day tours that showcase the highlights of the Scottish Highlands. Budget-conscious travelers often choose shared tours as a cost-effective way to see the highlights, while private tours offer a more personalized experience with greater flexibility. Alongside Dunkeld Cathedral, these tours typically include visits to famed sites such as Eilean Donan Castle, Loch Ness, the Isle of Skye, The Glenturret Distillery, and the Wallace Monument.

Things to know before you go

• The cathedral is wheelchair-accessible; there are paved paths and a wooden ramp that gives access to the nave, which is grass-surfaced.

• The nearest accessible bathrooms are around a 10-mile (16-kilometer) drive away at Tesco in Blairgowrie.

• If you visit during the winter, when it has been raining, be careful as the pathways outside the cathedral can be slippery.

• Don’t miss out on the QR codes around the cathedral that tell stories about the history of the building, dating back to the 6th century.

• There is a small shop and museum display in the cathedral’s chapter house.

How to get there

You can get to Dunkeld by train; Dunkeld & Birnam railway station is a 20-minute walk from the cathedral or a 5-minute taxi drive away. Alternatively, if driving, it takes around 30 minutes to get to Dunkeld from Perth using the A9 road or 1.5 hours from Edinburgh.

When to get there

As the cathedral is a working building, admission can be restricted during events such as weddings, concerts, and services, so check the opening schedule before visiting. The opening hours are typically morning until early evening in summer, with earlier closing times (usually late afternoon) in winter.

Where to go after Dunkeld Cathedral

After exploring Dunkeld Cathedral, a walk down Cathedral Street and The Cross showcases 20 meticulously restored houses from the 17th and 18th centuries. The Atholl Memorial Fountain provides photo opportunities, before you take a break in one of the charming local cafés, such as Corbenic Shop and Cafe, before a spot of souvenir shopping.