Dunkeld Cathedral

Dunkeld Cathedral

Highlight • Religious Site

Dunkeld Cathedral

Hiking

5.0

(68)

Road cycling

5.0

(9)

Cycling

5.0

(7)

Mountain biking

5.0

(2)

Save Share

Location: Dunkeld And Birnam, Perth and Kinross, Scotland, United Kingdom

Tips

December 24, 2022

Hiking

There's been an important place of worship here since the early Celtic Church of the 9th century, but no trace of this building remains. The present cathedral dates from 1318. It was damaged during the reformation in 1560.

The choir is now roofed and holds regular Sunday services, but the rest of the cathedral is ruined. It's preserved as a historic monument by Historic Scotland.

In winter 2022, the Cathedral was closed due to dangerous stonework. It's currently under repair and should open again soon but there is no set date. Check dunkeldcathedral.org.uk for updates.

Michèle Linton

December 10, 2023

Road cycling

In 849, relics of St Columba were removed from Iona to protect them from Viking raids. They were brought to Dunkeld by King Kenneth MacAlpin, who appointed a bishop at Dunkeld. Columba became the patron saint of Dunkeld and its monastery.

The see was revived in the early 1100s, when Cormac became Bishop of Dunkeld. The cathedral developed over about 250 years, and the earliest surviving part is the choir of the late 1200s. It later became a parish church. The nave was begun in 1406, and lost its roof shortly after the Protestant Reformation of 1560.

Karl 🇬🇧 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

October 19, 2023

Cycling

A narrow but sound dirt path passes around the Cathedral giving easy access from the village to the River Tay eastside track. The Cathedral path often has big puddles and mud after heavy rain.