Dunkeld: Is this scenic Perthshire town suffering from overtourism?

Blocked emergency vehicles, people parking on road verges and queuing cars backed up onto the A9 – there are warnings that levels of tourism in parts of Highland Perthshire are becoming “dangerous”.

A public meeting has been called in Dunkeld over concerns about traffic levels and parking issues in the town as well as neighbouring village, Birnam.

The area – and its businesses in particular – rely on visitors, but some residents worry the numbers have outgrown its tourism infrastructure.

STV News understands police have had to manage traffic on the A9 at Dunkeld in recent weeks, with frustrated drivers even parking on road verges.

The popular Hermitage woodland walk nearby has seen its busiest year yet, with 40,000 visitors in October alone, thought in part to be caused by social media.

Dunkeld has a number of thriving independent businesses which rely on tourist trade. STV News

‘We can’t let it get to a stage that it becomes dangerous’

The meeting has been called by Dunkeld & Birnam Community Council, which says it is increasingly hearing from residents concerned about the amount of traffic now there.

Kerry Lindsay, a local resident who sits on the council, told STV News the situation had deteriorated in the last few years.

She said: “I think the gorgeous autumn weather has obviously helped bring people to the village which is welcomed, but it really does feel at the moment that we’ve reached capacity.

“There’s a feeling we’ve not seen it as bad as this year, whether that’s because it’s been a really nice autumn, or whether social media has added to it, but definitely it is getting worse.

“People are parking over junctions, people are actually parking either side of the road – meaning that you’re trying to get single-track traffic through one little bit of road. If that was an ambulance or a fire engine, the feeling is they’re not going to get past.

“We heard from one of the community first-responders this week that they weren’t actually able to get through the village to respond to a call. It is obviously very serious and very concerning for locals that we’re at that stage now.”

Perth and Kinross Council says it regularly carries out parking patrols in the area and is happy to respond any specific concerns raised.

However, Kerry believes a key theme of the public meeting needs to be about what alternatives methods of transport they could encourage for visitors.

She said: “We need tourism for the businesses to thrive all-year round and we do fully support it, but we can’t let it get to a stage that it becomes dangerous.

Kerry Lindsay, of Dunkeld & Birnam Community Council, hopes the whole town will come together to discuss solutions. STV News

“We are calling this public meeting to look at solutions as a whole community. We want businesses to come, we want locals to come that are concerned.

“I think one of the key factors needs to be about what public transport accessibility and provision is there in the village?

“Can we do more about that? Can we offer incentives for people to come by public transport?

“If we provide a bigger car park, is that actually going to help the problem or is it just going to shift the problem to a larger-scale?”

‘We have seen unprecendented numbers’

The Hermitage, a woodland walk near Dunkeld, has reported record visitors this year, thought to be caused in part by social media.

With limited car parking, though, it is understood that police have had to manage traffic on the A9 in recent weeks as queuing cars back up onto the main road, with reports that drivers have even been parking on road verges.

The National Trust for Scotland, which manages the site, estimates 350,000 people have visited in just eight months this year – compared to 88,000 in the entirety of 2023.

The Hermitage woodland walk had 40,000 visitors in October alone. STV News

However, it has issued warnings in recent weeks on its own social media highlighting the “reality” of attending the Hermitage at peak times, compared to the picture-perfect snaps seen online.

Cara Stewart, from the organisation, said: “This year we have seen unprecedented numbers.

“We want visitors, we want these numbers. However it is about having that plan B. If there is signage out to say [the] car park is full, what is the plan B? There are alternative National Trust for Scotland sites like Killiecrankie and Loch/Linn of Tummel up the road, and just being vigilant in the car park and staying safe.”

Sergeant Steve Livesey, from Police Scotland, said: “We are aware of concerns around traffic on the A9 in the Dunkeld area.

“Officers continue to provide a presence in the area and work with partners to address concerns and take appropriate action, where necessary.

“Anyone with concerns can contact Police Scotland on 101“.