| Dates | 1 October to 4 October 2026 |
| Location | Highland Perthshire, Scotland |
| Tour Organiser | Tom Christian |
| Difficulty rating | Level 2: Easy with mostly longer walks, and occasional uneven ground. Includes two optional (Level 3) walks: A mix of easy and moderate walks of up to 4 km including some steep sections and occasional uneven ground. |
| Max. participants | 18 |
| Tour status (August 2026) | The tour is now full, with a waiting list |
Send to: Tom Christian
Send to: Tom Christian
Send to: Tom Christian
Big Tree Country
This IDS Budget Tour* will focus on Highland Perthshire (Scotland, UK). This area is often known as ‘Big Tree Country’ and with good reason!
Participants will gather on the afternoon of Thursday 1st October with our first visits taking place that afternoon. Over the Thursday afternoon, Friday and Saturday we will visit a range of gardens, remarkable trees and arboreal landscapes. The itinerary will take in veteran trees such as the ancient Birnam Oak, the Dunkeld ‘parent’ larch planted in 1738, and the nearby Hermitage with its towering Douglas Firs. The designed landscape and gardens at Blair Castle, and the enchanting woodland garden at Cluny House near Aberfeldy, will both be included.
*IDS Budget Tours
The IDS Budget Tours initiative is a fresh and accessible approach to botanical exploration, designed to encourage wider participation among the IDS membership, particularly younger and working members. These tours offer carefully curated experiences that combine affordability, educational enrichment, and sociable networking, all within a streamlined and time-efficient format.
Accommodation
We recommend being based in or close to the town of Pitlochry which has a vast range of accommodation options available to suit every budget, but early booking is advised as this is a popular place. Three group dinners will take place at a central location in Pitlochry. Please consult the myriad accommodation sites available e.g. booking.com, hotels.com, etc.
Pitlochry Backpackers (£)
Website https://backpackers.perthshireonline.com/en/
Pitlochry Youth Hostel (£)
Website https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/hostels/pitlochry/
Fisher’s Hotel (££)
Website https://www.fishershotelpitlochry.com/
Knockendarroch Hotel (£££)
Website https://www.knockendarroch.co.uk/
Atholl Palace Hotel (£££)
Website https://www.athollpalace.com/
Derrybeg Bed and Breakfast (£££)
Website https://www.derrybeg.co.uk/tariff/
Transport
As a budget tour participants will be responsible for their own travel during the tour (car sharing can be facilitated). For those who wish to come by public transport and share another’s vehicle, Pitlochry is easily accessible by mainline rail (including a daily direct service from London) and buses. Dunkeld Station might be easier for those wanting to be on the North Car Park at 2pm on Thursday 1st October.
The nearest airport is Edinburgh (EDI), which is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes by road.
Car Sharing
Please let the tour organiser know if you intend to come in your own vehicle; you will very likely be asked to take extra passengers during the tour.
Rendezvous c. 2pm in the North Car Park, Dunkeld
Visit nearby sites of dendrological interest including Dunkeld Cathedral, Birnam Oak and Sycamore, The Hermitage.
Birnam Sycamore © Tom Christian
Drive to Pitlochry
Group dinner at 7.30pm
In the morning we will visit a private garden near Pitlochry with a strong tree collection.
Blair Castle for lunch and then a tour of the extensive grounds.
Blair Castle © Joe Buchanan-Wollaston
Diana’s Grove, Blair Castle © Tom Christian
Optional tour of the Falls of Bruar before returning to Pitlochry in time for group dinner at 7.30pm.
Visiting famous veteran trees near Loch Tay including an abandoned Victorian pinetum with several champion trees, the famous Fortingall yew, and a champion Arbutus at Castle Menzies.
Lunch in Aberfeldy.
After lunch a visit to the woodland garden at nearby Cluny House Gardens.
Cluny House Gardens, Aberfeldy © Tom Christian
Veteran Arbutus menziesii near Castle Menzies © Tom Christian
Champion Sequoia sempervirens near Kenmore © Tom Christian
If time permits we will visit another veteran tree on our way back to Pitlochry.
Final group dinner at 7.30pm
Departures
For those who are not rushing home we can arrange an optional morning visit to Scone Palace outside Perth, which has a rich dendrological history.
| Tour | IDS Budget Tour |
| Location | Highland Perthshire, Scotland |
| Tour dates, arrival | Thursday 1 October |
| Tour dates, departure | Sunday 4 October |
| Tour organiser and botanist | Tom Christian |
| Availability | Maximum number of participants: 18 |
| Tour status (August 2026) | The tour is now full, with a waiting list |
| Accessibility | Level 2: Easy with mostly longer walks, and occasional uneven ground. Includes two optional (Level 3) walks: A mix of easy and moderate walks of up to 4 km including some steep sections and occasional uneven ground. |
| Weather conditions | We advise people to check the weather forecast for the weekend before leaving home, and to pack accordingly! |
| Tour cost | The cost per person is £280 |
| What’s included | Three evening dinners, all entrance fees, IDS administration costs, organiser costs. |
| What’s not included | Accommodation, breakfasts, lunches, incidental refreshments, alcohol, travel insurance, transport including parking. |
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