Big Tree Country
A stunning video featuring footage shot from a helicopter as it flies over beautiful scenery in the heart of Scotland. The area, known as Perthshire Big Tree Country - is divided into six distinct clusters: Aberfeldy & Kenmore; Blair Atholl; Crieff & Strathearn; Dunkeld & Birnam; Perth & Blairgowrie; Pitlochry & the Road to the Isles.
Perthshire Big Tree Country is famous for its heritage trees, several of which are featured in the video. Watch out for the Fortingall Yew, oldest living organism in Europe; the Birnam Oak, made famous in Shakespeares MacBeth; the record-breaking Meikleour Beech Hedge, tallest in the world; and Niel Gows Oak, named after the well-known fiddler.
Narrated by one of Scotlands most famous plant collectors, David Douglas, the video begins in the grounds of Scone Palace where Douglas served his apprenticeship as a gardener. Born in Scone, Douglas is responsible for introducing many plant and tree species including the Douglas fir, Sitka spruce Scotlands most prolific forestry tree and sunflowers.
As it swoops over Kinnoull Hill Woodland Park (Scotlands first) and its iconic tower, the video provides a birds eye view of other historical buildings such as Scone Palace, the former crowning place of Scottish kings; Blair Castle; and the Hermitage. It also passes over the most famous view in Scotland, Queens View. Allegedly a favourite of Queen Victoria, the view is actually named after the wife of Robert the Bruce.
In addition to the famous names already mentioned, Perthshire Big Tree Country played host to Robert Rabbie Burns on his tour of the Highlands. The Birks of Aberfeldy takes its name from a song penned by Scotlands national bard. Rabbie is also believed to be responsible encouraging the then Duke of Atholl for the planting of the area around the Falls of Bruar following a petition to the duke in one of his poems.
But it isnt all about the trees. The River Tay runs through Big Tree Country, providing fantastic salmon fishing opportunities and a playground for the more adventurous white water rafters or canoeists. Equally the forests offer great mountain and trail biking runs and tracks suitable for all levels of walking criss cross many of the woodland sites and hills.
Finally, a host of wildlife calls Perthshire Big Tree Country home. Peregrine falcons, buzzards, kestrels and ospreys soar through the sky. During the autumn the roar of red deer stags can be heard during rutting season and roe deer are often spotted dashing through the woods. Red squirrels are shyer residents but are easy to see in Cluny House Gardens and occasionally rarer species such as black grouse and capercaillie are spotted.
The video was produced by Speakeasy - for Perth & Kinross Countryside Trust
Perthshire Tourist Guide
Perthshire Slide Show with songs from Moira Kerr. This tourist guide to Perthshire, Scotland, includes views of Abernethy, Ben Lawers, Birnam, Blair Atholl, Blair castle, Castle Menzies, Cluny House Gardens, Crieff, Drummond Castle, Dunkeld, Falls of Dochart, Glenturret Distillery, Huntingtower Distillery, Killiecrankie, Loch of Lowes, Loch Tay, Loch Earn, Meiklour Beech Hedge, Muthill, Pitlochry, River Tay, Schiehallion, Scone Palace. Songs by Moira Kerr are Closer to Heaven, I Know Where I'm Going and Highlanders. See MoiraKerr.com for more Scottish songs.