Hermitage Bridge

The Hermitage Bridge sits deep in a wooded gorge near Dunkeld, spanning the River Braan with the sort of Victorian engineering that makes you stop and actually look at it rather than just walk over it. Built in the 1820s, it's a proper stone arch crossing, and the real appeal is what's around it - the gorge walls rise up thickly wooded on both sides, and in autumn it's genuinely dramatic.

It's a short walk from the Hermitage car park, maybe twenty minutes down through the trees. The bridge itself won't take long to photograph and admire, but the whole circuit through Dunkeld House grounds and along the river path is worth an hour or so if you're not rushing. The gorge narrows considerably here and the water below does move quite fast, especially after rain.

Walkers will get the most from it, particularly those combining it with other walks in the area. Families with younger kids might find it a bit of a tame detour - you're essentially looking at a bridge, after all - but it's not a bad addition to a morning out if you're staying at Inver Mill Farm Caravan Park or Erigmore Holiday Park nearby. The real pull is the riverside woodland setting rather than the bridge itself. Go in autumn or spring when the gorge doesn't feel quite so gloomy. It's free, obviously, and there's no faffing about with opening hours - you just turn up.