The Birks of Aberfeldy Walking Tour: Burns’ Poetry and Highland Tales

Aberfeldy was once a simple river crossing, and today is one of Scotland’s most charming Highland market towns. On this walking tour, you’ll trace the town’s fascinating connections to whisky distilling, military history, and Scotland’s beloved poet Robert Burns.

The tour starts at the town’s main car park next to the Co-op Food - Aberfeldy - Dunkeld Street. You’ll ramble through Aberfeldy’s picturesque streets and along the banks of Scotland’s longest river, the Tay. You’ll hear tales about General Wade’s military roads, Highland rebellions, and the town’s surprising role in Scotland’s cultural heritage.

Along the way, you’ll stand beside Wade’s Bridge, the striking five-arch stone structure built in 1733 that helped establish Aberfeldy as a proper town. As you make your way to the spectacular Moness Falls, where the tour ends, you’ll hear the stories behind historic buildings and mosey up the famous Birks footpath, where Burns himself once walked and found inspiration for his celebrated song, The Birks of Aberfeldy.

Along the way, you’ll have a chance to:

• Visit the restored Art Deco Birks Cinema, which houses Scotland’s second-ever digital projector
• Cross the world’s first all-plastic footbridge over the River Tay, which still holds the Guinness World Record for the longest plastic span
• See the historic Aberfeldy Watermill with its massive cast iron wheel, and learn about its transformation into a beloved bookshop and café
• Discover the Black Watch Memorial with its stunning Highland views of Ben Lawers and Glen Lyon mountains
• Walk through Aberfeldy Golf Club, designed by famous architect James Braid in 1895
• See evidence of Scotland’s beaver reintroduction program along the River Tay’s banks

On this two-and-a-half-hour tour, you’ll drink in the perfect blend of history, natural beauty, and Scottish culture in this market town that proudly bridges the Highlands and Lowlands.

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