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Hermit's Cave [Dunkeld]

Dunkeld, Perthshire.

Small cave marked on OS map of 1867 as Hermit's Cave.

This cave [Hermit's Cave described by John Crerar] is simply a hole beneath two or three large rocks. 'Immediately above the cave west side of Craig Barns ther stood a great mass of rock. It spleet through the middle, one half sliped down to within a few yeards of the spring that gushes out of the bank of the road, took every tree and bush out by the roots on its way done.' ... 'About the slip of the Rock that came down near the Loch at the

King's Seat, [where] the Craigiltoch drive breaks off. Up the drive about 100 yeards the gravel walk leads up to the cave. A little past the cave, 40 yeards, there stood a large Rock on age 8-it splet longways, one half came down till within 5 yeards of Craigiltoch drive, about 40 yeards west from the cave. A dale of roof in the inside of the cave is also come

down; looks dangerous to go within it. [Atholl Chronicles]

Alternate Names: None recorded.

Notes: Hermit's Cave has previously been thought to have been another name for The Hermitage or possibly Ossian's Cave on the other side of the Tay. The above account and OS map reference clearly show that it was a separate site. It may now have collapsed.