Ossian's Hall Of Mirrors, Scotland
Ossian's Hall of Mirrors is a Georgian structure located at The Hermitage in Dunkeld, Scotland.
The original structure on this site was a summerhouse built in 1757, intended as a retreat from everyday pressures and earning the place its name as a hermitage.
In 1782–83, Ossian’s Hall was constructed to replace this summerhouse.
The new building's exterior was designed to resemble a small circular temple, while the interior was transformed into a luxurious drawing room adorned with intricate plasterwork, paintings, and mirrors.
Visitors entering the hall first encountered a circular antechamber featuring a nearly life-sized painting of Ossian.
A concealed pulley mechanism allowed the painting to slide into a wall recess, revealing a brightly lit and vividly painted inner room.
Here, the sound of rushing water, amplified by the building’s acoustics, enveloped visitors, with mirrors on the walls and ceiling creating the illusion of water cascading in all directions.
In 1869, the hall was partially destroyed by a gunpowder explosion, likely as a protest against toll charges on the Dunkeld bridge imposed by the 7th Duke of Atholl.
After repairs, the Ossian painting was replaced with a portrait of William Duff, a local ghillie known as 'Beardy Willie,' who was a favourite of Queen Victoria.
However, by the early 20th century, Ossian’s Hall had fallen into disrepair.
It was not until 1951 that the Trust undertook efforts to salvage and simplify the building.
In 2007, marking 250 years since its original construction, the Trust launched a new project to conserve and protect the hall, reintroducing elements of surprise and capturing the contrasts of light and sound.
Visitors today can experience the building and its waterfall in a way that, while different from early tourists’ experiences, still captures its original spirit.
The hall is situated in The Hermitage, officially known as The Hermitage Pleasure Ground, a treasured site managed by the National Trust for Scotland, nestled in Dunkeld, Perth and Kinross.
Situated just west of the A9 and along the banks of the River Braan within Craigvinean Forest, this picturesque location was established in the 18th century by John Murray, the third Duke of Atholl.
He created it in tribute to the blind poet Ossian. Among its notable features are the Georgian follies Ossian's Hall of Mirrors and Ossian's Cave.
The site also includes the hermit’s cave, constructed around 1760 for the third Earl of Breadalbane.
Despite efforts to find a permanent hermit, the position remained unfilled.
By 1869, guide Donald Anderson donned a long beard of lichens and animal skin attire to embody the role.
The Hermitage is home to several Douglas-fir trees, one of which was the first in Britain to surpass 200 feet (61 meters) in height.
Known as the Hermitage Douglas-fir, it ultimately reached 201.1 feet (61.3 meters) before being toppled by strong winds on January 13, 2017.
Planted in the 1750s, it was approximately 267 years old at the time of its fall.
Visitors can enjoy various walks through the grounds, with the most popular being the 0.6-mile (1 km) trail to Ossian’s Hall.
The site is accessible via a pass-for-all route, and there is a connection to a 30-mile network of footpaths extending beyond The Hermitage to various parts of Dunkeld, with paths that have been in place since the 18th century.
Someone who recently visit the site, said: “We did about 3 miles round trip on this hike which included Black Linn Falls.
“We are in our 60s, hike frequently & would consider this an easy hike for most people. The trees are impressive and Ossian's Halls gives you an outstanding overlook of the falls.
”We spent about 2 hours there and got some beautiful photographs. You do have to pay to park there and I do not recall seeing any bathrooms just as an fyi.”
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