Travel Tuesday - Week 5 - The Birks of Aberfeldy - Aberfeldy, Scotland

TRAVEL TUESDAY

A slightly different Travel Tuesday today! I wanted to share my love of a stunning place in Scotland with a special literary history. The Birks of Aberfeldy. 

This picturesque location, complete with waterfalls, amazing scenery, and a sense of peace and tranquility, inspired Robert Burns to write his poem of the same name. There's a well-trodden route all the way around, which does involve uphill climbs and stairs and it's a popular place for walkers, literary lovers, dog walkers, and anyone who wants a bit of the outdoors. If you're visiting Scotland I would highly recommend a quick stop off here as it really is a gem! 

Located in Perthshire, just outside Aberfeldy, there's a small car park (as well as plenty of parking in Aberfeldy itself) so it's easily accessible by car and by foot. I love taking the dog here for a walk, she gets so much joy from all the different smells and sounds (and is tired out afterward which gives me some peace and quiet at home too!). It can be quite busy especially on dry summer days, I've never visited and not passed by at least one other person (I love the difference in places like this, everyone says hi, gives the nod, and makes a weather-related comment, so different to big towns and cities where everyone avoids any and all interaction as much as possible!). Aberfeldy also has a watermill bookshop and cafe (to be featured in a Travel Tuesday post shortly, keep your eye out!) which makes for a wonderful literary day out. 

As a nod to the links the Birks have to Robert Burns lines from his famous poem are displayed around the path ,which really add to the sense of occasion and connection. I'll be honest though, even without the literary connection, this would be one of my favourite places to visit in Scotland, especially when I want to switch off from the world! 

I took the below pictures on my last visit, as you can see, it's beautiful (though the pictures definitely don't do it justice!)

Here's the famous poem that this location inspired:

Bonnie lassie, will ye go, 

Will ye go, will ye go:

Bonnie lassie, will ye go

To the Birks of Aberfeldy. 

Now Simmer blinks on flowery braes,

And o'er the crystal streamlets plays:

Come let us spend the lightsome days

In the Birks of Aberfeldy.

The little birdies blithely sing

While o'er their heads the hazels hinge

Or lightly flit on wanton wing.

In the Birks of Aberfeldy. 

The braes ascend like lofty wa's. 

The foamy stream deep-roaring fa's, 

O'erhung wi' fragrant spreading shaws,

The Birks of Aberfeldy. 

The hoary cliffs are crown'd wi' flowers,

White o'er the linns the burnie pours,

And rising, weets wi' misty showers

The Birks of Aberfeldy.

Let Fortune's gifts at random flee,

They ne'er shall draw a wish frae me;

Supremely blest wi' love and thee,

In the Birks of Aberfeldy. 

Bonnie lassie, will ye go,

Will ye go, will ye go;

Bonnie lassie, will ye go

To the Birks of Aberfeldy

I'll be visiting many more literary places in Scotland over the coming months and as you may have guessed, Robert Burns will, naturally, feature quite heavily! I can't wait! Scotland is such a beautiful place (something I often forget, even though I live here!). Where would you recommend?

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