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A PICTURESQUE Scottish village is home to a tree that could be the “oldest living thing on Earth” – and it’s just two hours from Glasgow.
With the school summer holidays coming up, many of us are starting to think about fun and picturesque places to visit with our loved ones.
The Fortingall Yew tree could date back as far as the Stone Age[/caption]
It is located beside Fortingall Church[/caption]
Fortingall is nestled in Glen Lyon in Perthshire[/caption]
While some people like to opt for days out at theme parks, cinemas and visits to the beach, others may prefer quieter, less obvious places out in nature with stunning scenery.
And the tiny village of Fortingall, nestled in Glen Lyon, Perthshire, could be exactly what you’re looking for for a fun day trip.
Many visitors like to take a day and visit the village for its historic attractions – including the parish church which is believed to have been constructed on an early Christian site dedicated to the Bishop of Iona.
And the name of the village comes from the Scottish Gaelic term ‘Fartairchill’, which translates to ‘Escarpment Church’.
However, it is also full of stunning scenery, incredible waterfalls and nature walks that never fail to grasp people’s attention.
And the village’s most historic attraction is actually found in nature – the massive Fortingall Yew.
Fortingall Yew is an ancient tree which is believed to be between 3,000 and 9,000 years old and is believed to be the oldest tree in Europe.
VisitScotland also described it as “one of the oldest living things on Earth”.
The tree is located in its own walled enclosure to preserve it and sits in the grounds of the churchyard.
It is thought to have been considered as sacred by pagans and early Christians.
Back in 1769, Fortingall Yew measured a whopping 16 meters tall, however, it has shrunk over the years since.
Despite getting smaller in size, it is still seen as being healthy and is expected to continue to grow long into the future.
The area that surrounds the ancient tree was once inhabited by ancestors around 2.6 million years ago back when it was just a sapling.
This means that the tree could date as far back as the Stone Age.
After visiting the huge, historic tree, there are plenty of other things to do while in Fortingal.
Hikers can enjoy the 1.7-mile-long trek along Fortingall Circular Walk which is an easy way to see most of the village’s incredible scenery and sights.
Or for something more relaxing, there is the four-star Fortingall Hotel which provides a peaceful, bliss getaway with its luxury rooms, delicious menu at the restaurant and cosy open fire.
How can I get to Fortingall Yew?
FORTINGALL is around eight miles west of Aberfeldy and is well signposted around the area.
It can be easily reached along the B846 at Coshievill, or you can get there via the A827 from Kenmore or Killin.
From there, a small free car park is available right outside the churchyard, which is beside the Fortingall Hotel.
The attraction is free, open 24/7, and is both dog-friendly and child-friendly.
You can visit it at any time of the day and since the village is quiet, it doesn’t get too busy so there is no “best time” to go.
However, there is a chance you could see the tree in flower if you go to see it in the warmer weather and summer months.
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