What’s On in Historic Dunkeld

We run events throughout the year:  Exhibitions from the collection, talks, workshops and concerts to raise funds for running costs, and an annual Living History weekend. Find all the dates for your diary.

For tickets:  Book online via the links given below, or tel. 01350 727786, or email manager@historicdunkeld.org.uk.

 

 

Ongoing

Industry exhibition in Archive

Explore Dunkeld and Birnam’s Industrial past and learn about the industries which thrived in years gone by…

Open Monday to Friday 10-3pm.

Donations to entry greatly appreciated.

 

This year we are not hosting one large living history weekend but instead several smaller events across the summer! Have a look at our events listing to see what we have to offer…

22nd of August – 7:30pm – VENUE  The Taybank ‘Terrace’, Dunkeld

Killiecrankie- oh

In support of the Jacobite festival 2025 guided tours of the Dunkeld battlefield, The Sir Arthur Erskine’s regiment will present “Killiecrankie-oh”.
This will be an illustrated insight into the Battle of Killiecrankie. The Battle of Killiecrankie preceeded that at Dunkeld by a month and was the most bloody of all the battles of the Jacobite risings.
Killiecrankie saw the death of one of Scotland’s beloved heroes in the moment of victory, the birth of one of Scotland’s great regiments and the first use of bayonet and grenade in a Scottish battle.
Come along to the Taybank (The Terrace) and hear the story of Killiecrankie as told by some of the troops. 

Part of Living History Dunkeld 2025 sponsored by

H&H Construction, The Taybank, The United Lodge of Dunkeld NO.14, W&K Gerrie, Inver Mill Farm Caravan Park, The Craft Diner

22nd and 23rd August – Dunkeld Battlefield Tours – Part of the Jacobite Festival 2025 – Buy tickets here

Adults £10 Under 16s free

Tickets from Dunkeld Community Archive subject to availability.

Ready your muskets and join the Sir Arthur Erskine regiment for a tour of the site of Dunkeld’s 1689 Jacobite Battle!

Reenactors in full historical costume will give a tour around the village of Dunkeld and explain the lead up to and events of the Battle of Dunkeld in August 1689 including the famous battle at Killiecrankie. This battle was part of the first Jacobite uprising.

Festival 2025 – Jacobite Scotland

 

23rd and 24th of August – Reenactment camp 

Dunkeld has always been a strategic location throughout Scottish
history. Any force moving north or south will pass through or halt to
block the route for others. During the middle of the 17th century,
Scotland was ripped apart in the “Wars of the Three Kingdoms” with men
fighting for church, King , government and the Marquis of Montrose’s
Royalist army passed through several times during the 1644/45 campaign.

The Erskine’s team will deliver an experience around a visit by
Montrose’s men to Dunkeld. Montrose’s army comprised, highlanders,
Lowlanders and Irish soldiers. Some soldiers were conventionally armed
with pike or musket and some as highlanders with broadsword, axe and
bow. The team will be demonstrating all of these weapons .

Arena
Erskine’s will deliver three different arena displays across the weekend
•   A display of musketry and cannon – this will be loud.
•   A display and presentation on the “Colours”  – the regimental flags
that tell the story of wars raging across Scotland in the mid 17th
century
•   Demonstration of the use of pikes – followed by a pike drill aimed at
the younger visitor, a chance to get hands on.

The Living History Camp
The Erskine’s team will operate a “living” camp for the weekend where
the soldiers will live.  Visitors are encouraged to walk round
the camp, to meet the soldiers, hear their stories and to handle
the weapons.
The Erskine’s team will be accompanied by their surgeon whose gory
display will illustrate the reality of 17th century warfare.

Glencairn’s Rising
Shortly after the wars of the 1640’s, Dunkeld is again visited by
soldiers and indeed partially burnt down during Glenairn’s rising.
During 1653/54 the English New Model army control Scotland and the king
Charles II is in exile, the Earl of Glencairn raises the clans across
the north the fight for the Stuarts. A royalist force is attacked in
Dunkeld and driven out by an English force who burnt the town. The
Erskine’s team will tell the story of this part of Dunkeld’s story  as
part of the weekend.

Part of Living History Dunkeld 2025 sponsored by

H&H Construction, The Taybank, The United Lodge of Dunkeld NO.14, W&K Gerrie, Inver Mill Farm Caravan Park, The Craft Diner

 

Saturday 13th September – 10am to 3pm

Launch of New Dunkeld Archaeology Club

Join us at Dunkeld Community Archive to find out about our new club.  We already run a successful Young Archaeologist Club, but are launching a new adult version.

Have you ever fancied learning excavation skills, fieldwalking, metal detecting, learning how to read old Scots etc.?  Come along and find out more, and sign up for the new club.

Dr Gavin Lindsay will be here, demonstrating Topographical Survey in Stanley Hill Park – come along and have-a-go!

We have exciting plans for 2025/26!

 

No need to book, just pop in throughout the day.

Previous events

9th and 10th of May – Guided Viking tours – multiple times – Buy tickets here  

Guided tours led by the Glasgow Vikings

 

Take part in these amazing guided tours led by expert reenactors in authentic costume exploring the Viking connections and stories of the Ancient Village of Dunkeld.

 

Part of Living History Dunkeld 2025 sponsored by

H&H Construction, The Taybank, The United Lodge of Dunkeld NO.14, W&K Gerrie, Inver Mill Farm Caravan Park, The Craft Diner

 

 

28th of June 2pm – A dog with three noses and other stories from Ancient Rome (Storytelling event) Erigmore, Birnam  Buy tickets here

Adults £5 under 16s £2.50

Meet King Midas who has the golden touch, the wolf cubs who founded a city and the geese who saved it. Learn the stories of Juno, Jupiter and a pantheon of Gods and Goddess as fabulator Aurelia Albia as tells myths and legends from Ancient Rome.

Also, meet Galenus of Legio VI Victrix, The Antonine Guard. Discover the Roman army, it’s campaigns in Perthshire and what made it such a formidable fighting force in the ancient world. Explore Perthshire’s Roman past through replica object handling and demonstrations led by an experienced archaeological educator. Have your kids got what it takes? Let them find out with some Roman marching and tactical drill instruction.

 

This session is open to all ages, under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Max 2 children per adult.

 

Part of Living History Dunkeld 2025 sponsored by

H&H Construction, The Taybank, The United Lodge of Dunkeld NO.14, W&K Gerrie, Inver Mill Farm Caravan Park, The Craft Diner

 

 

 

 

9th of May 7:30pm – the Taybank –

Party like it’s 889! – Viking sagas and fashion at  The Taybank   FREE EVENT

Through the tales, sagas and the fashions of the era, Discover Dunkeld’s Viking connections and what life would have been like back then.

July – Every Thursday – The Scottish Soldier in the 17th Century – Guided Walk – Buy tickets here

Adults £10 under 16s free

Tickets from Dunkeld Community Archive subject to availability.

Clan clashes,political plots and violent battles…Follow the life of a soldier through these trying times in Scottish history.

Join Dale (in full 17th century costume) on a guided walk through the historic village of Dunkeld to explore this turbulent era of Scottish History defined by its battles and risings.

Dale is an expert in this era of history and is an active member of the Sir Arthur Erskine Regiment reenactment group.

 

Part of Living History Dunkeld 2025 sponsored by

H&H Construction, The Taybank, The United Lodge of Dunkeld NO.14, W&K Gerrie, Inver Mill Farm Caravan Park, The Craft Diner