Ossian's Hall...

At the Hermitage, Dunkeld.

Since we moved to Perthshire I've always wanted to visit Ossian's Hall but it's part of The Hermitage woodland walk and I would never have reached it using leg power.  I also assumed it wouldn't be accessible in my wheels but when Alan and Jordan got back yesterday and I asked where they'd been, I was gobsmacked when told The Hermitage.  Turns out the path to Ossian's Hall is accessible, so guess where we were headed to just after 9am?  :-))

There were already a few cars in the car park when we arrived.  Not surprising given the beautiful morning.  

We set off and Lola was very excited to be exploring new sights, sounds and smells.  And what a feast for the senses it is.  Light trickling through the tops of the very tall Douglas fir trees, the sound of the River Braan in the ravine beside the path, and the most amazing woodland scent that took me right back to my childhood where many happy hours were spent playing in the bluebell woods in my village.

The path is absolutely amazing considering it's a woodland walk.  The National Trust for Scotland have done a superb job making it accessible, not just for wheelchairs but for prams too.  We passed a young mum out with her toddler in his buggy and her dog.  

We passed a few other people but not as many as I was expecting, with cheery hellos exchanged and exclaims of "what a beautiful dog" and requests to pat her.  Lola was very obliging.  One group of Americans were very taken with her and she delighted them all by being her usual friendly self and greeting them as if they were long lost family! What a charmer she is :-))

Ossian's Hall was empty when we arrived so I managed to get some photos without anyone in the way.  Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to spend any time photographing Black Linn Falls as three groups of people arrived just behind us so it was a few quick snaps.  One in extras along with a photo of the inside of Ossian's Hall.  Oh and can anyone tell me what the little flower is please? 

We turned back after that as we had to get back home in time for Alan's hydrotherapy session but we will definitely return.  Looking forward to photographing it in all its autumn glory.

We had time to have lunch in the garden before Alan's swim then I spent the rest of the afternoon getting my bullet point list written for the talk to Alan's team on Thursday.  

I want to include a photograph of him at each of the stages of his childhood I'm talking about so of course that led to me spending ages looking at photos.  Lots of great memories and left with a feeling of disbelief at how quickly time passes. 

Spaghetti carbonara for dinner then started looking out clothes to be packed for holiday.  The days are just flying by! 

Info on The Dunkeld Hermitage courtesy of Highland Perthshire

The Hermitage (Officially the Hermitage pleasure ground), at Dunkeld was created by John Murray the 3rd Duke of Atholl, in the mid to late 18th century as part of his home, Dunkeld House - to heighten his guests experience thrill and shear enjoyment as they walked to view the falls.
Ossian's Hall, Hermitage Bridge and Ossian''s Cave were all added as "part of the 3rd Duke's scheme to heighten the visitor's thrill and imbue the area with a mystical history."


Ossian's Hall

Ossian's Hall was built in 1757 to 1758, to spark excitement as a viewing platform for the dramatic falls of the River Braan. Today it has not lost any of its splendour, you pass through a door that leads to a large circular room with mirrors which opens through glass doors to a bulcony over looking the falls. The noise of the water cascading over the falls, the light from the glass doors bouncing on the mirrors and the sight of salmon leaping the falls, all add to the excitement of the visit.

Over the years the Hermitage at Dunkeld's Ossian's Hall described as "one of the most elaborate furnished decorative garden buildings in Scotland," has drawn many famous visitors include Queen Victoria, the English poet William Wordsworth, J.M. Turner to name a few.

In 1869 Ossian's Hall was partly blown up, by a barrel of gun powder, it is thought in protest to the Duke of Atholl continuing to levy tolls on the Dunkeld Bridge.

Today Ossian's Hall is back in full operation, with glass doors and metallic mirrors replacing the once glass mirrors that were originally in the large circular chamber.

In 1869 Donald Anderson the local Hermitage guide, would dress up with a long beard of lichens and cloths of animal skins, to add to the theatrical experience and sheer thrill of the visit.