Hermitage Waterfall Dog Walk | The Taybank, Dunkeld | Perthshire
A proper dog day out
Towering firs, a thunderous waterfall and a slightly eccentric eighteenth-century folly. The Hermitage makes a wonderful short woodland outing, followed by a separate hop into Dunkeld for food at The Taybank, where well-behaved dogs get a particularly warm welcome.
At a glance
- Where: The Hermitage, near Dunkeld, Perthshire, Scotland.
- Walk: National Trust for Scotland 'A woodland wander' circular, 1¾ miles (2.7 km), with around 65 m ascent.
- Allow: around 1 hour for the walk, plus stops and the separate pub visit.
- Difficulty: Moderate; woodland tracks, steps, roots and potentially slippery sections.
- Start and finish: Lower Hermitage car park, near Dunkeld, PH8 0JR (nearest sat-nav postcode, not an exact entrance pin). Follow signs for The Hermitage off the A9, north of Dunkeld.
- Pub: The Taybank, Tay Terrace, Dunkeld PH8 0AQ. The pub is in Dunkeld, not at the trailhead, roughly two miles away by road.
The walk
From the lower Hermitage car park, follow the riverside path under the railway bridge and through the Douglas firs. The official circuit passes the stone bridge above Black Linn Falls, Ossian's Hall and the curious Ossian's Cave before turning through the woodland past a totem pole and returning to the start. The River Braan supplies the soundtrack, sometimes rather loudly.
Follow National Trust for Scotland's mapped 1¾-mile 'A woodland wander' route and twelve route stages. Don't confuse this with the longer Rumbling Bridge extension, which the Trust describes separately.
What dog owners should know
- Fast river and falls: the Trust warns that the River Braan flows quickly and rocks are slippery. Keep dogs on leads near the water and falls and stay on the paths.
- Ossian's Hall: dogs are not permitted inside the hall, even though they are welcome in the wider Hermitage grounds. Enjoy the outside viewpoints together instead.
- Steps and roots: the full circular has uneven, sometimes slippery steps and natural woodland surfaces. A wider, shorter return path towards the hall is an alternative, but it is not the full 1¾-mile circuit.
- Ice and noise: paths are not gritted in winter. Occasional clay-pigeon shooting may be audible, which matters for noise-sensitive dogs.
- Parking: the car park can fill. Never queue or park on the A9; check current arrangements before travelling.
Back to the pub: The Taybank
After the woodland loop, head into Dunkeld for The Taybank beside the River Tay. This is a separate journey from the Hermitage car park, not a pub on the 1¾-mile walking circuit. The pub's own FAQ says well-behaved dogs are welcome in all areas, including for drinks and meals, provided they stay on leads and on the floor.
The Taybank also warns that its bar and restaurant can be busy on weekends and Wednesday evenings, sometimes with live music. Consider a quieter table if your dog dislikes noise or crowded rooms.
Check The Taybank's official dog policy and book a table.
Before you set off
Check National Trust for Scotland notices for hall closures or events, especially weddings, and the forecast for ice or heavy rain. Carry water and keep your dog on a lead beside the river. Confirm parking and pub arrangements before leaving home.
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Where: Scotland · Perthshire
Find similar walks: Dog Pub Walks · Short Walk · Moderate · Woodland · Waterfalls
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Guide sources reviewed: 28 October 2026. Distance, route stages, dogs and access: National Trust for Scotland Hermitage walks and planning pages. Pub dog policy and location: The Taybank official bookings and contact pages. This guide is a planning companion, not a substitute for the mapped route or current local notices.
Photograph: Salmon, Black Linn Falls, Dunkeld by Bob Embleton / Geograph Britain and Ireland, licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-SA 2.0. Reproduced from Wikimedia Commons; the image may be resized by Shopify for display.
