Dunkeld! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Thomas Telford

Thomas Telford also designed the Caledonian Canal which was all dug by hand, andhis statue can be seen in the New Town of Telford.
Before the bridge was built there was a ferry service over the river and any cattle had to swim. The bridge was built between 1805 and 1809 and one of the arches was once used as a prison, (the one on land of course!!).

Answer: Queen Victoria.

I take it that is why the hotel is called the 'Royal Dunkeld'. It was built between 1815 and 1820. Its first name was the Duke's Arms and later Culloden House when it became a lodging house. Daniel Fisher brought the Inn and extended it, by 1921 it was known as Fisher's Inn. There is even evidence of stables around the back so it must have been a popular Coaching Inn.

Answer: True

Part of the cathedral is in ruins but some still remains and is still used today locally.
The cathedral was built between 1260 and 1501 on the site that once contained a wattle monastery, in 848 this was re-built in stone by Kenneth MacAlpin. Part of the cathedral was destroyed in 1560 and again in 1689 when most of Dunkeld was set on fire during the battle of Dunkeld.

Answer: Beatrix Potter

Beatrix Potter used to holiday frequently in the area and even named some of her characters after local people. She wrote in her diary when she was about 18:
"Even when the thunder growled in the distance, and the wind swept up the valley in fitful gusts, oh it was always beautiful, home sweet home, I knew nothing of trouble then."
You can visit the Beatrix Potter centre and garden in Birnam.

Answer: A hotel

It is a nice posh hotel now and you enter it through a gatehouse just outside of Dunkeld.

Answer: Yes

After Dunkeld was destroyed by fire the houses were built for the locals and are now protected. Walking down a Dunkeld street is like stepping back in time.

Answer: Ell

The Ell shop is open most of the year and sells a wide variety of goods. It is called the 'Ell shop' because of the measuring gauge on the side of the wall. This is dated 1706.

Answer: 6th Duke of Atholl

The Cross was erected in 1866 by public subscription money.
Today the cross is where many community activities take place.

Answer: 212 ft

In the Hermitage you will find Britain's tallest tree. It measures 212 ft (64.5 m)and is a Douglas fir. Also in Birnam you will find the Birnam oak, it is believed to be over 1000 years old, Europe's oldest tree.

Answer: True

The Wolf of Badenoch also know as Alexander Stewert was the son of King Robert II. He was not a very nice character at all. He set fire to homes and made people's lives a misery. In 1390 he burnt down Elgin Cathedral which was a disaster as many records were destroyed. According to legend the Wolf was found dead with no marks to his body after a raging storm, his men were also dead, as if they had been all struck by lightening.

It was believed the night before, a tall, dark figure played chess with the Wolf and won and after saying 'checkmate' the storm started.

He is buried in Dunkeld Cathedral, but that is not local to where he once lived. The Wolf originally came from Strathspey.